Sailing-Radical design, family bond and a transatlantic triumph for the Magres

Jan 22 : A French father and son have turned a radical Mach 50 into a transatlantic triumph, claiming overall victory at the 2026 RORC Transatlantic Race in what owner Olivier Magre called "a fantastic dream".

Palanad 4, skippered by Antoine Magre with his father Olivier aboard as crew, secured the IRC overall trophy on Thursday after earlier completing the gruelling 3,000-mile race from Lanzarote to Antigua in 8 days, 5 hours, 55 minutes and 50 seconds.

The Royal Ocean Racing Club confirmed no remaining competitors at sea could beat their corrected time under the handicapping system in use.

The victory marks a stunning validation for the radical scow bow canting keel design, delivering overall victory in only its second offshore race following a debut at the 2025 Rolex Fastnet Race.

"For me, as a father, this is a fantastic dream," said owner Olivier Magre. "To win the RORC Transatlantic Race with my son is the greatest result I could imagine in sailing. I am incredibly proud of Antoine and what he has achieved."

The family dynamic proved seamless at sea, with Olivier embracing his dual role.

"At every moment I am the father," he smiled. "I tell Antoine to be careful, to look after himself. But on the boat, he is the boss. He makes the decisions, and the crew follows him. For me, it was easy to be a crew member. I prepared food, I helped where I could. The mix was fantastic."

For skipper Antoine Magre, the result opens doors to elite competition.

"This race is a very strong first proof of concept," he said. "We believed in the potential of the scow bow in IRC, but it had to be proven in real offshore conditions. Winning overall here really sets the bar for what comes next."

The crew's meticulous preparation proved decisive