The Transat bakerly yacht race begins!

The Transat bakerly race began on Monday (2 May), with supporters having front row seats on Plymouth Hoe as they waved Bon Voyage to the competitors.

Giants of the sea, the Ultimes are the fastest of the four classes competing in The Transat bakerly. The latest weather routing from Adrena suggests the three trimarans could cross the North Atlantic is just 8 days and 8 hours, challenging the multihull race record set by Michel Desjoyeaux (FRA) on board Géant in 2004, of 8 days, 8 hours, 29 minutes.

Plotting a northerly course to try and avoid the pressure systems sweeping across the North Atlantic and the subsequent headwinds, currently looks like the quickest route. The teams could then sail on a reach, avoiding the upwind slog. But, heading north is no mean feat. The skippers may have to contend with bits of ice drifting down from the Arctic and the freezing fog south of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, reducing visibility to less than a quarter of a mile at times.

For the first time, this year sailing enthusiasts will be able to compete in their own North Atlantic battle from the comfort of their own armchairs, with the official game from Virtual Regatta.

Fans around the world can line up against each other to race the world’s toughest transatlantic crossing and share in the adventure - racing their own boat 24 hours a day, seven days a week as The Transat bakerly skippers will do.

It’s up to the player to select the best heading for the conditions and make the right decisions that will take them all the way to New York. The game is available on all web platforms or from the Virtual Regatta apps (Android and IOS). Register here.

You can also track the world-class fleet as they battle their way across the Atlantic through Geo Racing, here.