The two most exclusive yacht clubs in the world, the New York Yacht Club in Newport, RI and the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes on the Isle of Wight, are joining forces to stage an epic Transatlantic Race in June of 2015. Scores of the world’s fastest, most exclusive and expensive luxury sailing yachts will compete on the course from Newport to Cornwall, UK and the Isle of Wight, with Rolex acting as official timekeeper. The race coincides with the 200th anniversary of the RYS.

A transatlantic race of this magnitude has not been attempted since 2011, when the Rambler 100 set a new world record for the crossing of six days, 22 hours, eight minutes and two seconds. The race will include up to 50 yachts covering the spectrum, from 40 feet in length to the world’s largest superyachts over 200 feet, and ranging from modern racing machines to 100-year-old classics — nearly double the number from 2010. 

Pre-race events will take place at the New York Yacht Club’s Harbour Court clubhouse in Newport, while awards will be presented at the Royal Yacht Squadron’s Cowes Castle clubhouse on the Isle of Wight. "We're extremely pleased with the significant early interest in this race,” the Royal Yacht Squadron's Rear Commodore David Aisher tells Super Yacht News. "The history of the transatlantic race dates back to the birth of recreational ocean racing in the late 1800s. More than a century later, it remains one of the ultimate tests of yachting skill."