RORC Caribbean 600: An Awe Inspiring Start
20th February 2017
Antigua. The ninth edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 started in magnificent conditions with the largest ever offshore fleet assembled in the Caribbean enjoying sparkling conditions. A southeasterly breeze, occasionally gusting up to 15 knots and a relatively calm sea state provided conditions for the perfect start with some close battles on the water.
"This fleet is awe inspiring because of the quality of the boats and you can see that by the competition at the start to get close to the cliffs. From the first gun, people were pushing hard to win the race. The RORC Caribbean 600 has grown, year after year and we just love it, it is the perfect playground for offshore racing," commented Eddie Warden Owen, RORC Chief Executive.
The MOD70 battle for multihull line honours has already kicked off. Lloyd Thornburg's Phaedo3 pulled away from Giovanni Soldini's Maserati at the upwind start but as the two cracked sheets at Green Island, Maserati deployed their foil and took up the lead. Two hours into the race, the two flying trimarans were approaching the Barbuda mark touching 18 knots of boat speed.George David's Rambler 88 got away to a terrific start and leads the monohull fleet on the water by almost three miles on approach to Barbuda. However, three hours into the race and after IRC time correction, George Sakellaris' Proteus is estimated to be leading overall with Hap Fauth's Bella Mente second and Rambler 88 third.
IRC Canting Keel and IRC Zero produced a thrilling start. Lionel Pean's French Volvo 70 SFS II came charging in on port, baring away behind the two Maxi72s to take a commanding position on the favoured left side of the course. Meanwhile Proteus was perilously close to the line at the start and boldly sailed Bella Mente towards the cliffs. You could hear Bella Mente calling for water from the cliff top and within less than a boat length of the rocky shoreline, Proteus tacked, leaving Bella Mente no option but to tack into their dirty air. It is likely that the two Maxi72s will be having a close quarters battle throughout the race. Proteus passed Green Island just 26 seconds ahead of Bella Mente. The two powerful yachts hoisted spinnakers, accelerating through the Caribbean swell and Proteus showed a better turn of speed opening a lead of several miles on the way to Barbuda.
Ed Fishwick's J/122 Redshift on El Ocaso nailed the pin end at the first start which saw the combined IRC Two & IRC 3 classes away clear. This year with softer winds predicted, perhaps one of these yachts will win the overall prize of the RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy. Redshift on El Ocaso was leading on the water at Green Island but two hours into the race, Sailing Logic's First 40, Joanna of Cowes, skippered by James Sweetman, was estimated to be leading IRC Two after time correction. In IRC Three, Jonty Layfield's Swan 48 Sleeper X held a two mile lead on the American Swan 48, Isbjorn and was estimated to be leading on corrected time. However the entire class of nine yachts are all very close on the water.
The Class40 Division are enjoying incredibly close racing. Peter Harding's Ph-orty leads, Catherine Pourre's Eärendil and Halvard Mabire's Campagne de France are both within one mile. The pack of Class40s have the magnificent sight of the 182ft twin-masted schooner Adela ahead of them. Cressida Robinson reporting from Carl Wilcox's Nisida: "We have had everything from 15 knots gusting up to 30 and spotted a water spout on the way to Barbuda."
RORC Commodore, Michael Boyd was hoping to compete on Giles Redpath's Pata Negra, but due to business commitments had to watch the start from ashore this year. "It was almost as nerve racking to be up at Fort Charlotte as on the water, and of course we are all hurlers from the ditch telling them to get closer to the cliffs. It was a fascinating start from an amazing and historic vantage point to see these wonderful boats take off. Everything went very smoothly, which is a great tribute to our professional race management team and our volunteers. This was quite an emotional moment for me and we will of course be wishing them all well for the next few days and a safe return."
To keep up to date with all the news and to follow the race. www.caribbean600.rorc.org
Track the fleet: http://caribbean600.rorc.org/Tracking-Players/2017-fleet-tracking.html
(Race Report: Louay Habib)Hundreds of spectator watch Phaedo3 and Maserati head off towards Barbuda after the start ©
How to follow the race:
An record fleet featuring 80 of the world's most spectacular yachts and crews are gathering in Antigua for the start of the 2017 RORC Caribbean 600 on Monday 20th February 2017. To keep up to date with all the news and to follow the race, please see full details below.
Race minisite: http://caribbean600.rorc.org/
Blogs from the boats, daily race reports, images, videos and news. Follow the action as it unfolds on the RORC Caribbean 600 website.
Fleet Tracking: http://caribbean600.rorc.org/Race-Information/Tracking/
Join the Virtual Regatta: http://click.virtualregatta.com/?li=4740
RORC YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/rorcracing
Social Media:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rorcracing
#rorcrc600 @rorcracing
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rorcracing/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RoyalOceanRacingClub
Media Resources:
Interviews/media requests:
Please get in touch if you have any requests or wish to interview one of the organisers or competitors before, or after the race. Contact Trish Jenkins: press@rorc.org
Images: High resolution, copyright free images will be available after the start, from Barbuda, St Barths and Redonda, where our event photographer, Tim Wright (Photoaction.com) will be capturing the race.
Video: Four video edits will also be made available: preview, start, early arrivals and a wrap up highlights edit. Let us know if you have any requests for broadcast quality footage. All edits will be available on the RORC YouTube channel/RORC Racing.
Features: if you would like a specific feature for your magazine on the race, or certain boats within it, we'd be pleased to help.
Follow the race: Social media, a race tracker and daily updates on the race minisite will bring the race alive for those of us not lucky enough to take part.
Media Team: On site in Antigua: Trish Jenkins (Press Officer), Louay Habib (Race Reporter), Roddy Grimes-Graeme (Video), Tim Wright (Photographer), Ted Martin & ELWJ Photography. Race team based at Antigua Yacht Club.
NOTES TO EDITORS
PRESS ENQUIRIES:
Trish Jenkins
RORC Press Officer
Local Cellphone: +1 268 725 4367
M: +44 (0)7880 518689
E: trish@j2pr.co.uk, press@rorc.org
Skype: trish jenkins
Race/Press office opens at Antigua Yacht Club on Tuesday 14th Feb
RORC Race Enquiries:
Nick Elliott, Racing Manager
Royal Ocean Racing Club
T: +44 (0) 1983 295144
E: racing@rorc.org
W: http://www.rorc.org/
Royal Ocean Racing Club:
20 St James's Place
London SW1A 1NN
Tel: 020 7493 2248
Fax: 020 7493 2470
E: info@rorc.org
THE RORC CARIBBEAN 600:
RORC Caribbean 600 minisite: http://caribbean600.rorc.org
The 9th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 starts from Antigua on Monday 20th February 2017
The 600nm course circumnavigates 11 Caribbean Islands starting from Fort Charlotte, English Harbour, Antigua and heads north as far as St Martin and south to Guadeloupe taking in Barbuda, Nevis, St Kitts, Saba and St Barth's
73 yachts have entered the race to date and a record number of boats from around the world is expected to take part
Twitter: #rorcrc600 @rorcracing
Facebook: www.facebook.com/royaloceanracingclub
Instagram: instagram.com/rorcracing
PAST RESULTS: RORC CARIBBEAN 600 TROPHY - IRC OVERALL
(Best best corrected time under IRC)
2016 - George Sakellaris, Maxi 72, Proteus (USA)
2015 - Hap Fauth, JV72, Bella Mente (USA)
2014 - George Sakellaris, RP72, Shockwave (USA)
2013 - Ron O'Hanley, Privateer, Cookson 50 (USA)
2012 - Niklas Zennström's JV72, Rán (GBR)
2011 - George David, Rambler 100, JK 100 (USA)
2010 - Karl C L Kwok, Beau Geste, Farr 80 (HKG)
2009 - Adrian Lee, Lee Overlay Partners, Cookson 50 (IRL)
THE ROYAL OCEAN RACING CLUB:
Established in 1925, The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) became famous for the biennial Rolex Fastnet Race and the international team event, the Admiral's Cup. It organises an annual series of domestic offshore races from its base in Cowes as well as inshore regattas such as the RORC Easter Challenge and IRC National Championships in the Solent
The RORC works with other yacht clubs to promote their offshore races and provides marketing and organisational support. The RORC Caribbean 600 based in Antigua and the first offshore race in the Caribbean, has been an instant success and in 2014 the RORC extended its organisational expertise by creating the RORC Transatlantic Race from Lanzarote to Grenada in November
The club is based in St James' Place, London and Cowes, Isle of Wight
In co-operation with the French offshore racing club, UNCL, RORC is responsible for IRC, the principal international handicap system for yacht racing worldwide.The Spinlock IRC rating rule is administered jointly by the RORC Rating Office in Lymington, UK and UNCL Centre de Calcul in Paris, France
The RORC Rating Office is the technical hub of the Royal Ocean Racing Club and recognised globally as a centre of excellence for measurement. For Spinlock IRC rating information in the UK please see: www.rorcrating.com
RACE PARTNERS:
The Royal Ocean Racing Club has partnered with Rolex SA, adding the RORC Caribbean 600 to the leading Swiss watchmaker's prestigious roster of yachting events around the world. www.rolex.com
Sevenstar Yacht Transport - Official Logistics Partner to the RORC Caribbean 600.Sevenstar Yacht Transport is the world's leading provider of yacht shipping services. A global network of destinations, ranging from the familiar to the exotic, and our own fleet of more than 100 independent carriers have propelled Sevenstar to the peak of its sector for more than 25 years. For race yachts, Sevenstar offers a unique package to the teams which includes all logistics of boat and spares. http://www.sevenstar-yacht-transport.com/racing-logistics.aspx
Sevenstar Yacht Transport Enquiries:
Wouter Verbraak - Direct: +44 238 021 5063, Mb: +44 755 752 6451
E: wouter@sevenstar-uk.com