Close finishes have been a feature of this year’s RORC Caribbean 600 in Antigua and that trait continued in IRC One with a rematch between two British JPK 1180s.

Sunrise and Dawn Treader last met in the 2021 Rolex Fastnet Race and Sunrise won the world’s biggest offshore race overall. Dawn Treader’s Fastnet was a miserable experience, suffering a broken mast in the first few miles of the iconic race.

Fast-forward to the RORC Caribbean 600, Tom Kneen’s Sunrise (GBR) was pushed all the way by Ed Bell’s Dawn Treader (GBR). The two teams are very friendly off the water, but out on the 600-mile race track, the gloves were off for four days and nights of intense racing. Sunrise won the battle and IRC One, but only just, beating Dawn Treader into second place by under 12 minutes after IRC time correction. Third in IRC One was Jacques Pelletier’s Breton team racing the Milon 41 L’Ange de Milon (FRA).

Tom Kneen after winning IRC One in his first RORC Caribbean 600 Photo: Tim Wright

Team Sunrise: James Brown, Thomas Cheney, Rory Hunter, George Kennedy, Emmet Kerin, Christopher Kilgour, Thomas Kneen, David Swete,Victoria Tomlinson 

“This is the first time we have raced Dawn Treader in anger since the Rolex Fastnet Race and they gave us a hell of a race, including rolling us downwind, which was terrifying from my perspective,” commented Sunrise’s Tom Kneen. “We knew pretty early that we had a lot on, and on top of that we broke our jib halyard lock. We had a crew up the rig repairing it for the first reach, so we were on the back foot right from the beginning. We made up some ground on the long reach (to Guadeloupe) and then it got really tricky with the wind fading, as it did for the rest of our race. This was not a blast round the Caribbean in 20 knots, but a complex, highly technical race with a well-sailed boat chasing us!”

“The last 48 hours were the most stressful of my short racing career,” continued Kneen. “We had to work really hard to beat Dawn Treader. We always try to win our class, but the weather gave us glimmers of hope that we could win overall; that was difficult to manage psychologically. This race has been a massive learning curve, I am really glad I did it. At times I thought why am I doing this? But now it is over, I would really like to have another go and I am delighted to have won our class. I would say this is the toughest race we have had with Dawn Treader; they have pushed us to the limit the whole way round.”

Ed Bell's JPK 1180 Dawn Treader at the start of the RORC Caribbean 600 Photo: Tim Wright

The crew of Dawn Treader enjoyed a cold Carib beer and warm welcome after their close finish Photo: Tim Wright

Ed Bell talks to the media team after completing the race  Photo: Tim Wright

Ed Bell’s Dawn Treader has been out of action since August 2021 and was shipped to the Caribbean along with Sunrise for the RORC Caribbean 600.

“The race was intense the whole way round,” commented Dawn Treader’s Ed Bell. “We got ahead of Sunrise a couple of times. Sunrise is a great boat and they have had a great 2021, achieving an enormous amount. We know the Sunrise team very well and we are very open with one another, sharing information. We both make gains in our performance because of that and we push each other to get the best out of our boats. Hopefully I will see Tom and his crew in the bar in a few minutes time for a debrief!”

Tom Kneen is a keynote speaker at the ICRA Conference on March 5th in Dun Laoghaire. More here

The overall winner of the 13th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 is Christopher Sheehan’s Warrior Won (USA) where Howth Yacht Club's Shane Diviney of Sutton on Dublin Bay was part of the Pac52 crew.

None of the teams still racing under IRC has any realistic chance of beating Warrior Won after time correction.

Christopher Sheehan and his team will be presented with the RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy at the Prize Giving tonight.

The overall winner of the 13th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 is Christopher Sheehan’s Pac52 Warrior Won (USA) Photo: Robert Hajduk

Christopher Sheehan, owner and skipper of Warrior Won is from the Larchmont Yacht Club, USA. Sheehan’s Warrior Won was taking part in its first RORC Caribbean 600, having won the 2022 Transpac Race overall.

“I feel so much joy right now. It is very humbling when I think about all of the competitors that have worked so hard in this race, I am overwhelmed. We have been preparing for this race for the last eight months and when I think of the great teams that have won this race, it is just extraordinary. The mantra of Warrior Won is humility and extreme confidence in what we are doing, which results in positive energy on board, hard work and collaboration. Every member of the Warrior Won team has put in an outstanding performance.”

Christopher Sheehan, owner and skipper of Warrior Won is from the Larchmont Yacht Club, USA Photo: Arthur Daniel/RORC

Richard Clarke, Tactician on Warrior Won is a four-time Olympian for Canada and a Volvo Ocean Race winner: “A race like the Caribbean 600 is short but complicated, it’s short enough that you can push really, really hard, but you have to manage fatigue. On Warrior Won with a fixed keel you have to keep as many bodies on the rail as you can. The basic aspects are keeping the boat at maximum speed with the right combination of sails up. As a tactical race the ‘600 rates as one the hardest in the world because there are so many islands to round and the tactics vary according to the time of day. Add fickle trade winds and squally clouds into the mix, I equate this to going ten rounds in a boxing match, where the left and the right and the combinations just keep coming at you. Sometimes you have to play offence or defence, because at any moment you can park-up, so no lead is safe until you finish.”

Chris ‘Lew’ Lewis - Navigator on Warrior Won is an amateur sailor working in the tech industry in San Francisco: “We spend a lot of time preparing for this race, going through the tracks of some of the great navigators that have taken part in this race. The Warrior Won team has instituted a two and a half year testing programme, so we know at every given angle and every given wind strength what the best sail combinations are, and after that it is all about execution. With an incredible crew, every time we needed to change sail it would magically appear. Getting ready for a big race like this is everything for me. While the professionals have to allocate their time between one race and the next, I do relatively few races and I have been working on just this race for a long time. To win this bucket-list race is a dream come true. I have not caught up on my sleep yet, so maybe I am still dreaming.”

Christopher Sheehan’s Warrior Won has an exciting programme of races which will include the 2022 Rolex Sydney Hobart, the 2023 Rolex Fastnet Race and Rolex Middle Sea Race. In 2024 Warrior Won will race back to the Caribbean in the 2024 RORC Transatlantic Race.

Warrior Won Crew: Christopher Sheehan, Thomas Allin, Stuart Bannatyne, Norman Berge, Richard Clarke, Shane Diviney, Scott Ewing, Gregg Griffin, Morgan Gutenkunst, Hartwell Jordan, Collin Leon, Chris Lewis, Tristan Louwrens, Henry Vogel, Christopher Welch.

Dmitry Rybolovlev’s ClubSwan 125 Skorpios (MON), skippered by Fernando Echavarri, crossed the finish line in Antigua to take Monohull Line Honours in the Caribbean 600 at 03:59:51 on Wednesday 23rd February 2022. The elapsed time was 1 day, 16 hours, 39 mins, 51 secs. Skorpios scored their second Line Honours victory with the Royal Ocean Racing Club, having previously taken the gun in the 2021 Rolex Fastnet Race.

“This is the first RORC Caribbean 600 for Skorpios, both for myself, and some of the crew,” commented Skorpios’ skipper Fernando Echavarri. “I am super-proud of all the team that have made this possible; it has been an incredible effort just to be here. It has been a very interesting race, demanding for the crew with sail changes and very tactical. The speed of Skorpios has been one of the key ingredients, but also managing the changes as we rounded the islands; especially Guadeloupe where we parked in the wind shadow, but there was enough separation for us to stay in first position. The RORC Caribbean 600 is an amazing course because of the beauty of the islands, as well as the technical challenges. Thank you very much to the RORC and the people that make this race possible, it is an incredible race and we hope to be here next year.”

Skorpios Crew: Dmitry Rybolovlev, Fernando Echavarri, Pepe Ribes Rubio, Bruno Zirilli, Matteo Celon, Claudio Celon, Antonio Cuervas Mons, Dirk de Ridder, Viktor Filippov, Bruno Garcia Del Blanco, Aleix Gelabert, Carlos Hernandez, Brad Jackson, Michael Joubert, Andrei Konogorov, Neal McDonald, Juan Meseguer, Antony Mutter, Michael Pammenter, David Pella, Elliot Pilcher, Nicolas Pruvost, Fernando Rodriguez Rivero, Russell Whitworth.

Celebrations on board for Team Skorpios after taking Monohull Line Honours Photo: Arthur Daniel/RORC

Skorpios finishes the RORC Caribbean 600 in the early hours of Wednesday morning in Antigua Photo: Arthur Daniel/RORC

Skipper of Skorpios Fernando Echavarri Photo: Arthur Daniel/RORC

RORC CEO Jeremy Wilton presents Dmitry Rybolovlev, owner of Skorpios with the Monohull Line Honours Trophy  Photo: Arthur Daniel/RORC

The VPLP/Verdier 100 Super Maxi Comanche finished the RORC Caribbean 600 less than an hour behind Skorpios on the water. After IRC time correction, Comanche is in first place with 57 boats still racing under IRC for the overall win.

“Skorpios did a good job, we did get inside them at the start but after that they defended their position very well,” commented Comanche’s skipper Mitch Booth. “Skorpios was always in sight, even at night there was enough moonlight to see them and that gave us motivation. The Comanche crew did a great job, pushing for every metre around the course. Comanche was never more than 10 miles behind and we knew there would be some passing opportunities. Comanche is quick downwind and we came within a mile of Skorpios at that angle. The big moment was underneath Guadeloupe; Skorpios hit that zone before us and we had a good indication of where the breeze was. At one stage they stopped and we were coming at them at 16 knots. The game is never over on this sort of race course because there are a lot of obstacles that make it interesting and a lot of fun. The boat performed well and the crew did an excellent job. The RORC do a great job with these events and it is a pleasure to be involved. After our win in the Rolex Middle Sea Race it is now 1-1 - I am sure this is just the beginning of our rivalry!”

VPLP/Verdier 100 Super Maxi Comanche finished in an elapsed time of 1 day 17hrs 22mins 18 secs at 04:42:18 AST on Wednesday 23 February Photo: Tim Wright

On the dock at Falmouth Marina, Antigua - RORC CEO Jeremy Wilton congratulates Mitch Booth, Skipper of Comanche Photo: Arthur Daniel/RORC

Will Oxley, Comanche’s navigator commented dockside about the competition under IRC still out on the race track. “I haven’t looked at the weather after Comanche’s finish, but I would say that Christopher Sheehan’s Pac52 Warrior Won is having a really good race and looking strong as they got to Guadeloupe. Thomas Kneen’s JPK 1180 Sunrise, of course, was doing well, but there is quite a lot of beating in this race and the 52s will do a bit better than Sunrise in that. I noticed the NMYD 54 Teasing Machine was also up there. I think it is probably going to be a 52 (for the overall win). However, you never know. Much to our surprise we have won the last two races under IRC, but it would be nice to win IRC Super Zero; that would be a good achievement in a strong class.”

Will Oxley, Comanche’s navigator commented dockside about the competition under IRC still out on the race track Photo: Arthur Daniel/RORC

Jason Carroll’s MOD 70 Argo (USA) crossed the finish line of the RORC Caribbean 600 to take Multihull Line Honours and set a new Multihull Race Record of 29 hours, 38 mins, 44 secs.

Giovanni Soldini’s Multi70 Maserati (ITA) was just 2 minutes and 13 seconds behind Argo. Peter Cunningham’s PowerPlay (CAY) led in the early part of the race but finished third. This was the first Line Honours win for Argo having come runner-up on two previous occasions. Multihull Line Honours was decided in the final few miles of the 600-mile race.

MOD 70 Argo Crew: Jason Carroll, Brian Thompson, Richard Bardwell, Chad Corning, Pete Cumming, Thierry Fouchier, Charlie Ogletree, Alister Richardson

“This race is always an emotional rollercoaster; I think we traded the lead with the other boats about five or six times and the last change was 20 minutes before the finish with Maserati. It was a boat-on-boat tacking duel. I am sorry for Maserati because they sailed a great race. Before the awesome finish, the closest match racing we had was in the lee of Nevis and St. Kitts. We traded the lead two-sail reaching, doing 35 knots! At that pace, everything happens so fast and you have to plan in advance, but it is so exciting for sure.”

Approaching Redonda, Maserati was leading by about 3 miles, but Argo closed the gap to about half a mile on the rounding and from Redonda to the finish was almost a one tack beat on Port.

“We knew there was about a 30-degree header coming. We waited for that instability and chose to tack away leaving Maserati with a decision, and they chose to cover us through the unstable conditions. From then on, we had a duel of about 10 tacks, more than we had done the whole race. We eked out a tiny lead and then Maserati tacked a little too close to us. Before they could build speed, we luffed them a little bit, then pulled out the win,” continued Carroll.

Jason Carroll’s Argo has come runner-up on the two previous races, so to win on the third attempt was a sweet victory for Argo. “This win is one of the sweetest from the way it played out, just from how hard-fought this race win has been. Having a great two boat contest was so exciting for the whole crew, this was an opportunity not just to sail fast but to flex your sailing skills. This is our favourite regatta of the year; it is very well run and we love coming to this one.”

Jeremy Wilton, RORC CEO presents Jason Carroll with the Multihull Line Honours Trophy

Maserati’s Giovanni Soldini commented after the race: “It was a very close, fantastic race the whole way. The competition level is very high and it was just a case of nearly, but nothing for us. Approaching Redonda, we did get snagged in a buoy on the rudder; the second time this has happened in our races and both times Argo has caught us! But it is okay, I think Argo did a wonderful race. Probably with our big foils we should have just gone straight and should not have gone into the tacking duel. This was a wonderful race; a great experience and we have learned many things and we are ready for the next one.” 

Track the fleet and follow all the updates as the race unfolds below

Tropical heat, moderate trade winds and ocean swell provided superb racing conditions for the first day and night of action in the 2022 RORC Caribbean 600. In the deep south a battle is raging between the three foremost multihulls, with Giovanni Soldini’s Maserati (ITA) and Jason Carroll’s Argo (USA) less than a mile apart. The 70ft trimarans have been recording boat speeds in excess of 35 knots at times. Peter Cunningham’s PowerPlay (CAY) led the fleet to Barbuda, but is now 20 miles behind the leaders at Guadeloupe. Maserati and Argo are on course to beat the Multihull Race Record (30 hours 49 mins 00 secs) and are expected to finish the race at around sunset tonight.

PowerPlay’s Paul Larsen sets the scene at St Barths: “PowerPlay is shrieking and whooshing at between 28 and 33 knots in silence, just flying … and then with the tortured sound of a loaded winch easing, the symphony starts again… and again. We’re desperately trying to hang on to the foilers. In these conditions it feels like managing losses until lighter conditions arrive… hopefully. We’ve made a brutal little campsite high on the windward hull. It’s basically a sail bag and two lashed down camp mattresses. With respect to comfort, it’s a joke… but one we’re grateful for. We need the bodies out there. The boat is in the groove. It’s been a bloody fast race. We did well to lead to Barbuda but now Maserati must be smokin’.”

Skorpios leads in the race for Monohull Line Honours and are on record pace to break the Monohull Race Record (37 hours 41 mins 45 secs). Comanche is an hour behind Skorpios, but after IRC time correction is the overall race leader. With a north-easterly wind of 13-18 knots the RORC fleet have been making excellent progress. The bulk of the boats are in the vicinity of St Maarten at the top of the 600-mile course. Class leaders at dawn on Day Two include Maserati, Warrior Won, Sunrise, Scarlet Oyster and Guidi.

Onboard Skorpios

Snapshot: 0700 AST 22 February

IRC Super Zero

Dmitry Rybolovlev’s ClubSwan 125 Skorpios (MON), skippered by Fernando Echavarri, leads the monohull fleet at Montserrat. They are 12 miles ahead of the VPLP/Verdier 100 Comanche (CAY) skippered by Mitch Booth. The Farr 100 Leopard (MON), skippered by Chris Sherlock, with Joost Schuijff at the helm is third on the water, 45 miles behind Comanche. After IRC time correction Comanche leads the class. Volvo 70 I Love Poland (POL), skippered by Grzegorz Baranowski is estimated to be two hours behind on IRC with Skorpios third. The leaders are about to negotiate the wind shadow of Guadeloupe, which could be a decisive moment in the race.

Dmitry Rybolovlev's ClubSwan 125 Skorpios and Comanche at the start of the RORC Caribbean 600 Photo: Tim Wright

IRC Zero

Christopher Sheehan’s Pac52 Warrior Won (USA) leads the class on the water and after IRC time correction, by approximately two hours. Jim Murray racing Pac52 Callisto (USA) is in second, with David Collins Botin IRC52 Tala (GBR) third in class. This trio of downwind flyers are about to pull the trigger, screaming off downwind towards Guadeloupe and very likely to jump up the overall ranking.

Christopher Sheehan’s Pac52 Warrior Won (USA) leads the class Photo:Tim Wright

Charles-Louis Mourruau’s Guidi (FRA) lis currently the leading Class40  Photo:Tim Wright

Class40 Division

Charles-Louis Mourruau’s Guidi (FRA) leads at the top of St. Maarten, itching to come off the breeze for the blast south to Guadeloupe. Herve Thomas’ Minnimo (FRA) was three miles astern, with Olivier Delrieu’s Vitican (FRA) in third within striking distance of the leaders.

IRC One

Having rounded Saba Island before dawn, Andrew Hall’s Lombard 46 Pata Negra (GBR) leads on the water by a mile on the beat to St Barts. Tom Kneen’s JPK 1180 Sunrise (GBR) and Ed Bell’s JPK 1180 Dawn Treader (GBR) are neck-and-neck behind Pata Negra. After IRC time correction, Sunrise leads by just 21 minutes from Dawn Treader, with Pata Negra third.

Alex Picot contacted the RORC media team from Jacques Pelletier’s Milon 41 L’Ange de Milon (FRA), which is lying fourth in class after time correction.

“Everything is fine on L'Ange de Milon as we are approaching St Barths. The start of the race was thrilling, with a lot of close tacks. The long leg to Barbuda with the Code 0 did not go well for us with a few technical and speed issues. Luckily, it's behind us and the skipper and crew are giving everything for the come-back! This race track is great and the wind, sun and warmth of the Caribbean reminds us of summer in Brittany.”

Jacques Pelletier’s Milon 41 L’Ange de Milon (FRA), which is lying fourth in IRC Two after time correction  Photo:Tim Wright

Ross Applebey’s Oyster 48 Scarlet Oyster (GBR) is leading the class on the water and after IRC time correction Photo: Rick Tomlinson

IRC Two

Ross Applebey’s Oyster 48 Scarlet Oyster (GBR) rounded Saba Island in the early hours to lead the class on the water and after IRC time correction. Richard Palmer’s JPK 1010 Jangada (GBR), racing Two-Handed with Jeremy Waitt was just two minutes behind after time correction. Sigma 38 Sam (GBR), skippered by Peter Hopps, was estimated to be third in class, an hour behind Jangada.

Two boats have retired from the RORC Caribbean 600 with all sailors safe and well. Ron O’Hanley’s Cookson 50 Privateer (USA) and Todd Stuart’s Swan 82 White Rhino (USA) are returning to Antigua.

Track the fleet and follow all the updates as the race unfolds below

The 13th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 started on time and in sone style from Antigua on Monday 21 February.

The IRC Super Zero start was nothing short of hell-raising, with Comanche reaching at full speed towards the Pillars of Hercules, then hardening up to take the inside line perilously close to the cliffs.

VO65 Groovederci Racing - Sailing Poland, sailed by Deneen Demourkas was in close quarters. As the two leaders tacked out, they crossed with the massive ClubSwan 125 Skorpios (MON) and the Volvo 70 Ocean Breeze coming inshore on starboard. In the MOCRA start, Peter Cunningham’s MOD70 PowerPlay (CAY) flipped a wheelie on final approach before blasting off into the lead in a ball of spray at over 25 knots.

Seventy-four teams with over 700 sailors from 32 countries started the race. The Royal Ocean Racing Club’s 600-mile race around 11 Caribbean islands had a spectacular start with 15 knots of wind from the northeast gusting up to 20 knots.

Hundreds of spectators, on and off the water watched the Caribbean 600 IRC Super Zero yachts head off Photo: Tim Wright

The mighty Skorpios, Leopard and Comanche in IRC Super Zero Photo: Rick Tomlinson

The IRC Super Zero start was nothing short of hell-raising, with Comanche reaching at full speed towards the Pillars of Hercules Photo: Tim Wright

Fleet Snapshot: DAY 1 - 1500 AST 21 February

Four hours into the race, Giovanni Soldini’s Multi70 Maserati (ITA) was leading the Multihull Class from Peter Cunningham’s PowerPlay and Jason Carroll’s Argo (USA). In the race for Monohull Line Honours, the leader by just a mile, was Dmitry Rybolovlev’s ClubSwan 125 Skorpios, skippered by Fernando Echavarri. The VPLP/Verdier 100 Comanche, skippered by Mitch Booth was second on the water. With just over two hours to go until the first sunset of the race, the majority of the fleet were making good progress to Barbuda, the first and only mark of the course.

“The start was just incredible, it’s rare to see so many big boats in a start like that, just taking it on, but it was not just the big boats. This fleet is stacked right through all the classes, with competitive starts the whole way through. Good luck to all the teams,” commented Race Director Chris Stone. “Making sure the fleet get away to a good start is the first part of this stage of the race management. We continue to focus on the safety aspects out on the race course. There will be different weather conditions and some parts of the course are pretty treacherous. For the RORC Race team it is about keeping the fleet safe, with 24-hour monitoring for every boat.”

Giovanni Soldini’s Multi70 Maserati (ITA) and Peter Cunningham’s MOD70 PowerPlay (CAY) Photo: Arthur Daniel/RORC

IRC ONE and IRC TWO START

Yuri Fadeev’s First 40 Optimus Prime (GBR) nailed the inshore end of the line, closely followed by Ross Applebey’s Oyster 48 Scarlet Oyster (GBR). Bernie Evan-Wong’s RP37 Taz (ANT) also had a great start. Stuart Dahlgreen racing J/121 Wings (USA) was OCS by just five seconds, but restarted correctly.

Four hours into the race, Tom Kneen’s JPK 1180 Sunrise (GBR) and Ed Bell’s JPK 1180 Dawn Treader (GBR) were neck-and neck at the front or IRC One. Just a mile behind the leaders, Andrew Hall’s Lombard 46 Pata Negra (GBR) was going well. In IRC Two, two old rivals were battling for the lead on the water: Andy Middleton’s First 47.7 EH01 (GBR) and Scarlet Oyster. Pamala Baldwin’s J/122 Liquid (ANT), skippered by Julian White was just three miles behind the leaders.

Start of IRC 1, IRC 2 and CSAS Photo: Rick Tomlinson

Peter Lewis' J/122 Whistler from Barbados was among the first start with boats racing in IRC 1 and IRC 2 Photo: Tim Wright

Pogo 12.50 Hermes from Canada amongst the starters in IRC 1 Photo: Arthur Daniel/RORC

IRC ZERO and Class40 START

Christopher Sheehan’s Pac52 Warrior Won (USA) totally nailed the start, ripping over the line at full pace towards the lifting pressure. David Collins’ Botin IRC 52 Tala (GBR) was second over the line. On her hip with a good controlling position was Jean Pierre Dreau’s Mylius 60 Lady First 3 (FRA). In the Class40 Division, Herve Thomas’ Finnimo (FRA) got the best start, staying out of the melee inshore. Baptiste Hulin & Clement Commagnac’s Rennes - Saint Malo (FRA) and Marc Lepesqueux’s Sensation Class40 Extreme (FRA) tucked right in under the cliffs and crossed the line in good shape.

Four hours into the race, Warrior Won (USA) was leading on the water, two miles astern was their Pac52 sistership Callisto (USA) sailed by Jim Murray and Tala (GBR). In the Class40 Division, Finnimo held a one-mile lead from Charles-Louis Mourruau’s Guidi (FRA). Sensation Class40 Extreme was third on the water.

UP Sailing, Morgan Ursault Poupon's Class40 was one of nine Class40s at the start Photo: Arthur Daniel/RORC

Christopher Sheehan’s Pac52 Warrior Won (USA) totally nailed the start Photo: Tim Wright

Charles-Louis Mourruau's Class40 Guidi and Adrian Lee's Swan 60 Lee Overlay Partners from the Royal St. George Yacht Club on Dublin Bay Photo: Rick Tomlinson

RORC Caribbean 600 2022 | Live Start Replay

Track the fleet and follow all the updates as the race unfolds. All yachts are fitted with a race tracker below:

Competing boats in the 2022 RORC Caribbean 600 Race are equipped with tracking beacons by YB Tracking.

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 Barths.

View the tracking application below

There's a good turnout of young Irish sailors competing in the Caribbean 600 starting on Monday. 

The Irish crew are among teams from all around the globe arriving in Antigua this weekend and representing over 32 different nations.

The sailors are onboard a spectacular fleet of 75 boats, ranging from 32ft (10m) to 125ft (38.07m) that will take the start of the 13th edition of the 600 nautical mile RORC Race.

Conor Corson and Matt Beecher will be competing on the A13 Phosphorus II. Conor (26) is from Clontarf in Dublin while Matt (23) hails from just outside Kinsale in Cork. Both are now based abroad with Conor residing in Hamble and working professionally in the industry over there while Matt is currently spending much of his time in France preparing for his first season on the Figaro circuit and training with Kenny Rumball’s Offshore Academy. Both are doing their first C600.

Cliodhna Connolly hails from West Cork and is competing again in the Caribbean. She’ll be sailing on the American Swan 82 White Rhino. She is a six-time 1720 sportsboat National Champion and competed in the 2021 Rolex Fastnet Race onboard the Irish yacht of the year, Nieulargo. Cliodhna is now based in the UK where she is now sailing with the Cape 31 class

Saoirse Reynolds is based at Dun Laoghaire Harbour and also competes in the C600 for the first time. She is sailing on Taz, an Antiguan Reichel Pugh 37 owned by Bernard Evan Wong, which will feel substantially bigger than Conor Fogerty’s Figaro, the foiling boat she crewed in last season's Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race. Reynolds is a 2019 D2D race veteran along with the 2019 and 2021 Fastnet and has spent the past two seasons racing on Chris Power Smith’s J122 Aurelia.

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 Barths.

Three navigators spill the beans on what lies ahead for their respective teams in the 13th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600, which starts on Monday

The RORC Caribbean 600 has a racecourse like no other, testing the seamanship of the crews with a myriad of manoeuvres around 11 Caribbean islands, but the race is far more than a workout in the tropics. Strategy and tactics add to the mix, with forward planning playing a big part in scoring a top performance.

Campbell Field is racing on David Collins’ Botin IRC 52 Tala (GBR).

This will be Campbell’s seventh race, including third overall on the 182ft schooner Adela and runner-up twice on IRC 52s.

“From start day to day four, currently the forecasts are looking reasonably typical for the RORC Caribbean 600,” commented Campbell Field. “Trade winds in the mid-teens, warm and sunny, interspersed with some possible squall/rain activity with some good moisture content in the air column. There are indications that the latter part of the race could be slightly lighter and left of average. This wind speed is within the ideal conditions for Tala, especially broad reaching and running where we can start planing and that is where the fun is! Generally, the 600 is a great course for Tala, with plenty of open angle reaching to stretch our legs, combined with some shorter VMG beats and runs.”

"Caribbean 600 requires full focus over 12 legs"

“The RORC Caribbean 600 is a great course for navigators because it requires full focus over 12 legs, each with their own subtleties,” continues Field. “This does mean few opportunities for rest, but I love the physical and mental challenges. I'll have to keep my pencil sharp and paper dry for the race with two other closely matched 52s on the start line.”

Campbell Field, navigator on David Collins’ Botin IRC 52 Tala (GBR): "From start day to day four, currently the forecasts are looking reasonably typical for the RORC Caribbean 600" © Paul Wyeth/pwpictures.com

Brian Thompson will be racing on Jason Carroll’s MOD70 Argo (USA).

This will be Brian’s sixth race in multihulls, taking Line Honours on three previous occasions.

“We have been doing routing analysis for three days (13-16 February) to see how the weather is developing and it has been really interesting,” commented Brian Thompson. “A few days ago, the GFS Model was showing a windy race and the ECMWF was showing a moderate race. Now they are coming into align and showing possibly slightly less than moderate. At the moment we might be looking at 12-16 knots, slightly north of east. We have had a lot of wind in the build-up to this race, but by race day we should see calm seas, relatively for the Caribbean. However, keep in mind we are looking at the weather only as far as 36 hours into the race.”

"By race day we should see calm seas"

“Hopefully Argo will finish the race early Tuesday evening; record pace would be around sunset on day two. Regarding record pace, I don’t think this race will see too many squalls disrupting the wind, but getting through the lee of Guadeloupe could be tricky. If Argo can round Guadeloupe before the competition, we would be in a very good position to finish first.”

To break the RORC Caribbean 600 Multihull Race Record, held by Giovanni Soldini’s Multi70 Maserati (30 hours, 49 minutes, 00 seconds), any multihull would need to finish the race before 18:19 AST on Tuesday 22nd February.

Brian Thompson will be racing on Jason Carroll’s MOD70 Argo (USA) - "If Argo can round Guadeloupe before the competition, we would be in a very good position to finish first" © Carlo Borlenghi/Rolex

Tom Cheney is racing on Tom Kneen’s JPK 1180 Sunrise.

This will be the first race for Cheney who works with Suzy Peters on the strategy, together with Dave Swete, a three-time race winner.

The trio were also on Sunrise for their overall victory in the Rolex Fastnet Race and will be racing the boat in the RORC Caribbean 600.

“The RORC Caribbean 600 is very different to the Rolex Fastnet Race,” commented Tom Cheney. “One of the big considerations is planning the strategy for the wind shadows for the number of high volcanic islands. So, we know what to expect and the manoeuvres are fairly easy to predict. Between myself, Suzy and Dave we have put together a strategy, breaking the course down into twelve legs. On top of that we have broken down each leg into thirds; the transition in, the leg itself and the exit into the next leg.”

"A boat under 50ft has never claimed the RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy"

A boat under 50ft has never claimed the RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy for the overall win, and Sunrise is less than 40ft long.

“We never set out to win a race overall, we simply try to race the boat to the best performance possible. But I do think that on paper this race does play quite well to our strengths, even more than the Fastnet. There is a lot of reaching in this course and Sunrise really lights up when we put the bow down. At the moment the forecast wind speed is trending-down for the first 48 hours when the big boats will still be racing. But there is a small chance that the breeze may go up on day three. As a smaller boat, we get more weather. The question is, will that be more or less wind? That is the make or break.”
Sunrise

Tom Cheney is racing on Tom Kneen’s JPK 1180 Sunrise and will work with Suzy Peters on the strategy, together with Dave Swete © James Tomlinson

Seventy-five boats are entered for the RORC Caribbean 600 which starts on Monday 21 February in Antigua. The bulk of the astonishing fleet will be racing under IRC for overall victory and the Caribbean 600 Trophy. The glitterati of the sailing world will be taking part, as will passionate Corinthians. Over 700 sailors from 32 different nations will take on the thrilling race in the deep mid-winter of the Northern Hemisphere.

The beauty of the course is matched by the beast of conditions; trade winds and ocean swell create an exhilarating blast in tropical air around 11 islands in the Caribbean.

Dmitry Rybolovlev’s ClubSwan 125 Skorpios (MON), sailed by Fernando Echavarri, and the VPLP/Verdier 100 Comanche (CAY) skippered by Mitch Booth are favourites for Monohull Line Honours. Both Maxis are very capable of beating the Monohull Race Record set in 2018 by George David’s Rambler 88 (37 hours, 41 minutes, 45 seconds). The wild card for Line Honours is the Farr 100 Leopard skippered by Chris Sherlock. Leopard took Line Honours in the very first edition and it is great to see the famous boat back in Antigua. Comanche and Skorpios have only raced each other once before with Comanche taking the spoils in the 2021 Rolex Middle Sea Race.

“The RORC Caribbean 600 is a complicated race with a lot of different legs,” commented Skorpios skipper Fernando Echavarri.

“For Skorpios, how we play with the sails will be a very important area. Sail changes take a lot of time and each one reduces your speed, so we need to minimise the changes. To do that we choose sail combinations that are very versatile for the conditions and play with reefs and outriggers. It is super-important to make the right calls at the right time. The owner of Skorpios loves the two-day 600-mile races and this race is very interesting with so many islands and different points of sail, all in a beautiful place to race.

"RORC Caribbean 600 - 75 entries - 600 nm course - 700 sailors from 32 nations - 11 islands - 1 great race"

It is great to race against another very powerful boat. We know Comanche is very good in big breeze. Skorpios is a new boat and we have been making some changes to increase the performance in those areas where Comanche is strong, especially downwind. We were in race training mode crossing the Atlantic from Lanzarote to Antigua. It took us six days and seven hours to cover 3,120 nautical miles (Average speed 20.66 knots).”

One of the youngest teams in the race will be on board the Volvo 70 I Love Poland, competing in IRC Super Zero Photo: Robert Hadjuk

Mills 68 Prospector (USA), skippered by Terry Glackin and taking part in their third race Photo: Tim Wright/Photoaction.com

Groovederci Racing (USA) - A multinational crew on the chartered VO65 Sailing Poland skippered by Deneen Demourkas from Santa Barbara, California Photo: Tim Wright/Photoaction.com

IRC Super Zero

Fifteen Maxis will race in IRC Zero, just one less than the 2021 Rolex Fastnet Race. For the RORC Caribbean 600 six Volvo 70s and three VO65s will be racing in IRC Super Zero. The fastest on IRC Rating is the Volvo 70 L4 Trifork (DEN) sailed by Jens Dolmer, with Joern Larsen at the helm. Tactician Bouwe Bekking commented that L4 Trifork’s primary goal is to be the first Volvo 70 to finish the race. Competition in the Volvo 70s will come from Johannes Schwarz’s Ocean Breeze with a crew from the Yacht Club Sopot in Poland and Il Mostro (CAN) skippered by Gilles Barbot of Atlas Ocean Racing. I Love Poland (POL) skippered by Konrad Lipski has one of the youngest teams in the race, including teenagers Mateusz and Kacper Gwozdz. Olympic Gold medallist and Volvo Ocean Race sailor Tamara Echegoyen will be racing on Jens Lindner’s HYPR (ESP). Six different nationalities make up the crew on Lance Shepherd’s Telefonica Black (GBR), with charter guests from Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Switzerland and the United States.

The VO65s will enjoy a battle within IRC Super Zero. Ambersail II (LUT) is skippered by Saulius Pajarskas with an all-Lithuanian crew. The Austrian Ocean Race Project’s Sisi (AUT) is skippered by Gerwin Jansen. Deneen Demourkas from Santa Barbara, California has chartered Sailing Poland’s VO65 and is competing under the famous team banner of Groovederci Racing (USA). The multinational crew includes Marc Lagesse as navigator and Taylor Canfield as tactician. Over the past two decades, Demourkas’ Groovederci Racing has excelled in top one-design classes, including three world championship victories in the Farr30 (formerly Mumm 30) Class. In 2015, Deneen was nominated for ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year.

The two lowest-rated boats in IRC Super Zero are the Mills 68 Prospector (USA), sailed by Shelter Island Transatlantic Partners and taking part in their third race. Richard Tolkien at the helm of his Open 60 Rosalba (GBR) will be taking part in his first RORC Caribbean 600.

IRC Zero

The top five boats on IRC Rating could produce the closest contest in the 75-strong fleet. Christopher Sheehan’s Pac52 Warrior Won (USA), class winner in the 2021 Transpac, has a crack-crew including Stu Bannatyne from New Zealand and Canada’s Richard Clarke. From Lake Michigan Illinois, Kate & Jim Murray’s Pac52 Callisto (USA) is the highest rated boat in IRC Zero. Callisto’s crew includes navigator Jules Salter from the UK and Jared Henderson from New Zealand. Direct competition for the Pac52s will be David Collins’ Botin IRC 52 Tala (GBR). Tala was in fine form for the RORC Transatlantic Race, placing third overall. Tala’s crew includes New Zealander Campbell Field as navigator and Jeremy Robinson from the UK.

Eric de Turckheim’s NMYD 54 Teasing Machine (FRA) rates lower than the pack of hot 50-footers. Teasing Machine’s tactician Laurent Pages commented that the team is really looking forward to the race against top competition. Ron Hanley’s Cookson 50 Privateer (USA), overall winner in 2013 and second overall in 2018, sailed to Antigua from Rhode Island to take part in the race. Juggy Clougher who was on the delivery, has raced around the world more times than Phileas Fogg and won the race overall with Beau Geste and Rambler. “Just bashed our brains out upwind in 20 knots for 1,200 miles, so we can race for 600 miles! That’s what you do.... this is a really special race!”

With 19 teams, IRC Zero is the largest class in the RORC Caribbean 600. The competition within the class is set to be red hot. Watch out for the battle of the two French Ker 46s; Dominique Tian’s Tonnerre de Glen and Frederic Puzin’s Daguet 3. Adrian Lee, winning skipper for the first edition with his Cookson 50 will be taking part in his sixth race in Swan 60 Lee Overlay Partners II (IRL). Adrian’s twin teenage children, Dasha and Alexander will be racing on board.

Christopher Sheehan’s Pac52 Warrior One (USA) Photo: Sharon Green/Ultimate Sailing

Racing in IRC Zero - Ron Hanley’s Cookson 50 Privateer (USA) was overall winner in 2013 and second overall in 2018 Photo: Tim Wright/Photoaction.com

David Collins’ Botin IRC 52 Tala (GBR) will be competition for the Pac52s Photo: James Mitchell/RORC

IRC One

Two British JPK 1180s will be among the favourites in IRC One. Tom Kneen’s Sunrise (GBR) swept the board in the 2021 Rolex Fastnet Race, winning the world’s biggest offshore race overall. Ed Bell's JPK Dawn Treader (GBR) was out of luck in the Rolex Fastnet Race, retiring with a broken mast. Both boats were shipped across the Atlantic to take part in what will be their first race in the Caribbean.

Jacques Pelletier’s Milon 41 L’Ange de Milon (FRA) and Andrew Hall’s Lombard 46 Pata Negra (GBR) raced to the Caribbean in the RORC Transatlantic Race, coming second and fourth in class respectively. Two J/121s will be racing; Stuart Dahlgreen will sail Wings (USA) with a crew from Canada and the United States. Peter Lewis returns to the RORC Caribbean 600 with his team on Whistler (BAR).

The top two rated boats in IRC One features a match-up between two Pogo 12.50s. Tim Knight’s Kai (GBR) will race Two-Handed with Chris Swallow. Morgen Watson skippers Hermes II (CAN) for a fifth race, with a full crew, alongside partner Meg Reilly. There is no stopping Bernie Evan-Wong, the Antiguan skipper of the RP37 Taz has competed in every edition of the race and this year the Taz crew includes sailors from Antigua, Great Britain, Ireland and the USA.

One of the favourites in IRC One - Tom Kneen's British JPK 1180 Sunrise Photo: Rick Tomlinson

Jacques Pelletier’s Milon 41 L’Ange de Milon (FRA) competing in IRC One Photo: Rick Tomlinson

IRC Two

A dozen teams will be competing in IRC Two. Ross Applebey’s Oyster 48 Scarlet Oyster (GBR) has won class at the RORC Caribbean 600 a record six times. Richard Palmer’s JPK 1010 Jangada (GBR), racing with Jeremy Waitt will be competing in their third race, having won the Two-Handed class in 2020. Two Antiguan boats racing in the class are Pamala Baldwin’s J/122 Liquid and Carlo Falcone’s legendary Caccia Alla Volpe, skippered by Carlo’s son Rocco, with sister Shirley in an all-Antiguan crew. America’s Cup winner Shannon Falcone will be on Comanche for the race. Caccia Alla Volpe was Shannon’s first home when he sailed to Antigua as a child with his parents. Peter Hopps will be racing Sigma 38 Sam (GBR) in his 12th race. Sam is the lowest rated boat under IRC, but always makes the prize giving!

Ross Applebey’s Oyster 48 Scarlet Oyster (GBR) has won class at the RORC Caribbean 600 a record six times Photo: Tim Wright/Photoaction.com

IRC Two -Carlo Falcone’s legendary Caccia Alla Volpe, skippered by Carlo’s son Rocco, with sister Shirley in an all-Antiguan crew Photo: Tim Wright/Photoaction.com

Class40 Division

Nine Class40s will be taking part this year. The pocket-rocket 40-footers have always featured since the first race in 2009, with some exceptionally close finishes throughout the years.

Charles-Louis Mourruau’s Guidi is one of the latest Class40 designs in the race. The Sam Manuard designed Mach40.3 was commissioned in 2018. Charles-Louis is no stranger to RORC racing having competed in the Sevenstar Round Britain & Ireland Race and the Rolex Fastnet Race.

The 2017 Verdier designed Rennes - Saint Malo / Mer Entreprendre will be sailed by Baptiste Hulin & Clement Commagnac. Racing on Arthur Hubert’s BHB, Commagnac won the 2020 RORC Caribbean 600.

Brian Hennessy’s Dragon (USA) is arguably the most successful American Class40 skipper having won the Bermuda One-Two, the Miami to Havana and the Marblehead to Halifax races. He will be racing Two-Handed with Cole Brauer.

Morgane Ursault Poupon racing Up Sailing will be taking part in her second race. The 2007 Rogers Yacht Design is one of the oldest boats in the race but was an impressive class runner-up in 2020.

Latest entries can be found here