By dawn on day four of the RORC Caribbean 600, 29 teams had finished the race with nearly all of them crossing the finish line in a hectic overnight period. The army of Antigua Yacht Club volunteers rolled up their sleeves to congratulate every crew with a warm smile, cold Carib beer and a team photo to savour. With the number of finishers approaching half the RORC fleet, class winners are emerging.

Results link here

MOCRA

Gunboat 68 Tosca (USA) skippered by Alex Thomson has won the MOCRA Class after time correction. Giovanni Soldini’s Maserati Multi70 was second with MOD70 Zoulou, sailed by Erik Maris in third.

“Apart from a few squalls we had plenty of steady breeze, which is great for Tosca - a perfect boat to do this race. You have the comfort of a superyacht and the speed of a Volvo 70,” commented Alex Thomson dockside. “Tosca has a great crew and together we are really understanding how to improve the boat’s performance. The MOD70s that were in front of us are amazing boats and there are great boats right through this class. We are really chuffed to win the MOCRA Class; it is a milestone for this boat. Now we are really looking forward to the Rolex Fastnet Race later this year.”

Eric de Turckheim's NMD54 Teasing Machine (FRA) at Redonda in the 2023 RORC Caribbean 600 Race Photo: Tim Wright

IRC Zero

RORC Vice Commodore Eric de Turckheim racing NMD54 Teasing Machine (FRA) has won the highly competitive class. Kate & Jim Murray’s Pac52 Callisto (USA) is second, with Frederic Puzin’s Ker 46 Daguet 3 – Corum (FRA) in third. Racing in IRC Zero is the Verdier 54 Notre Mediterranee - Ville de Nice (FRA), sailed by Fabien Biron & Pim Nieuwenhuis, which is the first IRC Two-Handed team to finish the race in an elapsed time of 02 days 17 hrs 15 mins 15 secs.

 Verdier 54 Notre Mediterranee - Ville de Nice (FRA), sailed by Fabien Biron & Pim Nieuwenhuis Two-Handed in IRC Zero of the 2023 RORC Caribbean 600 Race Photo: Arthur Daniel

Class40

Albi Bona’s IBSA (ITA) held off a strong challenge from Ambrogio Beccaria’s Alla Grande – Pirelli (ITA) to win the 13-strong Class40 Division by one mile after 61 hours of racing. Completing the Class40 podium was Axel Trehin’s Project Rescue Ocean (FRA), just twenty minutes behind Alla Grande – Pirelli.

“We are very happy to win in a very good fleet. Brogio (Ambrogio Beccaria) comes from the North of Italy like me, so it is great to have two Italian boats at the top. This is the first time I have done this race. It is a great course for Class40 and it has been special to race with a team that knows it so well.” 

IBSA crew for the race was an international team, skipper Albi Bona (ITA) was joined by Pablo Santurde (ESP), Luca Bertacci (ITA) and Luke Berry (FRA).

All of the teams in IRC One and IRC Two are still racing in the RORC Caribbean 600. Conditions out on the racecourse are generally nothing short of fabulous, with tropical heat, moderate sea state and stable easterly winds of about 15 knots.

Winning Class40 Albi Bona’s IBSA (ITA) in the 2023 RORC Caribbean 600 Race Photo: Arthur Daniel

IRC One

Andrew & Sam Hall’s Lombard 46 Pata Negra (GBR) is about to round Redonda. Pata Negra is leading the class after IRC time correction by 30 minutes from First 53 Yagiza (FRA) skippered by Phillippe Falle. Yagiza is just a mile astern of Pata Negra. The two teams know each other very well, but there will be no quarter taken or given for the gruelling beat to the finish. Dan Litchfield’s classic Aage Nielsen 59 Hound (USA) is ranked third, but only by five minutes. Hound is very much in the game if their water-line length and displacement come into play for the upwind slog to Antigua.

ISORA's Andrew & Sam Hall’s Lombard 46 Pata Negra (GBR) competing in the 2023 RORC Caribbean 600 Race Photo: Tim Wright

IRC Two

J/133 Vamoose (USA) skippered by Bob Manchester leads on the water and is the only boat to have passed Barbuda for the second time. About 30 miles behind three boats are in close combat with each other with one eye on the clock to win the class. Peter McWhinnie’s JPK 1080 In Theory (USA) still leads class after IRC time correction, but the two-hour time correction lead at Guadeloupe is now down to 37 minutes from Vamoose. Andy Middleton’s First 47.7 EH01 (GBR) is still in the hunt but has dropped to third in ranking for IRC Two.

Peter McWhinnie’s JPK 1080 In Theory (USA) still leads IRC Two after IRC time correction in the 2023 RORC Caribbean 600 Race Photo: Tim Wright

Follow the race with satellite tracking below

Roy P. Disney’s Pyewacket 70 (USA) has taken Monohull Line Honours in the 2023 RORC Caribbean 600 in an elapsed time of 42 hours 45 mins 06 secs. Two generations of the Disney family have raced boats under the Pyewacket name. The latest Pyewacket 70 is a turbo-charged Volvo 70 with a taller mast, lighter hull and deeper keel than the original box rule. Pyewacket 70 is the fastest of the Disney dynasty and the first to take Monohull Line Honours in the RORC Caribbean 600.

Pyewacket 70 Crew: Ben Mitchell, Peter Isler, Tony Mutter, Brad Jackson, Brian Janney, Daryl Wislang, David Tank, Jan Majer, Mark Callahan, Matt Mialik, Robbie Kane, Rodney Daniel, Tristan Louwrens.

Ben Mitchell was the stand-in skipper for Roy Pat Disney who was not on board due to knee surgery. Ben has always been part of the Pyewacket family ever since Roy Disney started it in 1989. The first Pyewacket was a 74ft sloop which set the race record for the 1999 Transpac. Pyewacket was named after the witch's cat in the film Bell, Book and Candle, which inspired Walt Disney to create Mickey Mouse in 1928.

The Caribbean 600 crew Pyewacket 70 Crew: Ben Mitchell, Peter Isler, Tony Mutter, Brad Jackson, Brian Janney, Daryl Wislang, David Tank, Jan Majer, Mark Callahan, Matt Mialik, Robbie Kane, Rodney Daniel, Tristan Louwrens.

“RP (Roy Pat Disney) thank you for letting us take your toy and racing the Caribbean 600 in a successful manner. We are so disappointed you are not with us to enjoy this spectacular victory,” commented Ben Mitchell. “The real wow factor is that Pyewacket 70 was here for the RORC 600 and this team is so good. We had a great mix of crew that know this course very well, and crew like me who experienced this wonderful race for the first time. Each leg is like a race in itself, which keeps everybody going, but on a boat like Pyewacket 70 those legs become very short. Getting any sleep is a challenge as the whole crew is up for every manoeuvre.”

RORC CEO Jeremy Wilton presents skipper Ben Mitchell with the Monohull Line Honours trophy Photo: Arthur Daniel

Pyewacket 70’s navigator was America’s Cup winner Peter Isler. This was Peter’s fifth race, including winning the triple (IRC Overall, Class and Monohull Record) on George David’s Rambler 100 in 2011.

“The name of the game for the navigator is to study the weather and the nuances in this race are so different. When you get out there all your expectations can be blown,” commented Peter Isler. “I had pre-conceptions of what the tactics are at different points in the race and I will say at least half the time I was wrong! In this race you have to keep your eyes open and understand the fundamentals of weather and be ready to adjust to the changes. A great example was going through the lee of Guadeloupe; it is the big X-Factor in this race and a total nightmare for navigators. It seems so random as to where you go to get through that wind-hole and this year was unlike any other experience I have had going through the lee.”

Peter Isler - navigator on Volvo 70 Pyewacket 70 Photo: Arthur Daniel

Pyewacket crew Brad Jackson commented: “With the wind north of east we expected the wind shadow to be further forward at Guadeloupe, but in reality that was not the case and we really slowed down there. The sargassum weed was also a factor, but Pyewacket 70 is equipped with weed cutters and they worked well in this race. We stopped behind Guadeloupe three times, but not for very long, so that did not cost us too much in the race.”

The next monohull to finish the RORC Caribbean 600 is Volvo 70 I Love Poland (POL), skippered by Grzegorz Baranowski. Pyewacket 70 has set the bar for the overall win under IRC for the RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy. The vast majority of the fleet are expected to finish the race over the next two days.

After over 30 hours of racing at speeds approaching 40 knots, MOD70 Zoulou sailed by Erik Maris (FRA) won Multihull Line Honours in the 2023 RORC Caribbean 600 by just 11 seconds. Zoulou completed the 600-mile race in just under 31 hours. Giovanni Soldini’s Maserati Multi70 (ITA) endured the pain of coming second after another photo-finish; Maserati was also second last year just two minutes from Jason Carroll’s record-breaking MOD 70 Argo.

MOD70 Zoulou on the dock after completing the RORC Caribbean 600. The Zoulou Crew: Erik Maris, Ned Collier Wakefield, Thierry Fouchier, Loick Peyron, Bruno Jeanjean, Bruno Mourniac, Thomas Le Breton Photo: Arthur Daniel

Zoulou Crew: Erik Maris, Ned Collier Wakefield, Thierry Fouchier, Loick Peyron, Bruno Jeanjean, Bruno Mourniac, Thomas Le Breton.

“That was an incredible race with such a close finish,” commented Zoulou’s Erik Maris. “We were ahead until midnight on the first day but we lost Maserati when they were very fast on their foils going down to Guadeloupe. Maserati sailed really well on the second day but on the penultimate leg (Barbuda to Redonda), they lost themselves under a cloud, just as Zoulou had done in the RORC Transatlantic Race. We came back together and the lead changed many times on the leg to Redonda. The last leg was really tough as the wind speed and direction was very unstable, but we managed to pass them on the one that counts. It was as close as it gets; an incredible finish and great fun. I decided to get into the MOD70 Class to do all the RORC races, that was the plan and we intend to do the Rolex Fastnet Race later this year.”

Erik Maris (R) and RORC CEO Jeremy Wilton (L) Photo: Arthur Daniel/RORC

A photo finish for Maserati Multi70 and MOD70 Zoulou Photo: James Tomlinson

Zoulou’s tactician is Thomas Le Breton, who has competed in the Laser, Finn, AC45, SailGP and the GC32 Circuit, but this was Le Breton’s first RORC Caribbean 600. Le Breton described the strategy and the tactics for the last leg from Redonda to the finish.

“At Redonda, Maserati was ahead of us with 30 miles upwind to the finish. We had two or three squalls, and Ned Collier Wakefield knows the race very well and knew all the tricks for this last leg. We decided to play the shifts in the rain and wind to the north. We lost contact with Maserati which went to the south. At the end, we ended up together and finally, we were in a match race for the last five miles. We managed to pass Maserati just before the line by just 11 seconds, it was a very good fight. Maybe what helped us was our experience in the GC32 where we are used to making decisions at high speed. This race has super-nice weather and we had good fun on board, and to race against a good team with a tight finish, this has been a very good regatta,” commented Le Breton dockside.

Zoulou's tactician - Thomas Le Breton Photo: Photoboat

Maserati Multi70 took the lead for the first time from Zoulou after rounding Saba at around midnight on day one of the race. Using their foils Maserati extended their lead, touching 40 knots of boat speed on the long leg down to Guadeloupe. Having built-up a 13 mile lead, Maserati then got caught under a cloud and lost the breeze after passing the penultimate mark of the course at Barbuda. Zoulou then came into Maserati with the pressure to catch up to stage the grandstand finish.

“The whole race was interesting and crazy, not just the finish,” commented Giovanni Soldini. “We arrived at the finish together, and with our foils, we are slower to tack in lighter winds. We made an error in the last tack; we went too early and that is the story, but it was a very nice race all the way. We pushed a lot and really enjoyed a beautiful rivalry with Zoulou. This time they have won, but it is no problem; next time it will be Maserati!”

Irish sailors are among the crews in the top 20 boats in IRC overall after the first 15 hours of racing in the RORC Caribbean 600 Race. 

Seventy boats racing under IRC, Class40 and MOCRA Rules, with crew from 30 different countries, started the 14th edition on time at 11:00 AST on Monday, 20th February.

Cork's Justin Slattery, a double Volvo Ocean Race winner, onboard Niklas Zennstrom’s CF520 Rán 8 is lying sixth while James Carroll on the Botin 56 Black Pearl is 11th. ISORA's Andrew Hall is 15th on Pata Negra and Will Byrne, on the Mills 41 Final Final, is 19th. 

At the start outside Nelson’s Dockyard in Antigua, unstable squally conditions, with the wind speed in the mid-teens, produced a thrilling start for all classes. The RORC fleet has now set its sails for the spectacular 600nm race around 11 Caribbean islands. 

The fastest boats in the fleet are expected to finish in less than two days, but for some, it will be five days before returning to a triumphant finish in Antigua. Track the fleet via YB Races below.

MOCRA Class

MOD 70 Zoulou (FRA) sailed by Erik Maris got away to a superb start. Flying their port hull, Zoulou had to duck a few boats on starboard, but nailed the pin end of the line at full pace. Giovanni Soldini’s Maserati Multi70 (ITA) took a more conventional start inshore, but was soon up to full pace, with Zoulou and Maserati both hitting over 30 knots of boat speed. Zoulou was the first to Barbuda just two hours and 43 seconds into the race, with Maserati 26 seconds behind. Gunboat 68 Tosca (USA), skippered by Alex Thomson was leading the charge behind the two trimarans.

Giovanni Soldini's Maserati Multi70 (ITA) and MOD70 Zoulou (FRA) competing in the RORC Caribbean 600 Photo: James Tomlinson

The MOCRA Class saw 10 multihulls take the RORC Caribbean 600 start under the Pillars of Hercules in Antigua Photo: Tim Wright

IRC Super Zero

A classic dial-up featured in the big IRC Class; Pyewacket 70 (USA) skippered by Ben Mitchell and VO65 Wind Whisper (POL) skippered by Joca Signorini locked horns inshore before the start. Both boats have Volvo Ocean Race winners on board, but bragging rights went to Wind Whisper which stayed clear ahead. Jens Lindner’s Volvo 70 HYPR (ESP) skippered by Seamus Fitzpatrick, arced up to the line on port and got a great start at the pin end. Johannes Schwarz’s Volvo 70 Green Dragon (NED) kept clear of trouble at the pin end to get a good start, as did Volvo 70 I Love Poland (POL) skippered by Grzegorz Baranowski.

Three hours after the start Pyewacket 70 was recording over 20 knots of boat speed with I Love Poland in hot pursuit. VO 65 Ambersail 2 (LTU) skippered by Przemyslaw Tarnacki was leading the chasing pack.

Close battle in IRC Super Zero of the RORC Caribbean 600 Photo: James Tomlinson

Roy P Disney's Pyewacket 70 (USA) in the RORC Caribbean 600 Photo: James Tomlinson

IRC Zero & Class40

With 12 high performance IRC boats and a record 13 Class40s, a thrilling start was expected and there was no disappointment. RORC Vice Commodore Eric de Turckheim’s NMD54 Teasing Machine (FRA) went straight for the pin end with a large number of Class40s for company, including Ambrogio Beccaria’s Alla Grande - Pirelli (ITA) and James McHugh’s Tquila (SUI). However, sailing higher and faster than the Class40s, Teasing Machine got away to a fast, clean start. Meanwhile inshore the start was significantly more frantic. Marc Lepesqueux’s Curium (FRA) and IBSA (ITA) skippered by Alberto Bona engaged right under the Pillars of Hercules. Inshore, RORC Commodore James Neville racing HH42 Ino XXX (GBR) found clean air reaching down the line and hardened up for a great start. Kate & Jim Murray’s Pac 52 Callisto (USA) and ClubSwan 50 Balthasar (BEL) sailed by Louis Balcaen also got away to an excellent start. Unfortunately, the race is over for Arto Linnervuo’s Infiniti 52 Tulikettu (FIN) which retired and headed back to port; all well onboard.

Three hours after the start Botin 56 Black Pearl (GBR) was leading IRC Zero on the water ahead of Callisto (USA) and Niklas Zennstrom’s CF520 Rán 8 (SWE). In the Class40 Division, Axel Trehin’s Project Rescue Ocean (FRA) was in the leading pack of Class40s, including; Alla Grande - Pirelli, Tquila and IBSA.

RORC Vice Commodore Eric de Turckheim’s NMD54 Teasing Machine (FRA) in the RORC Caribbean 600 Photo: James Tomlinson

Niklas Zennstrom’s CF520 Rán 8 competing in the RORC Caribbean 600 (SWE) with Cork's Justin Slattery onboard Photo: James Tomlinson

Axel Trehin’s Class40 Project Rescue Ocean (FRA) in the RORC Caribbean 600 Photo: James Tomlinson

IRC One

In the combined IRC One & IRC Two start, Laurent Courbin’s First 53 Yagiza (FRA) skippered by Philippe Falle got away to a great start inshore, as did Jon Desmond’s Mills 41 Final Final (USA). Two hours after the start, Andrew & Sam Hall’s Lombard 46 Pata Negra (GBR) was in the leading pack with Final Final and Adrian Lee’s Swan 60 Lee Overlay Partners (IRL). 

Jon Desmond’s Mills 41 Final Final (USA) with Dublin Bay's Will Byrne competing in the RORC Caribbean 600 Photo: James Tomlinson

IRC Two

J/133 Vamoose (USA) skippered by Bob Manchester got away well and played the shifts inshore to lead at Green Island on the water and extend the lead on the reach on the way up to Barbuda. Andy Middleton’s First 47.7 EH01 (GBR) was second on the water in close company with Ray Rhinelander’ J/133 Bella J (CAN).

J/133 Vamoose (USA) skippered by Bob Manchester in the RORC Caribbean 600 Photo: James Tomlinson

Follow the race with satellite tracking below

The 14th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 starts on 20th February at 11:00 AST (UTC-4). Seventy boats from all over the world are ready in Antigua for the non-stop 600nm race around 11 Caribbean islands. With over 550 sailors from 30 nations taking part, the  Caribbean 600 is truly an international affair.

Dublin Bay's David Hanks has already scored a victory in this week's RORC Nelson Cup warm-up as skipper of Spirit of Juno; Royal St. George former race winner Adrian Lee is back on the Swan 60 Lee Overlay (with RStGYC sailing manager Ronan Adams on board). Cliodhna Connolly on Swan 82 White Rhino. Kenny Rumball is the navigator on the Volvo 70 HYPR with a number of Irish crew. Will Byrne is on the Mills 41 Final Final. Seamus McHugh is racing on the Class40 T'quila, James Carroll returns on Black Pearl, and Cork's double Volvo Race winner Justin Slattery races on Ran 8. 

Kenny Rumball is the navigator on the Volvo 70 HYPR500 charterted to an Irish 'Emerald Race Team' for the C600

Dublin Bay’s Emerald Racing team have chartered the Volvo Open 70 Hypr Ocean Racing to compete in the RORC Caribbean 600. Hypr is one of four Volvo 70’s in the super zero class, with Roy Disney’s Pyewaket and I Love Poland expected to present stiff competition within the class. Emerald Racing has based itself at Falmouth Harbour Antigua for pre-race training and has tested both themselves and the yacht in big breeze in the lead-up to the 600-mile classic under boat captain Jens Lindner. The Dublin-based Emerald Racing crew members include Ben Duncan, Kenny Rumball, Brian Moran (RSGYC), Mal Moir (RIYC), Jake Mealy ((RSGYC), Joe Turner (HYC), Philip Connor (NYC), Jim Foley and Roman Mouchel.

On Monday 20th, February, the first warning signal will sound at Fort Charlotte for an epic race featuring a highly competitive and varied fleet of IRC Offshore boats, Class40s and Multihulls.

Entry List Link is here

11:00 AST Start - IRC One & IRC Two

Twenty-eight teams racing in IRC One and IRC Two will be first away. The largest start features a bounty of different boats racing under the IRC Rating System.

Among the favourites for IRC One are Andrew & Sam Hall’s Lombard 46 Pata Negra (GBR) and Laurent Courbin’s First 53 Yagiza (FRA). The highest-rated boats in IRC One are two Akilaria 40s designed by Marc Lombard; Stephane Bry’s Sirius II (FRA) and Marek Culen & Miroslav Jakubcik’s Sabre II (SVK). Jon Desmond’s Mills 41 Final Final (USA) is one of the fastest boats in IRC One.

The largest boat in the first start is the famous 73ft ketch Pen Duick VI (FRA), skippered by Marie Tabarly. Two other classics include the Whitbread winner Briand 58 L’Esprit d’Equipe (FRA), skippered by Lionel Regnier and the Nielsen 59 Hound (USA), owned by Tom Stark. Challenger 72 Discoverer of Hornet (GBR) is sailed by the Royal Navy. The smallest boat in IRC One is RP37 Taz (ANT); owner Bernie Evan-Wong has skippered boats in every race. 2009 winning skipper Adrian Lee will be racing his Swan 60 Lee Overlay Partners II (IRL). Antiguan Farr 65 Spirit of Juno (ANT) skippered by David Hanks, has the youngest sailor in the race - Emily Guillard is just 15 years old.

Among the favourites for IRC Two are Peter Lewis’ all-Bajan team on J/111 Whistler (BAR) and Peter McWhinnie’s JPK 1080 In Theory (USA), which was a class winner and third overall in 2020. Bob Manchester’s J/133 Vamoose (USA) was in fine form winning class in the Antigua 360 Race, part of the new RORC Nelson’s Cup Series. The largest boat in IRC Two is Clipper 60 Bluejay of Portsmouth (GBR) skippered by Andy Young.

The smallest boat in the race is Szymon Kuczynski’s Figaro One Hultaj (POL), which is one of five teams racing in IRC Two-Handed. Kate Cope’s Sun Fast 3200 Purple Mist will also be in the first start. Kate is racing with co-skipper Claire Dresser; the first all-women double-handed team to finish the RORC Transatlantic Race. 

IRC One: Andrew & Sam Hall’s Lombard 46 Pata Negra from Wales Photo: Rick Tomlinson

IRC Two: Peter Lewis’ all-Bajan team on J/111 Whistler (BAR) Photo: Tim Wright

11:10 AST Start - IRC Zero & Class40

Twenty five boats will be in the second start featuring 10 carbon-fibre IRC weapons and a record entry of 13 hi-tech Class40s. A truly international spectrum with boats from 13 different countries. 

Race pundits are predicting an overall winner under IRC coming from IRC Zero, but which boat will lift the RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy is far from certain. 

Vice Commodore Eric de Turckheim’s Teasing Machine (FRA) is among the favourites having won the RORC Transatlantic Race and the Rolex Middle Sea Race. The fastest rated boat under IRC in the second start is the Botin 56 Black Pearl (GER) skippered by Stefan Jentzsch. Niklas Zennstrom’s CF520 Rán 8 (SWE) is rated the second fastest under IRC, and third highest is Arto Linnervuo’s Infiniti 52 Tulikettu (FIN).

The largest boat in this year’s race will be in the second start; Tod Stuart’s Swan 82 White Rhino (USA). The two smallest boats in IRC Zero are RORC Commodore James Neville’s HH42 Ino XXX and Frederic Puzin’s Ker 46 Daguet 3 – Corum (FRA). Kate & Jim Murray’s Pac52 Callisto (USA) and Evans & Sheehan’s JV52 Hooligan will definitely be in the mix, as will the lightweight canting keel flyer Henry de Bokay’s Elliott 52 Rafale (GER).

A record entry of 13 Class40s will be blasting off in the second start of the RORC Caribbean 600, including some of the latest designs of the pocket-rocket flying machines. The Class40 Race Record was set in 2018 by Catherine Pourre’s Eärendil (FRA): 61 hours, 0 minutes, 15 seconds. Racing under Class40 rules, the first Class40 to finish the RORC Caribbean 600 will be the winner of the Concise Rum Barrel, suitably filled.

Marc Lepesqueux’s Lombard Curium (FRA) and Mach5 IBSA (ITA), co-skippered by Albi Bona and Pablo Santurde are both newly launched boats. Ambrogio Beccaria’s Alla Grande – Pirelli (ITA) was second in the 2022 Route du Rhum. James McHugh’s Mach4 Tquila (SUI) was fourth in the Route du Rhum, raced by former owner Simon Koster who will be on board. Past race winners include the Verdier-designed BHB (FRA), now raced by Paul Brandel, and the Botin-designed Tales 2 (FRA) now raced by Route du Rhum finisher JB Daramy.

IRC Zero: Botin 56 Black Pearl (GER) skippered by Stefan Jentzsch and with James Carroll onboard Photo: Tim Wright

Class40: Ambrogio Beccaria’s Alla Grande – Pirelli (ITA) Photo: Martina Orsini

11:20 AST Start - IRC SuperZero

IRC Super Zero promises to be a thrilling shoot-out for seven round the world canting-keel raceboats. Boats competing come from Austria, Spain, Ireland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland and the USA. It is likely that one of these boats will take Monohull Line Honours and maybe, just maybe, win overall under IRC as David & Peter Askew's American Volvo 70 Wizard did in 2019. 

The favourite for Monohull Line Honours is the turbo-charged Volvo 70 Pyewacket 70 (USA) owned by Roy Pat Disney, which is the highest rated boat under IRC for the RORC Caribbean 600. A close tussle is expected on the water between two Volvo 70s; Jens Lindner’s HYPR (ESP) is skippered by Seamus Fitzpatrick, and the all-Polish team on I love Poland (POL), skippered by Grzegorz Baranowski, which took Line Honours in the RORC Transatlantic Race. Johannes Schwartz’s Volvo 70 Green Dragon (NED) has 15 RORC members on board, including most of the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s main committee. 

Three VO65s will have a full-on one design battle as a sabbatical from the on-going race around the world: The Ocean Race. No doubt the battle with the Volvo 70s will also be spicing up the action. Wind Whisper (POL), skippered by Volvo Ocean Race winner Joca Signorini is the leading VO65 in The Ocean Race. Third in The Ocean Race, Sisi (AUT) skippered by Gerwin Jansen is also racing. Ambersail 2 (LTU) has been chartered for the race and skippered by Poland’s Przemyslaw Tarnacki.

Multihull: Giovanni Soldini's Multi 70 Maserati Photo: Arthur Daniel/RORC

11:30 AST Start - Multihull

Ten multihulls are the last to start in the 2023 RORC Caribbean 600. Racing under the MOCRA Rule for class honours, there is no doubt that two boats will be lighting the afterburners for Multihull Line Honours and potentially the outright Race Record; Giovanni Soldini’s Maserati Multi70 (ITA) and MOD70 Zoulou (FRA) with Erik Maris at the helm. Jason Carroll’s Argo set the outright record last year: 29 hours, 38 mins, 44 secs. Maserati and Zoulou are both very capable of setting a new record.

Two Gunboats will be in action; Gunboat 68 Tosca (USA) co-skippered by Ken Howery and Alex Thomson is by far the quickest. Gunboat 60 Cui Bono (USA) is owned by race debutant Rob Merwin and skippered by Canadian Freddie Mills. The MOCRA Class features two historic multihulls; Formula 40 Spirit (USA) owned by Bostonian AJ Meyer, and Guy Chester’s Lock Crowther trimaran Oceans Tribute (AUS). High Performance multihulls racing include Guyader Saveol (FRA) skippered by Gwen Chapalain, MG5 (FRA) co-skippered by Marc Guillemot and Ben Dale-Jones, Oren Nataf’s Pulsar 50 (MON) Rayon Vert, and Vince Willemart’s TS42 Banzai (BEL).

Watch the start of the RORC Caribbean 600 LIVE! Tune into the RORC YouTube Channel (www.youtube.com/RORCRACING) from 10:30 AST (UTC-4) Monday 20th February.

To follow the race with satellite tracking below

A spectacular fleet of 70 boats, ranging from 29ft (9m) to 82ft (25m), will take the start of the 15th edition of the 600 nautical miles 2023 RORC Caribbean 600 on Monday, 19th February 2024.

Crews from around the globe, including Ireland, are arriving in Antigua and represent 30 different nations. 

Track the fleet below on Afloat.ie

2024 RORC Caribbean 600 - Start times

Monday, 19th February 2024

First warning signal: 10:50 local time Antigua

Start sequence: 1100 - IRC One & CSA, 1110 - IRC Zero & Class40, 1120 - IRC Zero & VO65, Multihull - 1130

For the 2023 RORC Caribbean 600, around 70 teams from 16 different countries are anticipated, and the inaugural RORC Nelson's Cup Series is projected to feature at least 12 boats.

On February 14—Valentine's Day—the new season's racing excitement gets underway.

The 14th running of the RORC Caribbean 600, which gets underway on Monday, February 20, will be the concluding race of the four-race series.

Multihull - 70-foot racing trimarans prepare for a showdown

Two 70-foot racing trimarans are getting ready for a multihull competition; Giovanni Soldini's Maserati Multi70 (ITA) is back after narrowly losing the Multihull Line Honors in 2022 to Jason Carroll's Argo by two minutes. Argo is in the Pacific and won't compete this year, but Erik Maris' MOD70 Zoulou (FRA) will give the Italian stallion fierce competition. Six multihulls are anticipated to participate, including Christian Guyader's ORC 50 Guyader Saveol (FRA), captained by Gwen Chapalain, and the Gunboat 60 Tosca (USA), co-skippered by Ken Howery & Alex Thomson.

Close finish - Multi70 Maserati and Argo in the 2022 RORC Caribbean 600 Photo: Arthur Daniel/RORC

IRC Super Zero - Canting keelboats will show their stuff

Roy P. Disney's Volvo 70 Pyewacket (USA) Photo: Pyewacket

Four Volvo 70s will compete in the IRC Super-Zero, a thrilling six-gun shootout between round-the-world canting-keel race boats, including the American skipper Roy P. Disney's Pyewacket (USA), I Love Poland (POL), HYPR Ocean Racing (AUT) under Seamus Fitzpatrick, and a RORC team sailing Green Dragon (AUT) under Johannes Schwarz. IRC Super Zero will also feature two VO65s: the Austrian entry aboard Sisi (AUT), skippered by Gerwin Jansen, and the Lithuanian team on Ambersail (LTU).

A RORC team will be racing on Volvo 70 Green Dragon (AUT) Photo: James Mitchell/RORC

IRC Zero – Biggest fleet

Frederic Puzin’s Ker 46 Daguet 3 - Corum (FRA) Photo: Tim Wright

IRC Zero, which has 13 participants, is the most competitive class for the RORC Caribbean 600. Seven carbon fibre 50-footers in the class, including Eric de Turckheim's NMD 54 Teasing Machine (FRA), Stefan Jentsch's Botin 56 Black Pearl (GER), Niklas Zennstrom's CF520 Rán (SWE), Henry de Bokay's Elliott 52 Rafale (GER), Kate & Jim Murray Pac52 Callisto (USA), Arto Linnervuo's Infiniti 52 Tulikettu (FIN), and Louis Balce Smaller boats like the HH42 Ino XXX (GBR), sailed by RORC Commodore James Neville, and Frederic Puzin's Ker 46 Daguet 3 - Corum can outperform their size (FRA). Todd Stuart's Swan 82 White Rhino (USA) and Marie-Louise (Canada) are the largest boats anticipated to compete in IRC Zero.

Henry de Bokay’s Elliott 52 Rafale (GER) Photo: James Mitchell

Class40 – Multinational competition

The RORC Caribbean 600 will include a dozen or more Class40s, including three of the newest models sailed by Italian participants. Racing the Guelfi-designed Alla Grande - Pirelli will be Ambrogio Beccaria, who finished second in the Route du Rhum and first in the Normandy Channel Race in 2022. (ITA). Alberto Bona will race the Mach 40.5 IBSA (ITA), one of Sam Manuard's most recent creations. The VPLP-designed Influence will be raced by fellow Italian skipper Andrea Fornaro, who won his class in the 2022 Round Ireland Race (ITA). The Verdier-designed Class40 BHB (FRA), which won the RORC Caribbean 600 in 2020, is back under the command of Paul Brandel. Olivier Delrieu, with his Mach40 Vicitan, is back in third place in 2022. (FRA).

Greg Leonard’s Kite (USA) Photo: Rick Tomlinson

Two Mach40.3s from the US will compete in the RORC Caribbean 600 for the first time, including Greg Leonard's Kite (USA), which finished second in the 2022 Sevenstar Round Britain & Ireland Race. Last year, Martin Roesch raced on the Mills 68 Prospector; however, this will be his first competition on the Mach40.3 Velocity (USA).

Alla Grande – Pirelli (ITA) Photo: Martina Orsini/Ambrogio Beccaria

IRC One – Broad range of boats

Bernie Evan-Wong’s RP37 Taz (ANT) Photo: Paul Wyeth

The RP37 Taz, driven by Bernie Evan-Wong, will compete in IRC One (ANT). Bernie will compete as skipper for the 14th time and has never missed a RORC Caribbean 600. J/121 Whistler (BAR), skippered by Peter Lewis, is another Caribbean entry that Taz will have stiff competition from. Experienced British entries in IRC One include Andy Middleton's First 47.7 EH01 (GBR) and Andrew & Sam Hall's Lombard 46 Pata Negra (GBR).

J/121 Whistler (BAR) Photo: Tim Wright

First 53 Yagiza (FRA), skippered by seasoned competitor Philippe Falle, will compete in its first race. L'Esprit d'Equipe (FRA), a 58-foot Briand sloop owned by Lionel Regnier, is also entered. Winner of the 1985 Whitbread Round the World Race, the winning skipper Lionel Pean will be on board for the RORC Caribbean 600.

Corinthian Power and Pride

Katy Campbell’s Solaris 45 Panacea X (CAN) Photo: Tim Wright

Six boats from four different countries are entered in IRC Two & IRC Three. The largest is Katy Campbell’s Solaris 45 Panacea X (CAN). The oldest is the classic Swan 441 Charisma (GER) skippered by Constantin Claviez. Kate Cope’s Sun Fast 3200 Purple Mist is one of the smallest boat in the RORC Caribbean 600. Purple Mist will be racing Two-Handed with Claire Dresser, following on from their success in the RORC Transatlantic Race. A total of six teams will be racing in IRC Two-Handed, the smallest is Szymon Kuczynski Figaro One Hultaj (POL) at just 9 meters in length. However, Hultaj is a large boat compared to the boat in which Szymon set a new world record in 2018. He circumnavigated singlehanded and unaided in 270 days on board the 6.3 meter sloop Atlantic Puffin.

Classic Swan 441 Charisma (GER) Photo: James Mitchell

RORC Nelson’s Cup Series - High Aspirations

While the RORC Caribbean 600 offshore race is now well established as the ‘must do’ offshore race for the Caribbean, the RORC Nelson’s Cup Series is a new initiative by the Royal Ocean Racing Club. The four-race series which includes the RORC Caribbean 600 has attracted over a dozen entries. The RORC Nelson’s Cup Series will pitch classic yachts such as Pen Duick VI against one of the latest hi-tech offshore racers - Rán, and just about everything in between. The series is also open to yachts that are not entered for the 600-mile offshore event. Tom Rich’s GP42 Settler (USA) has taken up that opportunity. The RORC Nelson’s Cup Series is raced under the IRC Rule and every boat has an equal chance of winning races.

“The RORC Caribbean 600 race is one of the best offshore races in the world, but it is usually won by a big boat,” commented RORC Vice-Commodore Eric de Turckheim. “The Series will give smaller boats a better chance of winning due to the variety of races. The Royal Ocean Racing Club have a long-term plan for the RORC Nelson’s Cup Series; making it one of the world’s most significant regattas.”

The up-grading of the RORC's annual Caribbean 600 race to what is effectively a two-week inshore/offshore festival in February 2023, when the sailing in the area is at its brisk but warm best, is a reminder that Irish boats and crews have been in there since the start in 2009 of
what initially seemed like a slightly wacky idea.

For although the established 600-700 mile classics such as the Bermuda Race, the Fastnet Race, the Sydney-Hobart, the Middle Sea and the Round Ireland have relatively straightforward courses, in order to break the 600-mile ceiling, the slighty eccentric Antigua Sailing Brains Trust came up with a cat's cradle of a course, intertwining so many island and large rock turning points that some of the bigger boats carried two navigators, just to be sure to be sure.

Howth contingent in Antigua - Michael Wright and ex-pat superstar Gordon Maguire before the start of the Caribbean 600. Photo: Brian Turvey

But immediately it was proposed, Adrian Lee of Royal St George YC in Dun Laoghaire was much taken with the idea. He had recently bought Ger O'Rourke of Limerick's Cookson 50 Chieftain, overall winner in the 2007 Fastnet Race and high scorer or winner in several other majors. Yet by February 2009 there she was in Antigua, ready to go as Lee Overlay Partners with a totally fresh high-quality livery re-vamp which clearly declared that this was a completely new chapter in Cookson 50 history.

And a pretty good chapter it was too. Lee Overlay Partners was the overall winner of the inaugural RORC Caribbean 600. And it was the first of several good stagings of the annual race as far as Ireland is concerned, for since then there have been top placings and class wins,
notably by Conor Fogerty with his Sunfast 3600 Bam! and the Howth Wright brothers-led team with the chartered Lombard 45 Pata Negra.

The RORC Caribbean 600 is a cat's cradle of a course - the start and finish is in the middle, at the south end of Antigua

As for the crew of Lee Overlay Partners, they'd acquired a taste for winter-rejecting offshore races, and in November 2013 they sailed in balmy Middle East weather in the 360-mile Dubai-Muscat Race, down the Gulf through the Straits of Hormuz to the Arabian Sea in what some naval authorities reckoned to be a war zone. If it was, Lee Overlay Partners spent a prudent minimum of time in it, as they broke the course record and notched another major overall win.

It was a warm, spice-laden Saturday night in Muscat when the win was declared. Meanwhile, back home in Dun Laoghaire on a wet and windy night of classic November qualities, the Royal St George YC was staging a gala celebration of all the 254 major international wins its members had recorded since the club's foundation in 1838, with the successful idea of cheering everyone up after emerging from the acute economic recession of 2008-2012. In the midst of it all, the news came in from Muscat. With appropriate acclamation, the number on the International Winnerboard was raised to 255.

The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) announces the inaugural RORC Caribbean 600 Series, which will be based in Antigua from 14th to 24th February 2023.

The series will include three days of racing followed by the main event, the 14th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600. The RORC Caribbean 600 Series is open to boats racing under the IRC, CSA and MOCRA Class Rules, plus other suitable classes.

RORC Vice Commodore Eric de Turckheim’s Teasing Machine and RORC Commodore James Neville’s INO XXX are both set to compete in the RORC Caribbean 600 Series. In two versions of Teasing Machine, Eric de Turckheim has competed in four previous editions of the RORC Caribbean 600.

“Historically, major 600-mile offshore races are part of a series, for example the Fastnet and the Admiral’s Cup. The RORC Caribbean 600 Series will have a similar format with inshore racing, a medium length offshore and a long offshore race,” commented Turckheim. “The RORC Caribbean 600 race is one of the best offshore races in the world, but it is normally won by a big boat. The Series will give smaller boats a better chance of winning due to the variety of races. The Royal Ocean Racing Club have a long-term plan for the RORC Caribbean 600 Series; making it one of the world’s most significant regattas.”

The highly competitive and tactically challenging RORC Caribbean 600 attracts hundreds of international sailors each year to enjoy offshore racing in superb Caribbean conditions in February Photo: Arthur Daniel/RORC

2023 RORC Caribbean 600 Series

• Tuesday 14th February 2023 - Inshore racing in coastal waters of Antigua
• Wednesday 15th February - Inshore racing in coastal waters of Antigua
• Thursday 16th February - Lay Day in Antigua
• Friday 17th February - 360 Round Antigua Race
• Saturday 18th February - Series Prize Giving and RORC Caribbean 600 Opening Party
• Monday 20th February - Start of the 14th RORC Caribbean 600
• Friday 24th February - Prize Giving RORC Caribbean 600

“The combination of a tactically challenging Caribbean destination, sunshine and warm blue waters makes this a totally unique event,” commented Race Director Chris Stone. “The RORC will continue to work with Antigua Yacht Club and their local volunteers supporting the management of this great event. All of the races in the Series will require boats to comply with World Sailing Offshore Special Regulations Category 3. For the RORC Caribbean 600 Race, boats will require additional equipment including: Liferaft, EPIRB and AIS Transponder.”

International Race Officer Hank Stuart from Rochester New York will be the Race Officer for the RORC Caribbean 600 Series. The intention is to run multiple races over the first two days. After Lay Day, the 52-mile 360 Round Antigua Race is scheduled and three days later will be the start of the 14th RORC Caribbean 600.

If you’re seeking an able, experienced and notably successful crewman in a wide variety of top-level craft, then seasoned international campaigner Shane Diviney of Howth is your man. Whether it’s the special skills needed to handle a large classic gaff-rigged 15 metre, or an experimentally-rigged offshore multi-hull, or a front-line canting keel IOR challenger, then Diviney is on the list. The final week of February saw him add to his successes with the overall win the RORC Caribbean 600 aboard the Pac52 Warrior Won, which is owned by American Chris Sheehan. So with Sheehan and Diviney on the strength, we’ve a Diaspora Dividend in making Shane our “Sailor of the Month (International)” for February.

“Diaspora Dividend” – RORC Caribbean 600 overall winner Warrior Won had Sheehan as the owner and Diviney as a key member in the crew.