Two Irish campaigns are among the early entries for the 2027 RORC Caribbean 600, with John Treanor's Royal Irish Yacht Club yacht Cristina and Karl Smith's Class40 Racing to End Parkinson's preparing for the 600-nautical-mile offshore race starting from Antigua on Monday, 22 February.
The 18th edition, organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) in association with Antigua Yacht Club, will take competitors around 11 Caribbean islands, with racing under IRC and MOCRA handicap systems.
The developing entry list includes several previous race winners, returning international campaigns and yachts competing under new ownership and names.
Treanor Returns With Former Caribbean 600 Class Winner
John Treanor's NMD 43 Cristina, formerly the French yacht Albator, is among the Irish entries. The Royal Irish Yacht Club campaign brings a boat with previous Caribbean 600 class-winning experience, including victories in 2018 and 2025.
As Afloat reported earlier this year, Treanor acquired the former French Admiral's Cup yacht as a step up from his successful J/112e Valentina campaign. The yacht subsequently competed in the 2026 Round Ireland Race and Cork Week, where she finished third overall in IRC Coastal.
Caribbean Bound – John Treanor’s Royal Irish Yacht Club NMD 43 Cristina powers through the water ahead of her 2027 RORC Caribbean 600 campaign. Photo: Bob Bateman
Another Irish connection comes through Karl Smith's Class40 Racing to End Parkinson's. Smith launched the campaign following his father Peter's Parkinson's diagnosis, combining offshore racing with fundraising and awareness of the condition.
As Afloat previously reported, Smith and David Rowen are entered in January's RORC Transatlantic Race from Lanzarote to Antigua, with the Caribbean 600 as another stage in preparations for Smith's 2027 Global Solo Challenge.
Former Irish-Winning Volvo 70 Returns as Pace
Among the leading international entries is Johnny Vincent's Volvo 70 Pace, previously raced as Tschüss 2 and, before that, Wizard. The yacht has won the Caribbean 600 overall under IRC in both previous identities.
Her most recent victory came in February 2025 when, racing as Tschüss 2, she was co-skippered by Howth Yacht Club's Johnny Mordaunt, with Dublin Bay sailor Cian Guilfoyle and Wicklow's Simon Johnson among the winning crew. That Irish-crewed overall victory was reported by Afloat following the 2025 race.
Winning Pedigree – The Volvo 70 formerly raced as Tschüss 2 returns to the RORC Caribbean 600 as Johnny Vincent’s Pace, having already won the race overall under previous identities. Photo: Tim Wright
Now racing as Pace, the Volvo 70 won both monohull line honours and IRC overall in the 2026 RORC Round Britain and Ireland Race.
Another Volvo 70, Gweilo 70, formerly Pyewacket 70, has expressed interest in competing but is not yet a confirmed entry. The Australian campaign is headed by Chris Townsend and Matthew Donald.
Other IRC contenders include James Neville's Botin 65 Artemis Bleu, formerly Caro, Frédéric Puzin's Daguet 5 and Louis Balcaen's Maxi 72 Balthasar.
Balthasar is entered for the preceding Nelson's Cup Series and is expected to continue into the Caribbean 600.
Ed Bell's Kerr 46 Puff will make her Caribbean 600 debut, while Canadian sailor Katy Campbell returns with the Salona 45 Panacea X.
Multihulls Prepare for Antigua Contest
The multihull fleet includes Adrian Keller's Irens 84 Allegra, a multiple MOCRA winner in the Caribbean 600.
Multi Threat – Adrian Keller’s Irens 84 Allegra, a multiple RORC Caribbean 600 winner under MOCRA, is among the leading multihulls returning for the 2027 race. Photo: Tim Wright
Marcos Sirota's trimaran Sophia, formerly Paradox, is another returning contender, with Adam Davis as skipper.
Finnish sailor Timo Tavio is also returning with the Ocean Fifty Calamity.
A potential addition is the foiling DNA F4 Falcon, associated with Antiguan America's Cup sailor Shannon Falcone, although the yacht remains an expression of interest rather than a confirmed entry.
American sailor Luke Spink is preparing for his second Caribbean 600 aboard Blueprint, following his debut in 2026.
Before the offshore race, Antigua will host the RORC Nelson's Cup Series from 16–19 February, with Balthasar, Cristina and Artemis Bleu among the entries. The Caribbean 600 starts on Monday, 22 February 2027, with online entry now open.
