PRESS RELEASE: 16 November 2017



Organised by The Royal Ocean Racing Club in association with Antigua Yacht Club 
 
Start: Antigua, West Indies - Monday 19 February 2018
 Course: 600nm non-stop around 11 Caribbean Islands
 
 
Fleet building for 10th RORC Caribbean 600
Elvis Ingrid Abery
Vying for multihull line honours will be Gunboat Elvis, skippered by two-time Melges 32 World Champion, Jason Carroll © Ingrid Abery

Over 40 yachts have officially entered the 10th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600, starting from Antigua on 19th February 2018. The entry list already boasts a huge variety of yachts from mighty maxis and multihulls, to a vast array of racing and cruising yachts. Since the first race in 2009, the RORC Caribbean 600 has become a compulsive addiction for many, and high on the bucket list for new competitors eager to race the Caribbean classic.
 
RORC Chief Executive, Eddie Warden Owen enthuses about the success of the race: "It was May 2008 that I received a phone call from John Burnie and Stan Pearson about creating the first offshore race in the Caribbean, and we had no idea then that 10 years on it would be one of the 'must do' races on the world offshore racing calendar. We thought it would be popular - warm water, guaranteed trade winds, big surf and beautiful scenery, all in the middle of winter -what's not to like? We never thought we would ever get 80 boats, and most of them from outside the Caribbean, and all because of local enthusiastic volunteers and supporters who make the race so special."
 
George David has been a longtime supporter of the race, taking Line Honours on four occasions. Rambler 100 reveled in heavy condition in 2011, setting the race record; which still stands today (1 day 16 hours 20 minutes and 2 seconds). Rambler 100 also lifted the RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy that year for the best corrected time under IRC. George David's American Maxi Rambler 88 will be returning in 2018 and will be hot favourite for Line Honours, and if the conditions are right, a tilt at the record.

George David has been a longtime supporter of the race and will be back with Rambler 88 in the 10th edition 
© Tim Wright/photoaction.com
 
"Last year we had a full-on reach all the way from St. Barths to Guadeloupe," commented George David. "When you are at the helm and the boat is beautifully balanced and you are doing 20 knots with a poled out J1 and staysail for 150 miles, you can't help but smile! It was great to have taken line honours again, but we have only won this race overall one time. We will come back because it is such a great place to be; everything about the race is nice."
 
Lucy Jones has competed in seven editions, organising teams to race on charter boats. Lucy has tasted success with Swan 51 Northern Child, winning Best Swan overall in 2015, and has been part of racing teams that have come second in class on three occasions. For the next race, Lucy will be racing on Giles Redpath's Lombard 46 Pata Negra, with a team from Howth Yacht Club, Ireland, led by Michael Wright.
 
"It's my favourite offshore race by a million miles," commented Lucy Jones. "The course is so varied and the wind is consistent so you don't get stuck in a hole. The conditions are just idyllic and every time you get up from being off watch you are pointing in a different direction, with another beautiful island to look at  - It is just a great race. As the competition has grown in numbers, it has got harder to win class, but this year we hope to achieve that goal."

Back for her favourite offshore race, Lucy Jones will be on Giles Redpath's Lombard 48, Pata Negra with a team from Howth Yacht Club © Tim Wright/photoaction.com
 
The race is becoming evermore popular with multihulls as the complex course with fast reaching legs is ideal for them, and eight teams are among the early entries. Three American Gunboats will be vying for Multihull Line Honours and the corrected time win: Arethusa, skippered by NYYC Commodore Phil Lotz, Stephen Cucchiaro's Flow, and Elvis skippered by two-time Melges 32 World Champion, Jason Carroll; all competing in the RORC Caribbean 600 for the first time.
 
"We're excited about the course and the chance to let Elvis stretch her legs a bit. We've raced in the Caribbean extensively and are excited to finally go the distance in this year's RORC Caribbean 600 and enjoy (so we've heard) one of the world's best offshore races," commented Elvis skipper Jason Carroll. "This will be Elvis' longest race to date. The team have really enjoyed sailing the boat at pace during the night and getting into the rhythm of the longer courses. Most of the team has a lot of offshore experience and we're looking forward to cracking the whip and seeing what the boat can do."
 
The race is unfinished business for Shaun Carroll's Morticia; the Australian team suffered gear failure last year. The foiling 30ft modified Seacart is back and the crew will definitely be packing wet weather gear. Nigel Passmore's brand new British Dazcat 1495 Apollo, with a crew from Plymouth, UK will be taking part in their first offshore race in a catamaran and should enjoy a close battle with Christian Guyader's French TS 42 Guyader Gastronomie, which was the first multihull under 50ft to finish the 2017 Rolex Fastnet Race. 8,000 miles of Pacific Ocean separate the origin of two other teams; David Liddell Stealth 14GT WOW will be representing the Phuket Yacht Club, Thailand and Greg Slyngstad's team racing Bieker 53 Fujin, is from Seattle USA.
 
For more information about the RORC Caribbean 600 go towww.caribbean600.rorc.org/

 
ENDS/....
NOTES TO EDITORS

RACE REPORTER:
Louay Habib
M: +44 (0)7801 800521

RORC PRESS OFFICER: 
Trish Jenkins 
RORC Press Officer 
M: +44 (0)7880 518689
E:    trish@j2pr.co.uk
Skype: trish jenkins

RORC Race Enquiries:
Royal Ocean Racing Club
T: +44 (0) 1983 295144
E:    racing@rorc.org

Royal Ocean Racing Club:
20 St James's Place
London SW1A 1NN
Tel: 020 7493 2248
Fax: 020 7493 2470

THE RORC CARIBBEAN 600:
  • RORC Caribbean 600 minisite: http://caribbean600.rorc.org
  • The 10th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 starts from Antigua on Monday 19th February 2018
  • 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    
  • T witter: #rorcrc600 @rorcracing
    Instagram: instagram.com/rorcracing
PAST RESULTS: RORC CARIBBEAN 600 TROPHY - IRC OVERALL 
(Best best corrected time under IRC)

2017 - Hap Fauth, JV72, Bella Mente (USA)
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
RORC RATING:
  • The RORC has also been a leader in yacht handicap systems and in co-operation with the French offshore racing club, UNCL, created IRC - the principal yacht measurement system for the rating of racing yachts 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 and for IRC rating globally www.ircrating.org
  • Social media: www.facebook.com/rorcratingwww.facebook.com/ircrating 
  • Twitter @RORCrating @IRCrating
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.   

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 

RORC Media | The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC)
T: +44 (0)7880 518689 | E:   trish@j2pr.co.uk
www.rorc.org - RORC Caribbean 600 minisite:  http://caribbean600.rorc.org/