Antigua 360 provides tuner for RORC Caribbean 600

The inaugural Antigua 360 Race takes place on February 19, providing a 52 mile anticlockwise circumnavigation of Antigua. Organized by the SuperYacht Challenge committee, entry is exclusively reserved for boats entered in the 8th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 offshore classic which starts on February 22.

“Many boats are usually out training on the Friday before the offshore race,” notes Stan Pearson, who conceived the Antigua 360 and is co-founder of the RORC Caribbean 600, “This new race will just add a slightly competitive edge to that training. The race around the island will offer many of the conditions and wind angles seen on the offshore course – and some of the legs are even actually part of the 600 such as the start and the finish approaches to the line – the lines used are exactly the same as the 600. Last year two multihulls, Paradox and Phaedo (the current 600 record holder), both went around Antigua as part of their 600 training and both found it highly useful in their build up to the offshore event.”

Two of the entries Momo and Jethou are hot Maxi 72 yachts from the international circuit and the record breaking MOD 70 multihull Phaedo will be out in earnest to set the Antigua 360 multihull record. La Bete (ex- Ramber 90), and two new boats over 100 ft – Nikata and Farfalla – will be vying for the monohull prize, while hot IRC racers like Spookie and Tonnerre will be pacing themselves in handicap mode.

Inevitably Bernie Evan – Wong (local resident and participant in every 600 race) has already entered his latest boat Taz in the 360. Bernie is a serial supporter of such events throughout the Caribbean!! Guardian Angel is a well campaigned and competitive Oyster which is expected to do well in handicap – but they will be hotly pursued by RORC Admiral Andrew McIrvine and RORC Commodore Michael Boyd who have entered the Round Antigua 360 on Belladonna, chartered by them and their usual RORC team for the offshore race as well.

Additional details: http://sycav1.blogspot.com/p/antigua-360-race.html