RORC Caribbean 600: Business As Usual

The 10th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 will start as scheduled in Antigua, West Indies on February 19, 2018, bolstered by a record entry for the RORC Transatlantic Race, a strong Racing Division for the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers, and determined competitors from all over the Caribbean.

The 10th edition of the highly acclaimed 600-mile offshore race around 11 Caribbean Islands starts 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. The event is set to be a real cracker, with a record entry anticipated. Antigua was one of the few islands in the Leeward Islands chain to escape major damage after the passing of hurricanes Irma to the north and Maria to the south.

“We were very nervous waiting to see how the storms unfolded’, said Kathy Lammers, President of the Caribbean Sailing Association. “Antigua was fortunate to receive only tropical storm force winds and very little damage, although many neighboring islands were not so lucky. So it’s business as usual in Antigua and in many islands in the region, and even those that were badly damaged are working hard so we can all ensure that the Caribbean sailing season will carry on as normal. We look forward to welcoming sailors from all over the world as usual this season.”

The RORC Caribbean 600 wouldn’t be the same without Antiguan dentist, Bernie Evan-Wong, who is the only sailor to have competed in every race as skipper. Looking forward to competing for the 10th time in Taz, his Reichel Pugh 37, he explains, “Antigua was extremely lucky to not have a direct hit and to come through the devastating hurricanes unscathed. We will be looking forward to a bumper fleet for this celebratory edition of the race and I can absolutely promise a fantastic welcome to everybody who takes part in the RORC Caribbean 600, especially this year.”

For the 10th anniversary of the RORC Caribbean 600, many past participants have already indicated 2018 entries. George David, the current record holder with Rambler 100 in 2011, is coming back with Rambler 88, determined to win again. “Rambler was designed for the great sailing conditions we see in the Caribbean and this has to be a favorite of all the 600 classics,” commented David. “The hurricanes this season have been devastating to so many locations but fortunately Antigua was spared the worst. Let’s all come back together.”

Royal Ocean Racing Club – Event Details – Notice of Race – Facebook

PAST RESULTS: RORC CARIBBEAN 600 TROPHY – IRC OVERALL
(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
Established in 1925, The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) became famous for the biennial Fastnet Race and the international team event, the Admiral’s Cup. It organizes an annual series of domestic offshore races from its base in Cowes as well as inshore regattas including the RORC Easter Challenge and the IRC European Championship (Includes the Commodores’ Cup) in the Solent. The RORC works with other yacht clubs to promote their offshore races and provides marketing and organizational support.

The RORC Caribbean 600, based in Antigua and the first offshore race in the Caribbean, was an instant success. The 10th edition will take place in 2018. The RORC extended its organizational expertise by creating the RORC Transatlantic Race from Lanzarote to Grenada, the first of which was in November 2014. This year, the RORC Transatlantic Race is part of the Atlantic Anniversary Regatta

The club is based in St James’ Place, London, but after a merger with The Royal Corinthian Yacht Club in Cowes, now boasts a superb clubhouse facility at the entrance to Cowes Harbour and a membership of over 4000. For the RORC website, click here.

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 recognized globally as a center of excellence for measurement. For Spinlock IRC rating information in the UK please click here. For IRC rating globally, click here.

Source: Louay Habib, RORC Press