80 entries, 600 nm, 11 Caribbean islands

The Royal Ocean Racing Club’s RORC Caribbean 600 has once again surpassed expectation, with 80 boats from around the world signing up to race in the 10th edition starting from Antigua on Monday February 19, 2018. This matches the record size fleet from 2017 which tackled the 600nm non-stop course around 11 Caribbean Islands.

Entries from 15 different countries will include three previous winners of the prestigious RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy: 2016 – Maxi 72, Proteus (USA), 2013 – Cookson 50, Privateer (USA) and 2009 – Lee Overlay Partners, Cookson 50 (IRL).

Superyachts Danneskjold, Dixon 100 and SouthernWind 102, Farfalla will also be on the start line along with a large number of Maxis including Rambler 88. To date, seven Class40s will compete, as well as eight multihulls and a diverse fleet from race charter boats to the smallest in the race at 9.2m, Modicia.

The 2018 edition will see a record number of French entries compete, plus 13 teams from the USA who have won six out of nine editions of race. Great Britain (27) is still topping the list of nationalities, closely followed by the largest ever entry from German boats (10), many of which are competing in the eastbound Atlantic Anniversary Regatta to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Hamburg-based club NRV.

Event Details – Entry List – Facebook

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
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 organises 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 organisational support. The RORC Caribbean 600, based in Antigua and the first offshore race in the Caribbean, has been an instant success. The 10th edition will take place in 2018. The RORC extended its organisational 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.

Source: RORC Press/J2 Communications