Going offshore through the Caribbean

The 2026 RORC Caribbean 600 has attracted 57 entrants for the 17th edition, tackling a 600 nm course initiated in 2009 that threads its way around 11 Caribbean islands. Starting from Antigua on February 23, the race delivers stunning vistas seen by few life-long locals before returning to Antigua.

Multihull: MOD70 Duel in the Trades
Eleven multihulls line up, headlined by a high-speed MOD70 showdown between Jason Carroll’s Argo (USA) and Final Final – Zoulou, campaigned by Jon Desmond also from the USA. Both MOD70s are capable of sustained speeds above 30 knots and boast all-star line-ups.

Argo features Brian Thompson, Chad Corning, and Sam Goodchild among others, while Final Final – Zoulou counters with Ned Collier Wakefield, Thomas Le Breton, and navigator Miles Seddon. Around the 11 islands of the course, boat handling will matter as much as raw speed.

Jon Desmond is no stranger to the RORC Caribbean 600 having raced the course in his Mills 41 and last year in his PAC52, both named Final Final. In 2026, however, Desmond steps into new territory – his first multihull campaign in the race, chartering the MOD70 Zoulou for an all-out rip-speed duel in the tradewinds.

“It’s a bit of fate that we’re here in a MOD70 this year,” says Desmond. “The PAC52 stayed in Malta after a big 2025 season and we’d planned to take a break from Caribbean racing, but I’ve been curious about the MOD70s for years.

“I sailed Orion in San Francisco in 2023 and was blown away by the power and intensity. Then I bought an M32 and got another taste of multihull speed in Miami. When the chance came to charter Zoulou for the ‘600, it felt like an opportunity you just don’t pass up. You only live once!

“I’ve followed the MOD70 duels here for years and they’re unbelievably close. Argo is the benchmark and the record holder, so if we can stay in the fight with them, I’ll be thrilled. But our focus is to sail hard, stay safe and enjoy every second of the ride.

“Legs that used to take us eight hours could take two. You’re thinking two maneuvers ahead at all times. The wind shadow at Guadeloupe is still there, but with this speed you’ve got more options. That’s exciting.”

IRC Super Zero: The 100-Foot Showdown
The monohull spotlight falls on the 100-foot Maxi battle for line honors between Black Jack 100 and Leopard 3.

Leopard 3, the Farr 100 owned by Joost Schuijff and skippered by Chris Sherlock, returns for her ninth race. Leopard set the original monohull record in 2009 and in 2024 secured a remarkable triple crown, including monohull line honors and the overall win under IRC.

“Leopard is at her best when it’s a proper reaching race,” says Sherlock. “In strong tradewinds we can really lean on the boat. Experience counts here. It’s rarely just about straight-line speed.”

RP100 Black Jack 100 owned by Remon Vos and skippered by Tristan Le Brun arrives with major offshore victories in 2025, including the Rolex Fastnet and Rolex Middle Sea Race, but the maxi has never raced in the RORC Caribbean 600.

“Black Jack is lighter and narrower, so in lighter conditions and downwind VMG we’re very strong,” says Le Brun. “Fast sail changes and clean manoeuvres around the islands will make as much difference as outright power.”

IRC Zero: Big Boats, Fine Margins
IRC Zero features a trio of Carkeek designs: 2025 Class winner Niklas Zennström’s Rán (SWE), Frederic Puzin’s Daguet 5 (FRA), and James Neville’s Ino Noir (GBR). They are joined by Mach 50 Palanad 4 (FRA), owned by Olivier Magre and skippered by Antoine Magre, fresh from IRC overall victory in the RORC Transatlantic Race.

“The 2025 Caribbean 600 was the first major test for Daguet 5, just four months after launch,” says Frederic Puzin. “Coming runner-up to Rán by less than eight minutes, confirmed the strength of the concept and the boat’s reliability.”

IRC One: Depth and Diversity
IRC One combines professional ambition with strong Corinthian spirit in a highly diverse class of 13 boats. Andrej Mertelj’s Shipman 63 Hagazussa III (SLO) is the scratch IRC boat, while Xavier Bellouard’s Maxitude (FRA) with Alexi Loison on board has the second highest IRC rating, followed closely by Yves Grosjean’s Afazik Impulse (FRA) and Bruce Chafee’s Rikki (USA).

Woody Cullen’s Swan 58 WaveWalker (USA) brings size and experience, including seven-times around the world Dee Caffari on board. Andrew and Sam Hall’s J/125 Jackknife (GBR) returns after finishing third overall and winning class in the RORC Transatlantic Race.

History will be made by Speedy Maltese (FRA), the first Mini 6.50 ever to attempt the ‘600. Skipper Timothée Villain-Amirat has radically modified the prototype into a modern scow and will be racing double-handed with fellow Mini sailor Antonin Chapot.

IRC Two: Fourteen Boats, One Fine Line
The largest class, IRC Two, features 14 boats and thin rating gaps. Xp 44 Heart of Gold (USA) and J/121 Whistler (BAR) are level IRC rated scratch boats, giving GS46 Belladonna (GBR) just 32 seconds per hour by the pair.

Richard Dilley’s Belladonna includes Ross Applebey and members of his Scarlet Oyster crew. Applebey has won class eight times in 11 attempts. “To win this class you’ve got to get Guadeloupe right, especially in the dark,” says Applebey. “Five knots difference in the trades makes a massive impact in the wind shadows. It’s about clean transitions and fewer mistakes.”

Class40: High Speed, High Intensity
Five Class40s complete the fleet, hailing from Martinique, Guadeloupe, mainland France, and the USA. Modern scows line up against earlier generation boats in what promises to be tight tradewind racing. The race is an official Class40 calendar event and an important stepping stone towards the 2026 Route du Rhum.

The Class40 course record was set back in 2018 (Catherine Pourre’s Eärendil – 2 Days, 13 Hrs and 15 Secs). Matéo Le Calvic’s FPFP (FRA), Robin Follin’s Solano (FRA), and Mike Hennessy’s Scowling Dragon (USA) are all capable of challenging that record.

Event details – Entry list – Tracker

Elapsed Time Course Records
Monohull: Rambler 88 (Juan K 88-ft) – 01d 13:41:45 – 2018
Multihull: Argo (MOD70) – 01d 05:48:45 – 2022

Source: RORC