700 sailors from 32 countries participates in 600-mile yacht race in Caribbean

The race started with 74 teams and nearly 700 sailors from 32 countries. With 15 knots of wind from the northeast gusting up to 20 knots

Wednesday, 23rd February 2022

Caribbean: The 13th edition of the Royal Ocean Racing Club Caribbean 600 got underway on time in Antigua. The race started with 74 teams and nearly 700 sailors from 32 countries. With 15 knots of wind from the northeast gusting up to 20 knots, the Royal Ocean Racing Club's 600-mile race across 11 Caribbean islands, including St. Kitts and Nevis, got off to a stunning start. Comanche reached full speed approaching the Pillars of Hercules, then hardened up to take the inside line perilously close to the cliffs, making the IRC Super Zero start nothing short of hellish.

DAY 1

Giovanni Soldini's Multi70 Maserati (ITA) was leading the Multihull Class four hours into the race, followed by Peter Cunningham's PowerPlay and Jason Carroll's Argo (USA). Dmitry Rybolovlev's ClubSwan 125 Skorpios, skippered by Fernando Echavarri, led the race for Monohull Line Honours by just a mile. Mitch Booth's VPLP/Verdier 100 Comanche finished second on the water. With little over two hours until the race's first sundown, the majority of the fleet was making solid progress to Barbuda, the course's first and only mark. "It's rare to see so many big boats in a start like that, just taking it on, but it wasn't only the big boats," says the skipper. This fleet is packed from start to finish in all classes, with competitive starts throughout. "Best of luck to all the teams," Race Director Chris Stone said.

"The first aspect of this stage of race management is ensuring that the fleet gets off to a strong start. On the race track, we continue to put a premium on safety. There will be a variety of weather conditions, and certain sections of the course are quite difficult. The RORC Race staff is focused on keeping the fleet secure, and every boat is monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week." START OF IRC ONE AND IRC TWO The inshore end of the line was won by Yuri Fadeev's First 40 Optimus Prime (GBR), followed by Ross Applebey's Oyster 48 Scarlet Oyster (GBR). Bernie Evan-RP37 Wong's Taz (ANT) got off to a strong start as well. Stuart Dahlgreen, piloting the J/121 Wings (USA), was only five seconds from the lead, but he restarted correctly. Tom Kneen's JPK 1180 Sunrise (GBR) and Ed Bell's JPK 1180 Dawn Treader (GBR) were neck-and-neck at the front of IRC One four hours into the race. Andrew Hall's Lombard 46 Pata Negra (GBR), which was only a mile behind the leaders, was doing well. In IRC Two, Andy Middleton's First 47.7 EH01 (GBR) and Scarlet Oyster were battling for the lead on the water. Julian White's J/122 Liquid (ANT) for Pamala Baldwin was only three kilometres behind the leaders.

START IRC ZERO and START Class40 The Pac52 Warrior Won (USA) of Christopher Sheehan nailed the start, roaring through the line at full speed towards the lifting pressure. Botin IRC 52 Tala (GBR) of David Collins was second over the finish line. Jean Pierre Dreau's Mylius 60 Lady First 3 was on her hip, in a good controlling position (FRA). Herve Thomas' Finnimo (FRA) got off to the greatest start in the Class40 Division, staying out of the inshore chaos. Rennes – Saint Malo (FRA) by Baptiste Hulin & Clement Commagnac and Marc Lepesqueux's Sensation Class40 Extreme (FRA) by Marc Lepesqueux ducked straight in beneath the cliffs and crossed the line in good form. Warrior Won (USA) was leading on the water four hours into the race, with Callisto (USA), sailed by Jim Murray and Tala, two miles behind (GBR). Finnimo led Charles-Louis Mourruau's Guidi by a mile in the Class40 Division (FRA). On the sea, Sensation Class40 Extreme came in third.