Amendent No.1 to the Sailing Instructions has been issued.

Click here to download Amendment

The Antigua Yacht Club is buzzing with excitement, with less than three days to go to the start of the 600-mile race around the central Caribbean. Yacht crews are busy at work making final preparations for the RORC Caribbean 600.

Falmouth Harbour is an impressive sight with the RORC fleet safely moored up next to the yacht club.

The strong trade winds seen in Antigua for the past two weeks collapsed three or four days ago as a cold front moved in from the north of the islands. Light rain early this morning heralded the passing of the front and the low-pressure system far to the north squeezed the dominant high-pressure region, which lately degraded, slightly south of the area.

The only trade wind cumuli were noted over the far eastern Atlantic waters and the ne to e trades are expected to increase early next week as the high pressure begins to strengthen further to the north.

If the trend follows the predictions on Monday ne winds develop and build from 15kts to 20 kts by mid morning. By Tuesday gradient winds of 19-20 kts are expected accompanied by a swell of some 3-4 metres is expected - the wave pattern will build in a NW direction due to the deep low in the far north

Skipper Briefing

The briefing for Skippers and Navigators will be held on Saturday 19^th February 2011 in the Antigua Yacht Club at 1700

Opening Party

The Royal Ocean Racing Club and Antigua Yacht Club will be holding an Opening Party at the Yacht Club from 1800 on Saturday 19^th February 2011, all crews welcome

Prizegiving Party

RORC Caribbean 600 Race 2011: Starts Antigua: 21 February

Now in its third year, the RORC Caribbean 600 has attracted competitors from all over the world and has established itself as one of the 'must do' offshore yacht races of the international racing calendar. One of the main reasons for its popularity is the fantastic sailing conditions as well as the intricate course, weaving through 11 Caribbean islands. The RORC Caribbean 600 is a new style of offshore yacht race, designed to test speed, agility and guile: more like a Formula One racetrack than a traditional windward leeward course.

When the gun goes at Fort Charlotte, Antigua on the 21^st February to mark the start of the RORC Caribbean 600, the racing crews will be pumped up with adrenalin to begin a high-speed adventure in arguably the best sailing grounds in the world. Warm breeze, day and night with big waves typify this race, making the central Caribbean a very special place to race.

"This race has it all," said Boogie, the skipper of the Swan 51 Star Chaser: "Lots of wind, no wind, big seas, flat seas, rain and sunshine. Our crew and Star Chaser have enjoyed every part of it and we worked very hard to keep the boat racing as fast as we could. When doing 8.5 almost 10 knots going to windward, you forget about getting soaked on the foredeck and just enjoy the ride!"

With one month to go, the third edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 is turning into a truly international affair, with an unprecedented fifteen nations represented in a diverse fleet of yachts from all over the world. More entries are expected to make the start in Antigua on the 21^st February but already a highly competitive international fleet is assembling to take part in the 600-mile ocean racing spectacular in the Caribbean.

A record entry for the race includes yachts representing; Antigua, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Cayman Islands, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, South Africa, Spain and the United States.

"A wide spectrum of yachts and competitors has decided that this is an event that is not to be missed," commented RORC Chief Executive Eddie Warden Owen. "The RORC Caribbean 600 is a modern race in every sense; the course is designed to provide an exciting and inspiring race that compliments modern yacht design. The club is delighted that people from all over the world want to take part, there is a mixture of world class sailors and Corinthian enthusiasts but they all have one thing in common, a passion for offshore racing."

The battle for line honours will undoubtedly be between the two canting keel 100 foot maxis, Mike Slade's Farr designed ICAP Leopard, who set the record for this race in 2009, and George David's Juan Kouyoumdjian designed Rambler 100. George David's all-star crew includes America's Cup winning navigator Peter Isler, who has been racing in the Caribbean for over 30 years.

In a tough Rolex Sydney Hobart Race with wind and current in the Bass Strait conspiring to produce big seas and gale force winds. Jazz came through and revelled in the conditions to win IRC Zero on corrected time.

Chris Bull's Jazz came tantalisingly close to an overall win in the 87 boat fleet, but in the end Jazz was pipped at the last by just over 20 minutes by Geoff Boettcher's Reichel Pugh 51, Secret Men's Business.

The RORC Caribbean 600 is set to provide one of the biggest showdowns for years, as Mike Slade's Farr 100, ICAP Leopard, takes on George David's Juan-K designed, Rambler 100 (formerly Speedboat). This will be the first time these two heavyweights of the sailing world will have raced each other.

The battleground will be the wild surf and constant trade winds of the Caribbean. The two Maxis are likely to be absolutely launched, both day and night, hurtling around a course designed to thrill. Surfing at speeds in excess of 25 knots in a titanic battle to cross the finish line.

After a struggle with unseasonal winds, Marco Rodolfi in the Swan 80 Berenice lead the RORC Racing Division fleet of the ARC 2010 into Rodney Bay Marina yesterday (Sunday 5th December 2010), crossing the line at 09:57:06 local time, a little over 14 days since the start from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Berenice, the Italian crewed Swan 80, made an impressive sight as she rounded the northwest corner of Saint Lucia under full main and spinnaker.

After their enthusiastic dockside reception skipper Marco Rodolfi spoke about the crossing: "We had some tough conditions, with 6 hours of headwinds blowing 35 to 40 knots early on in the trip, but the last three days have been fantastic down wind sailing. We are all very pleased to be here in Saint Lucia." Now safely docked, the crew can look forward to many parties and activities on the lovely island of St Lucia.