With less than one month to go to the fourth edition of the RORC Caribbean 600, the Royal Ocean Racing Club's 2012 programme kicks off with a sensational cast in Antigua.

The RORC Caribbean 600 is a truly international affair, with well over 500 hundred competitors from at least 24 different nations taking part. More than 30 impressive yachts are expected to take part in a high-speed, action-packed yacht race around 11 Caribbean islands. There can be few sporting events that can boast such a worldwide appeal with sailors taking part from all over the world including:

Antigua, Australia, Austria, Canada, Cayman Islands, Croatia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Holland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Puerto Rico, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, St. Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey and the United States of America.

This astounding diversity of nationalities is matched only by the astonishing array of yachts and personalities. The largest yacht competing this year is the magnificent Hetairos with a waterline length of 200'. Hetairos is the world's largest carbon composite sailing yacht. The 29 crew on board is composed of many Volvo Ocean Race, America's Cup and Jules Verne around the world veterans. Hetairos is among the favourites to take line honours, but there are several other yachts more than capable of finishing in front.

The 4^th RORC Caribbean 600 Race looks set to stage a David versus Goliath battle in just over two months with a number of superyachts keen to do battle with each other whilst circumnavigating 11 Caribbean Islands, starting and finishing in Antigua.

Entries have now started coming in for the 2012 edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 after the entry system opened last week. All entries and expressions of interest can be seen by clicking on the "Entries & Interest" tab.

The RORC will be hosting a RORC Caribbean 600 evening at the Clubhouse, 20 St James's Place, London, on Tuesday 18th October starting at 1900. Please come along to chat to members of the race team and competitors who have competed in the race before. There will be information on the race as well as companies offering whole boats or crew places for charter.

The Advance Notice of Race for the 2012 edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 Race has been published.

Start: Monday 20th February 2012
First Warning Signal: 1050
(all times are in local time)
Organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club in association with the Antigua Yacht Club

Advance Notice of Race 132 Kb 06/10/2011

Antigua: Monday February 20^th 2012

Online entry for the 4^th edition of the Royal Ocean Racing Club's Caribbean 600 is now open.

Offshore in the Caribbean
The RORC Caribbean 600, run by the Royal Ocean Racing Club in association with Antigua Yacht Club, is the only offshore race of the Caribbean series and since its conception in 2009, has become a firm favourite with offshore racers seeking a tactical challenge in warm Caribbean conditions. The 2012 edition will witness an impressive line-up of yachts starting from Antigua on Monday 20^th February.

The fleet will battle the 600nm course which circumnavigates 11 Caribbean Islands starting from Fort Charlotte, English Harbour, Antigua and heading north as far as St Martin and south to Guadeloupe taking in Barbuda, Nevis, St Kitts, Saba and St Barth's. Perfect racing in perfect conditions.