Packed with competitors, friends and family, Antigua Yacht Club was filled beyond capacity as close to a thousand revellers gathered for the RORC Caribbean 600 Prizegiving.
Royal Ocean Racing Club CEO, Eddie Warden Owen, opened proceedings and welcomed the Honourable Winston Williams, Minister of Sport for Antigua and Barbuda. In a rousing speech, the crowd joined the Minister in hailing the 5th RORC Caribbean 600 as a tremendous success.
The Minister for Sport was joined by a host of VIP guests including: Eleston Adams and Gerry Daniel representing the Ministry of Tourism, Colin James CEO Tourism Authority. Claude Anthony and Anne Marie Martin from National Parks and the Royal Police Force Deputy Commissioner, Henry Christian.
Racing Manager, Nick Elliott, announced the prize winners with RORC Commodore, Mike Greville, greeting the happy teams. A partisan crowd cheered every team going up to the stage to collect their prizes and every competing yacht was presented with a decanter of English Harbour Rum engraved with their boat name.
The biggest cheers on the night were reserved for the victorious team on Cookson 50, Privateer, with a big roar from the crowd as Ron O'Hanley lifted the RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy.
On Saturday morning, after 5 days at sea, The Royal Armoured Corps Offshore Race Team, racing Swan 48, Patriot, and skippered by Capt. Richard Luckyn-Malone crossed the finish line. As the vintage Swan entered Falmouth Harbour a dozen or more Superyachts heralded their arrival with a cacophony of horns.
The British Army team were greeted in true RORC Caribbean 600 style: Three Cheers, cold Corona beers, hot Rotis and a massive crowd of well wishers on the dock.
Article by Louay Habib
