The RORC Race Team, based at Antigua Yacht Club are busy preparing for the start of the record-breaking 6th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600.
The start takes place on Monday 24th February off Fort Charlotte and spectators will witness over 60 boats from around the world gather on the start line ready for their 600 mile race non-stop around 11 islands.
It will be hard to miss the two largest yachts in the fleet: 182ft Adela and the mighty 203ft Athos, but there is a highly competitive fleet in the smaller classes too. With 32 different makes of yacht, flying the flags of 11 countries, competing yachts will be crewed by passionate amateurs and world famous sailors.
Due to the size of the yachts and the sheer number competing, considerable sea room is needed to manoeuvre and a team of highly experienced volunteers will act as on-the-water marshals maintaining an exclusion zone to keep spectator boats at a safe distance from the yachts racing.
The yachts will be starting south of Fort Charlotte on Monday 24th February. Those left on land can get a wonderful view from there, or from Shirley Heights.
There's also a chance to catch a glimpse of the boats leaving Falmouth Harbour or from English Harbour and from Galleon Beach from 1000. Boats will be gathering in the start area from around that time, so get there early to get the best view. The start sequence begins at 1050.
Class Start Times
1100 CSA, Class40 & Multihull
1110 IRC2 & IRC3
1120 IRC1
1130 IRCZ & CK
1140 Superyachts
Note: A Warning Signal will be given 10 minutes before the Starting Signal
Follow the race website: http://caribbean600.rorc.org
There will be news stories, blogs from the race course, images, video and daily race reports. Follow all the action as it unfolds on the RORC Caribbean 600 website.
Follow the race on: https://www.facebook.com/RoyalOceanRacingClub
Twitter: Follow @offshoreone
Every yacht is fitted with a Yellowbrick Tracker and their progress can be followed on the race website: http://caribbean600.rorc.org/blog/race-information/tracking/index.html
NOTE: EXCLUSION ZONE FOR THE START
For those wishing to watch the race from the water, please note that there will be an exclusion zone around the starting area effective from 1030 to 1200 on Monday 24th February.
The safety of spectator vessels and competitors is paramount and therefore Marshall Boats displaying a white flag with a red "M" will be policing the exclusion zone as per the diagram here.
"The support of the members of the Antigua Yacht Club plays a vital part in the success of the RORC Caribbean 600. The fact that we see so many familiar faces helping us each year, with their vast experience of the local area and conditions, gives the RORC the confidence to be able to organise this demanding offshore race with a small RORC team from the UK," says RORC Racing Manager, Nick Elliott.
"We are very pleased that ABSAR, the Antigua Barbuda Search and Rescue team will be on hand to help with the many aspects of safety and fleet management required to run an offshore race. ABSAR's highly trained team and safety network throughout the islands on the Caribbean 600 course, is vital to the safe running of the race. ABSAR will also be on hand to help identify any boats finishing in the hours of darkness," continues Elliott.
As of today over 12,000 'armchair sailors' have already entered the RORC Caribbean 600 Virtual Regatta.
For more information click here
The 2014 edition of the RORC Caribbean 600, organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) and hosted by the Antigua Yacht Club, will start on Monday 24th February 2014.
Full details and list of entries can be found at: http://caribbean600.rorc.org
