RORC Caribbean 600 | Day Three Report

21 February 08:00 AST (12:00 UTC)

By morning (0800 AST) on day three of the RORC Caribbean 600, 55 boats were still racing spread out right across the race course. The predicted transition in the weather looks to have arrived with boats slowing down right across the race area. In the Multihull Class Adrian Keller’s Irens 84 Allegra is the next boat due to finish. Allegra needs to finish by  14:04:05 AST (-4 UTC) if they are to retain the MOCRA title. Farr 100 Leopard 3 (MON) skippered by Joost Schuijff was 38 miles from the finish and Monohull Line Honours.

Class Analytics 0800 AST 21 February

Niklas Zennstrom’s Carkeek 52 Rán (SWE)  © Alex Turnbull

IRC Overall

The leading boats in IRC Zero are all in the hunt for the overall win for the RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy. Niklas Zennstrom’s Carkeek 52 Rán (SWE) is in pole position after IRC time correction. Peter & David Askew’s Botin 52 Wizard (USA) is ranked second 80 minutes behind Rán after IRC correction. Leopard 3 is ranked third, over three hours behind but with a fading breeze, that position may well improve if the Maxi can make the finish before the potential shutdown. James Neville’s Carkeek 45 Ino Noir (GBR) is ranked fourth overall and still in with a chance of overall victory having passed Guadeloupe this morning. Frederic Puzin’s Ker 46 Daguet (FRA) is still south of Guadeloupe and down to sixth overall under IRC.

James McHugh’s Class40 Tquila © Alex Turnbull

Class40

James McHugh’s Tquila leads the Class40 Division but the battle for the overall win is on between a pack of six Class40s. Tquila is just ahead of LHOROne (FRA) skippered by Guillaume Pirouelle, the pair have had a dog-fight all the way and the battle for supremacy is now in the Guadeloupe ‘Casino’. Mathieu Jones’ Constructions du Belon (FRA) and Stephane Bodin’s WASABIII (FRA) are less than five miles behind the leaders. Jules Bonnier’s Entrepreneurs pour la Planète (FRA) and Melwin Fink’s Sign For Com (GER) are very much in the fight for the Class40 win.

Farr 100 Leopard © Tim Wright/RORC

IRC Super Zero

Leopard 3 leads the big boat class after time correction. Marten 72 Aragon (NED) skippered by Nadir Balena is in second place by over three hours after IRC time correction. In third was the Wally 107 Spirit of Malouen X (FRA), skippered by Stephane Nieve and sailed by the Paprec Sailing Team.

JPK 1180 Cocody © Tim Wright/RORC

IRC One 

Two JPK 1180s lead the charge after IRC time correction. Richard Fromentin’s Cocody (FRA) is still in pole position and the corrected time lead is now over three hours. Sunrise III powered by Zen (AUS), skippered by Gordon Ketelbey is up to second place. Andrew & Sam Hall’s Lombard 46 Pata Negra (GBR) is one of the classes best climbers, up to third.

JPK 1080 In Theory / Tim Wright/RORC

IRC Two 

309 miles from the finish, retaining the lead on corrected time in IRC Two is still Peter McWhinnie’s JPK 1080 In Theory (USA). However Gavin Howe’s Sun Fast 3600 Tigris (GBR) is just three miles astern and under an hour behind on time correction. Katy Campbell’s Salona 45 Panacea X (CAN) is up to third.

A number of boats have retired but the RORC Race Team have no reports of serious injuries to crew or significant boat damage. Boats that have retired are Uxorious IV, Sao Jorge, Rule One, Bonkers, and Banzai.

Teams in the RORC Caribbean 600 are sending in videos, pictures and messages from the race course which are posted on the live blog. The RORC Social Media Channels are also covering many aspects of the race. The RORC Caribbean 600 forms part of the Royal Ocean Racing Club's Season Points Championships, the world's largest offshore racing series.