RORC Caribbean 600- Full details to follow the fleet and all the news

by RORC Event Press on 20 Feb 2015 RORC Caribbean 600 – The Race Team from the Royal Ocean Racing Club, based at Antigua Yacht Club, is busy preparing for the start of seventh edition of the event. Since 2009, the only offshore race in the Caribbean has grown in popularity and this year another amazing fleet of yachts from around the world have come together for the spectacular rendezvous.

Fort Charlotte, Antigua will be the starting and finishing point for this sensational 600 mile non-stop yacht race around 11 Caribbean Islands.

A myriad of 64 yachts, representing 14 different nations from Russia to Spain; USA to Lithuania, and joined by competitors from closer to home - Antigua and young Figaro sailors from the Guadeloupe Sailing Academy - will take the start on Monday 23rd February. The First Warning Signal is at 1050, but yachts will leave the dock much earlier to make their way to the start area.

Spectators are in for a treat. The seventh edition of the race will showcase an astounding fleet of yachts: record breaking high performance racers, magnificent schooners, elegant classics and fast production yachts. World-class sailors will be taking part, rubbing shoulders with royalty, captains of industry and passionate Corinthian amateurs.

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.

Flying the flag for Antigua: Taz, Bernie Evan-Wong's RP37; Liquid, J/122, Pamala Baldwin; Sleeper, Azuree 46, Jonty Layfield who will race Two Handed with his son Jack; Race Co-Founder, John Burnie on Paradox, Peter Aschenbrenner's 63ft trimaran. The majestic schooners: The 182ft Dykstra-designed Adela has won the Spirit of Tradition and Superyacht Classes for the last three years, but the 203ft Athos provided exhilarating competition last year. The gentlemen's duel will continue!

Other yachts: George David's brand new hi-tech 88ft Rambler is hoping to lower the bar for the course record. The previous Rambler still holds the monohull course record. Windfall, Southern Wind 94 has been chartered by several RORC members including: RORC Admiral, Andrew McIrvine (Skipper) and RORC Commodore, Michael Boyd (Navigator); Mike Slade's Canting Keel Maxi, Leopard, set the course record in the inaugural race and holds numerous speed and race records. This year she has been chartered by UK-based businessman Chris Bake/Team Aqua. Record-breaker Volvo 70 Maserati is skippered by the legendary Italian sailor Giovanni Soldini. American Maxi 72, Bella Mente, second in the last two editions of the race will be back along with Ron O'Hanley's Cookson 50, Privateer, overall winner under IRC in 2013.

The yachts will be starting south of Fort Charlotte on Monday 23rd February. Those left on land can get a wonderful view from there, or from Shirley Heights. The starting line is formed between an orange triangle on Fort Charlotte and an orange cylindrical Outer Distance Mark approximately 0.50nm south of Fort Charlotte. The Race Committee may adjust this position with reference to the wind direction on the day of the start. Fort Charlotte is at the eastern entrance to English Harbour above the Pillars of Hercules and below Shirley Heights.

There's also a chance to catch a glimpse of the boats leaving Falmouth Harbour from Pigeon Beach and the boats leaving English Harbour from Galleon Beach from 0930 onwards. Boats will be gathering in the start area from around 1000, so get there early to get the best view. The start sequence begins at 1050.

Class Start Times:
1100 CSA, Class40 & Multihull
1110 IRC 2 & IRC 3
1120 IRC 1
1130 IRC Z & CK
1140 Superyachts

Note: A Warning Signal will be given 10 minutes before the Starting Signal

Race Minisite: Follow the race web site: http://caribbean600.rorc.org
Keep up to date with all the news. There will be blogs from the boats themselves on the race course, images, video and daily race reports. Follow the action as it unfolds on the RORC Caribbean 600 website.

Social Media: Follow the race on: https://www.facebook.com/RoyalOceanRacingClub
Twitter: #rorcrc600 - Follow @OffshoreOne

TRACK THE FLEET:
Every yacht is fitted with a race tracker and their progress can be followed on the race website:
http://caribbean600.rorc.org/race-information/tracking/2015-fleet-tracking.html

Please 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 23rd February 2015.

The safety of spectator vessels and competitors is paramount and therefore a Marshal Boat displaying a white flag with a red 'M' will be policing the exclusion zone as per the diagram below.

Join the race: play the game - virtual regatta:
If you can't make the race but want to compete against thousands of 'armchair sailors' around the world, join the RORC Caribbean 600 Virtual Regatta now. Test your skills, but beware, you will be hooked as the delights and frustrations of the course become apparent.

Join the Virtual Regatta here:
http://manyclick.manyplayers.com/click.php?li=4428

A word from the RORC Racing manager:
'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.

The 2015 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 23rd February 2015.

( Latest entry list here)

For more information visit the RORC Caribbean 600 mini-site: www.caribbean600.rorc.org

High resolution images will be available from the race for editorial use and requests for specific interviews/photographs should be made to: trish@j2pr.co.uk Video footage will also be available.