RORC Caribbean 600 - Island separates Adela and Athos

by RORC on 26 Feb 2014 In the RORC Caribbean 600, for the Superyacht Class, it has taken an island to separate the two magnificent schooners, Adela and Athos. The 182ft Dykstra designed schooner, Adela, has chosen a conventional route by staying to the windward side of Montserrat on the long reach to Guadeloupe. However, the 203ft Hoek designed Athos has elected to go to the leeward side of Montserrat, accompanied by Italian Southern Wind 100, Cape Arrow, and RP78, Arctic Idea, which have also left Montserrat to port.

In IRC One, Piet Vroon's Ker 46, Tonnerre de Breskens 3, put the hammer down after passing St.Barths at 1100 local time. Colin Buffin's British Swan 62, Uxorious IV, was still tacking through the Anguilla Strait, as the Dutch flyer set a course for the windward side of Montserrat and took off, averaging over 10 knots of boat speed. Uxorious IV took just an hour and a half to reach St.Barths but by then Tonnerre had increased their lead on the water by 15 miles. At 1700 on day 2, Tonnerre was 32 miles ahead of any other yacht in their class, and had a substantial lead after time correction. Todd Stuart's American Swan 56, White Rhino, was third on the water and in class after time correction.

Bernie Evan Wong's Antiguan entry, Quokka 8, was leading IRC Two on the water and, just before sunset, they were passing St.Barths, heading south to start the 100-mile leg to Guadeloupe. The wind direction was still virtually due east and Quokka 8 is likely to unfurl a Code Zero for the night and enjoy a fast reach to Guadeloupe. This point of sail is almost ideal for Quokka and, with a water-line advantage over Peter Sowrey's First 40, Lancelot II, Quokka is expected to extend on her immediate rival. Lancelot II was still leading the class on corrected time by 40 minutes. Christian Reynolds' Swan 51, Northern Child, has had a great day and is third after time correction but only just: Ballytrim, EH01 and Southern Child are very much in contention.

In IRC Three, Adrian Lower's Swan 44, Selene now leads the class after pulling off a stunning move on the leg from Sabba to St.Barths earlier this morning. Turning hard to starboard after Sabba, Selene set a course for St.Barths and, a mile out from the corner, it became apparent that the daring move had paid off. Selene, on starboard tack, just cleared Dorade on port, to take the class lead on time correction. Yuri Fadeev's Reflex 38, Intuition, leads on the water but is third after time correction.

It is likely that many of the yachts in IRC Zero will be in the Stealth Zone tonight behind Guadeloupe; viewers of the tracker page will see the yachts become stationary as they enter the zone and re-appear after they have passed through it.

The RORC Caribbean 600 fleet are in for a real treat tonight, with no heat haze and a cloud filled sky - it's going to be a fantastic Caribbean Event website