From Nelson's Cup to the 600: The ultimate Caribbean challenge
by Louay Habib / RORC 8 Oct 06:58 AEDT
16-20 February 2026
RORC Caribbean 600 - Day 1 © Tim Wright / RORC
The 17th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 will start on Monday 23rd of February, 2026. Since 2009, sailors from around the world have enjoyed the spectacular and tactical course around 11 stunning Caribbean Islands and that has not changed. However, the RORC Nelson's Cup Series is a new event that has been running since 2023.
Last year, the RORC Nelson's Cup Series and the 48nm Antigua 360 Race attracted 30 entries, including nine Maxis racing in IRC Super Zero. However, the series is designed for a wide variety of boats including dual scoring CSA/IRC boats of all shapes and sizes plus Multihulls racing in the Antigua 360.
The RORC Nelson's Cup Series 2026 runs from Tuesday 17 to Friday 20 February 2026, organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) in association with the Antigua Yacht Club (AYC).
The 17th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 starts on Monday 23rd February, three days after the conclusion of the RORC Nelson's Cup Series. The 600nm race in tropical heat and Caribbean surf is something special in the world of offshore racing. Combining spectacular scenery with a stamina-sapping course that is both strategic and tactical, there is plenty of action for all of the crew. The RORC Caribbean 600 is a race that demands preparation, split-second decisions, careful risk-management, and an intimate understanding of trade wind racing.
In the 2025 edition, three navigator voices stand out: Alexis Loison (Albator, NM43), Nikki Henderson (El Ocaso, J/122), and Will Oxley (Summer Storm, TP52). Their commentary weaves together the challenges of wind shadows, squalls, weed interference, and the constant pressure to balance bold routes with safety.
Unlike open-ocean events, the Caribbean 600 threads around 11 Caribbean islands, teams must weave between wind shadows and acceleration zones created by the topography.
Since winning class with Albator, Alexis Loison has been on an amazing winning streak; overall winner of the 2025 Rolex Fastnet Race and the 2025 Solitaire du Figaro on his 19th attempt. Loison describes the RORC Caribbean 600 as "the quintessential race of wind side-effects. Mastering the subtle shifts between daytime and nighttime wind shadows is vital." Loison emphasizes that "analysing the topographical details of each island before the start gives major gains, especially when shadow behaviour differs by hour."
Round the world sailor Nikki Henderson, racing with an almost all-amateur crew on El Ocaso, underscores the importance of both preparation and flexibility. While her crew had competed in the '600 many times, she highlighted one area of the course where the correct strategy is difficult to assess. "Making it through Guadeloupe... like everyone will heavily influence elapsed time. The upwind legs suit El Ocaso but maintaining the speed on the reaches against the opposition and optimising our VMG are areas that must be mastered."
Wind shadows around Guadeloupe and Saba emerge as consistent battlegrounds. Loison recalls how in a previous race, boats choosing offshore around Guadeloupe fared better at sundown, but later those hugging inshore later overtook them depending on evolving wind patterns. Henderson also watches Saba carefully: "Rounding Saba is always an interesting choice, the wind can also be light down there," she says, noting she and her crew monitor how preceding boats are faring.
Squalls and Sargassum weed add poison pills along the route. Squalls deliver bursts of force but also require sail changes and risk. Loison counsels that success comes from anticipating rather than reacting, adjusting courses and sails pre-emptively. Henderson adds, "preparing for them is just about being able to change sails quickly, making the least mistakes is more important than cutting a squall super fine."
Will Oxley is one of the world's most accomplished offshore navigators, with over 300,000 ocean miles, five circumnavigations, and multiple victories in the Rolex Fastnet, Rolex Sydney Hobart, as well as the Caribbean 600. Oxley highlights that Sargassum, which can foul foils, has become a recurring nuisance: "Sargassum has created headaches; it wraps itself around the foils, often necessitating a time-consuming back-down." He notes scientists believe blooms now owe to nutrient runoff from major rivers.
Cloud formations also provide hidden clues. Oxley uses convergent clouds, air rising on both sides of islands, as indicators of wind direction changes. He outlines how dark, compact cloud bases may signal "sucking" winds, while diffused edges might signal descending air currents. In practice, clouds can contain both tendencies simultaneously, making interpretation a fine art.
Despite these layers of complexity, all three navigators agree: there is no perfect race plan. Loison insists, "No offshore race can be executed perfectly from a strategic point of view. It is constantly a subtle game of decisions, compromises, race and boat management." Henderson echoes the addictive appeal: "A race where there is almost an indefinite room for improvement is like an addictive drug, you keep wanting to come back for more."
In short, the Caribbean 600 is one of the most dynamic and unpredictable offshore events in the world. It rewards those who can marry intuition with planning, who manage mistakes quickly, and who stay alert day and night. As Henderson put it, "the conditions tested everything: tactics, nerves, and teamwork. The Caribbean 600 is a uniquely challenging race."
The Notice of Race and on-line entry for both the RORC Nelson's Cup Series & RORC Caribbean 600 have been published. For more information visit www.rorc.org or contact the RORC Race Team at