Region Guadeloupe the ORMA 60ft trimaran is blasting around the Caribbean at lightning speed but skipper, John Burnie, managed to send this text message after the first night at sea; “It is very rough, unbelievably wet and we were glad to see dawn to bring on the sunshine.” They have averaged 15.5 knots along the rhumb line with a top speed of over 26 knots, in ocean swell! Region Guadeloupe have led the fleet from the first mark of the course and should be back at the Antigua Yacht Club in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Bernie Evan-Wongs, Mumm 36, Café Americano High Tension, is showing great form and considerable local knowledge, leading the class on the water. Bernie is a veteran of twenty Antigua Race weeks and his crew have some top sailors on board from Guadeloupe.
There are a bevy of magnificent Swans competing in the RORC Caribbean 600 and there are some great private battles going on. None more so than Adam Cleary’s Swan 62, Gienah, who is having a close race with her Guadeloupe sister ship, Daniel Segalowicz’s, Schider. The two have been locked together since the start. Also from Guadeloupe, Francois Hellot’s Swan 56, Albireo, is having a great tussle with Olivier Moreau’s racing Swan 56, Deneb. The heavy displacement yachts are revelling in the Caribbean surfing conditions and will be enjoying the battle with their countrymen.
There are yachts competing from nine different countries from all over the world and competitors come from 19 different countries.
Mike Slade’s 100ft Maxi, ICAP Leopard, leads the monohulls by over 70 miles on the water, ICAP Leopard looks untouchable, as the powerful speed machine left them far behind within hours of the start. Slade and his crew extended virtually the whole way around the course.
Looking at a snapshot of the race course on the RORC Caribbean 600
Race Tracker, 0900 on Tuesday morning (GMT+4), the 24 boats are spread out, right across the Caribbean.
Adrian Lee’s Irish Cookson 50, Lee Overlay Partners, is having a cracking race, pushing the boat hard and in with a shout of winning their class after time correction.
“It was a long, long night; twelve hours of darkness and right now, it
is very wet on deck but everyone is happy, as its warm water, a little different to Dublin Bay!” Commented Adrian Lee from the top of St.Martin.
In Class Super Zero Danilo Salsi’s Italian Swan 90, DSK Pioneer leads the class on the water but Anders Johnson’s Swan 70, Blue Pearl is just 23 miles behind and in touch on handicap. DSK has a highly experienced Italian crew and the boat is racing for the first time, the principle helmsman is Andrea Casale, a highly accomplished Melges 32 and TP52 sailor and the current world J/24 Champion, there is a video interview with Andrea in the boat blog section of the RORC web site.
In Class Zero, Peter Hopps’ GY51, Nisida, is in pole position. The
boat races all over the world and won class in last year’s Rolex
Middle Sea Race. David Aisher’s Rogers 46, Yeoman XXXII, has had a set back after their terrific start.
“During the night we got hit by a squall, blowing out the A3
spinnaker.” Commented David Aisher. “We were without a spinnaker for three hours but have now rounded the top of St.Martin and are
screaming along at twenty knots plus on our way to Guadeloupe.”
The one and only retirement so far is in Class Zero is Edward
Krubasik’s First 47.7, Gilly B who pulled into St. Eustacia over
night, they have a broken gooseneck but all are well on board, if a
little disappointed.”
Tony Lawson’s, Class 40, Concise, are having a tremendous
battle with a sistership. Alex Mehran’s, Cutlass. Concise lead from
the start but are now neck and neck with Cutlass. “ I was very pleased with the start.” Commented Concise’s owner, Tony Lawson.” The lads were handling the boat well but Cutlass has a big masthead shute and will have an advantage in reaching conditions, it will be nip and tuck all the way to the finish.”
The first boats are expected to arrive back in Antigua before dawn on on Wednesday and no doubt the reception party at the Antigua Yacht Club for the first RORC Caribbean 600 will begin and the party may well last until Friday.
For full details of the RORC Caribbean website including fleet
tracking, blogs from the boats and videos:
http://caribbean600.rorc.org
