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4th RORC Caribbean 600 Race
http://caribbean600.rorc.org - Übersicht
27.01.2012
ROYAL OCEAN RACING CLUB 20 ST JAMES'S PLACE, LONDON SW1A 1NN
Race of Nations: RORC Caribbean 600
Start: Antigua Monday 20th February 2012
27 January 2012: Louay Habib
With less than one month to go, to the fourth edition of the RORC Caribbean 600,
the Royal Ocean Racing Club's 2012 programme kicks off with a sensational cast
in Antigua.
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Start von Antigua 2011
Tim Wright/Photoaction.com
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The RORC Caribbean 600 is a truly international affair, with well over 500 hundred
competitors from at least 24 different nations taking part. More than 30 impressive
yachts are expected to take part in a high-speed, action-packed yacht race around
11 Caribbean islands. There can be few sporting events that can boast such a worldwide
appeal with sailors taking part from all over the world including: Antigua, Australia,
Austria, Canada, Cayman Islands, Croatia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Holland,
Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Puerto Rico, Russia, South Africa,
Spain, Sweden, St. Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey and the United States of America.
Largest yacht in the fleet: The magnificent 67m Hetairos. Credit:Hetairos/Baltic
Yachts
This astounding diversity of nationalities is matched only by the astonishingarray
of yachts and personalities. The largest yacht competing this year is the magnificent
Hetairos with a waterline length of 200'. Hetairos is the world's largest carbon
composite sailing yacht. The 29 crew on board is composed of many Volvo Ocean Race,
America's Cup and Jules Verne around the world veterans. Hetairos is among the favourites
to take line honours, but there are several other yachts more than capable of finishing
in front.
In 2011 American George David skippered Rambler 100 to smash the monohull course
record, taking line honours and overall victory. David's team is back, this time
with the Reichel Pugh 90, Rambler and they are unlikely to give up the title without
a fight. The Spanish Volvo 70, Gran Jotti will be dwarfed by Hetairos, but the former
Telefonica Black has a venomous turn of speed and is quite capable of out pacing
the entire fleet. On board there is a huge wealth of talent in the form of Spanish
America's Cup and Volvo Ocean Race sailors. These three are likely to be contenders
for line honours, but overall victory under IRC is far more difficult to predict.
A hot contender is Niklas Zennstrom's Judel/Vrolijk 72 Rán, which will be making
its debut in the RORC Caribbean 600.
Niklas Zennstrom's Judel/Vrolijk 72 Rán Credit: Jody Sallons Day/Antigua Sailing
Week
Rán navigator, Steve Hayles is one of the world's most experienced offshore sailors
but this will be
the first time he has tackled the intricate course around the central Caribbean:
"For me it's very refreshing to tackle a new race and the Caribbean 600 is a real
fascination," explained Hayles. "It's unlike any other offshore race in that the
average leg is only about 40 miles and for a navigator there is a lot to consider.
Normally, a race is all about the weather and strategy but in addition to all that,
this race takes you back to the basic problem of navigating around so many rocks
and islands. Looking through all the legs, there is a broad mixture of sailing
angles; there is a fair bit of reaching, but it is wrong to think that is not a
challenge, especially with the speed sensitivity of modern high-performance boats.
The course is more like a whole stream of complex coastal races. I have to say that
it is a pretty unique race."
A dazzling variety of yachts crewed by some of the world's finest will be racing
this year. However, not all of the competitors are seasoned professionals. One
of the smallest yachts competing this year is J/39 Sleeper, which will be raced
two-handed by a father and son team. Jonty Layfield and son Jack are both RORC members
and hale from Brighton, UK. Last year with a full crew, Jonty's won class at Antigua
Sailing Week:
"Sailing Two-Handed with my son, I don't expect to be very competitive, we are not
going to go flat out but treat the race more like a delivery trip," admitted Jonty.
"I have raced double-handed with my son back in England and I have been sailing
with Jack since he was about five years old, we are more like friends than father
and son. The great thing about sailing is that you have to get on with it; you can't
have any histrionics. Jack is working in Brazil at the moment and the RORC Caribbean
600 is a great way to spend a few days together."
Close duels are expected right through the fleet, none more so than in the Class
40s where a hard fought and close encounter is expected. Tradewind sailing provides
perfect conditions for Class 40s, with long reaches and downwind legs, these pocket
rockets are capable of surfing at speeds of up to 25 knots. Peter Harding's 40 Degrees
has Hannah Jenner as skipper, the only female to skipper the Clipper Round the World
Race. Hannah was in fine form last year, gaining a podium position in the Class
40 Transat Jacques Vabre:
"Antigua is a beautiful place to start the season with some winter sunshine and
I have heard that Antigua Yacht Club provides a great party!" smiled Hannah. " The
race course has plenty of activity with sail changes and the competition should
be really close. Making the right tactical decisions will also be very important
if we are to be the fastest Class 40 around the track. I am really looking forward
to the race."
Hannah Jenner on Peter Harding's 40 Degrees in the 2011 Transat Jacque Vabre/ Credit:
Alexis Courcoux
RORC Chief Executive Eddie Warden Owen believes that the RORC Caribbean 600 is especially
attractive to larger yachts, however the ethos of the club indextains equal status
to every participant.
"A wide spectrum of yachts and competitors has decided that this is an event that
is not to be missed. The club is delighted that people from all over the world want
to take part. There is a mixture of world class sailors and corinthian enthusiasts,
but they all have one thing in common, a passion for offshore racing."
"This average length of yacht for this year's entry is over 70'. When the Royal
Ocean Racing Club started this race in 2009, we felt it would appeal to larger yachts
and that has proved to be the case. This year we have a significant number of Racing
Maxis, Super Yachts and Spirit of Tradition yachts. However, every yacht competing
in the RORC Caribbean 600 is governed by the same set of rules. All of the competitors
receive a warm welcome from the Antigua Yacht Club, regardless of their finish time
or place. Since 1925, The Royal Ocean Racing Club has promoted offshore racing for
all and in many ways the RORC Caribbean 600 typifies that cause."
Fans can follow the race live, as all of the boats taking part will be fitted with
RORC Trackers. Synchronised position reports will be available using the Race Player
Application on the event web site http://caribbean600.rorc.org [http://caribbean600.rorc.org].
The 2012 edition of the RORC Caribbean 600, organised by the Royal Ocean Racing
Club and hosted by the Antigua Yacht Club, will start on Monday 20th February 2012.
ENDS/....
Event Press | RORC | 20 St James's Place | London | SW1A 1NN | United Kingdom
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