Video vom Start:
http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1109347297690&s=408&e=001G2wMvOHjewzO5DyXYR6htcWaiiRUwbSPjMCI2TyvHOhgQ7UcS4CSXqoFYsiTblsX_d5cG64KxAEdTBgFoH5KUZ6L3mt8qba4GQ451K7VnApgLR9YGraAMA==
Monday 20 February 2012
ROYAL OCEAN RACING CLUB
20 ST JAMES'S PLACE, LONDON SW1A 1NN
4TH RORC CARIBBEAN 600: DAZZLING SEND OFF
RORC Caribbean 600 Start Class Zero
Credit: Tim Wright/Photoaction.com
There was drama right from the start of the 4th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600.
Low cloud enveloped Antigua and a massive squall caused a torrential downpour. With
the wind gusting up to 20 knots, the crew were scrambling for wet weather gear.
The feisty conditions caused some hair-raising action under the cliffs of Fort Charlotte
outside English Harbour. However, once the squall had passed bright sunshine lit
up the race course and the highly impressive fleet was a spectacular sight.
First to start were the multihulls. Olivier Vigoureux's 63ft trimaran, Paradox got
the best start but by contrast, Michael Butterfield's Super Rose had a very conservative
beginning to their adventure. Super Rose's crew is made up of just family and friends
and their single goal is to enjoy a marvellous race round 11 Caribbean Islands.
Ten minutes later Classes One, Two, Three and the Class40s were away with Ross Applebey's
Scarlet Oyster having a good start. However, Northern Child was seen to return after
missing the Outer Distance Mark at the start. Bernie Evan-Wong's Mumm 36, High Tension
showed great local knowledge by getting inshore right under the cliffs of Fort Charlotte.
High Tension has one of the lowest handicaps of the impressive fleet and may well
benefit from increased wind forecast later this week. In Class One the two Swans,
Amanda Hartley's Swan 56 Clem and Colin Buffin's Swan 62, Uxorious IV enjoyed a
very competitive start. No doubt these two Swans will enjoy a close battle within
their class. Clem won her class in the 2009 Rolex Fastnet Race and Uxorious IV won
last year's highly competitive St.Malo Race.
With 16 highly competitive yachts in Class Zero, fireworks at the start were always
going to be a possibility and the crowd of spectators at Shirley heights were not
disappointed. Niklas Zennström's JV72, Rán nailed the line with precision to the
right hand side of the course. Meanwhile, Mike Cotter's RP78, Whisper gained a
lift on the left hand side. As Rán hardened up, Whisper tacked for depth and the
two Mini Maxis had an extremely close encounter. Sergey Borodinov's 90' Supermaxi,
Med Spirit went for a very late sail change and was bare headed just four minutes
before the start. The team work on board was frantic as the crew affected an efficient
sail change.
Tim Fetsch's Icarus Racing got a great start midway through the line but 20 miles
from Barbuda were overhauled by Peter Harding and Hannah Jenner onboard 40 Degrees.
The last start of the day was for the five yachts competing in the RORC Caribbean
600 that are 100ft and over. There was a fantastic spectacle as the 180' Adela and
the 154' Windrose went toe-to-toe. The two magnificent schooners were locked in
a battle for the line. Windrose managed to hold their lane to windward of Adela
to win the start, but Adela's water line length advantage came into play to overhaul
their grand competition. Peter Harrison's Sojana had a fantastic start.
RORC member John Burnie called in from the rail of the fabulous 115' ketch: "We
had a great tussle with Gerhard Andlinger's P2 during the prestart, all gentlemanly
stuff but we managed to manoeuvre well and hit the line with pace, maybe just half
a boat length shy, however P2 is 125' long and got a great head of speed up wind.
Hetairos went right in under Shirley heights and stayed in past Indian Creek, we
heard them radio P2 to call for water as they tacked out. However, P2 indextained
their course and passed well ahead of Hetairos. At Green Island, P2 were the first
monohull but I believe Hetairos will catch them as they bear away after Green Island
but the sloop rig on P2, is very efficient upwind. On Sojana we have managed to
get through a light patch of wind just before Green Island but looking up the track,
it looks like the wind is freshening."
The Royal Armoured Corp were late on parade, nearly half an hour late for the race.
Their First 40.7 Spirit of Venus was not seen to come to the starting area. However,
just as the fabulous five yachts over 100' began to get up to full speed, the diminutive
Spirit of Venus, charged out of Falmouth Harbour with the throttle fully down. A
mighty squall had ripped their indexsail, quick thinking Ondeck charter skipper,
Chris Jackson came to their aid, ribbing out a replacement. Spirit of Venus started
the race with just minutes to spare before being counted out. Spirit of Venus then
performed the required 720 turning penalty and sped off to start the RORC Caribbean
600. The team aboard Spirit of Venus are all serving members of the 2nd Royal Tank
Regiment returning from Afghanistan, perhaps their military training has enabled
them to stay in the RORC Caribbean 600 race.
All 39 yachts in the RORC Caribbean 600s are fitted with Yellowbrick trackers. Follow
the progress of the fleet and the race via the Caribbean 600 minisite at: http://caribbean600.rorc.org
63ft trimaran Paradox: Credit" RORC Caribbean 600/Tim Wright/photoaction.com
The largest yacht in the fleet: Hetairos RORC Caribbean 600/Tim Wright/photoaction.com
Windrose of Amsterdam, Adela and Hetairos make a magnificent sight at the start
of the RORC Caribbean 600 Credit: RORC Caribbean 600/Tim Wright/photoaction.com
Full details and list of entries can be found at: http://caribbean600.rorc.org [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1109341309488&s=408&e=001HUTh-ACExxAY9zXAmFVo6Rx2vEq77mj7JnKyBNxbdUN0APlNMKhXne5JwpqbY8UrMnBAyZVzPEw0NekU5eJMBn7IB57bchAvTKoIRt3PZ-gllBZKiE5j2A==]
ENDS/....
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