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RORC CARIBBEAN 600 - Start: Monday 18 February 2013, Antigua
http://caribbean600.rorc.org - Übersicht
DAY TWO 0700 Race Update:19 February 2013
ROYAL OCEAN RACING CLUB
20 ST JAMES'S PLACE, LONDON SW1A 1NN
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2013 RORC CARIBBEAN 600
Race Report By: Louay Habib
THE SLEIGH RIDE CONTINUES: 2013 RORC CARIBBEAN 600
By: Louay Habib
The Sleigh Ride Continues
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Close racing during the first night
Credit: RORC/Tim Wright/Photoaction.com
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On the first night, there was virtually no let up in the phenomenal pace for the
yachts competing in the RORC Caribbean 600. Warm Trade Winds gusting up to 28 knots
was the norm. Downwind under spinnaker, the broad reach to the magical island of
St.Kitts was spectacular as Andreas Hanakamp on board Class40, Vaquita, explained
by satellite phone:
"Just amazing racing, all the crew were grinning from ear to ear as we blasted downwind
with the sunset lighting up the spinnaker. It was so special, we decided to have
a-la-carte dinner with each crewman choosing his favourite freeze dried dish, it
was beef stroganoff for me. The racing is really close, Sensation did well at the
North Sails mark, sailing higher but we got back at them after turning downwind.
However, we have less righting moment than 40 Degrees, so I expect them to come
back at us on the beat to St.Barths, we will just try and sail as fast as we can."
Andreas' forecast was spot-on, Peter Harding's Class40, 40 Degrees has taken the
lead with Vaquita back in second place.
In the Multihull Class Lloyd Thornburg's Gunboat 66, Phaedo, threw the dice at about
2200 last night by taking a more northerly route than Peter Aschenbrenner's Paradox
ahead of them. However, the move did not pay off with Paradox extending their lead.
Paradox is now blast reaching south and has nearly made Montserrat. The volcanic
island marks the halfway distance (in miles) for the course. Paradox completed
300 miles in 20 hours, which is on course for the multihull record set by ORMA 60
Region Guadeloupe in 2009 and never beaten.
Mike Slade's British Maxi, ICAP Leopard has, for now, lost sight of its imaginary
prey. Leopard is now 30 miles behind Rambler 100's position in 2011. However all
is not lost. Before the race, Leopard's navigator, Hugh Agnew predicted that this
year's wind direction would slow them on the route south to Guadeloupe but the Palma
Blue Maxi Leopard is still trucking along at a VMG of 15 knots. If they can indextain
that pace, the record could still be broken.
Ron O'Hanley's Cookson 50, Privateer, leads the IRC fleet overall but only just
from Hap Fauth's JV72, Bella Mente. At 0700, Privateer was at the very top of the
course, beating into 24 knots of easterly breeze. Soon they will clear St.Barths
for the second time and launch downwind. Privateer has a fractional Code Zero and
a Jib Top in their armoury, ideal sails for blast reaching.
In the Superyacht category Filip Balcaen's Belgian Baltic 112, Nilaya, leads on
the water, having successfully negotiated the Anguilla Channel and is about to unfurl
her downwind sails to head south at a rate on knots. Meanwhile, behind Nilaya, the
two goliaths of the RORC Caribbean 600 have been enjoying a moonlight match race.
Geert Pepping's 208ft schooner, Athos and the 180ft schooner Adela, skippered by
Greg Perkins have been virtually side by side all of the first night. However,
Adela seem to have won the sparring match having kept themselves to windward of
Athos on the tricky beat up to St.Barths. However, Athos should have a distinct
advantage when the two mighty schooners crack off south later today.
Hap Fauth's American JV72, Bella Mente, is currently leading IRC Zero and is very
much in contention for the overall prize. The Mini Maxi World Champion is on a tight
reach south and going extremely well. Although conditions are faster this year,
it is impressive to note that Bella Mente are currently 60 miles ahead of the position
of Niklas Zennström's JV72, Rán 2, when taking the overall win last year.
In IRC One Simon de Pietro's Irish Briand 76, Lilla, and Colin Buffin's British
Swan 62, Uxorious IV, are still out in front. However Lilla made just one extra
tack last night on the beat to Saba, which looks to have paid off giving Lilla a
slender lead on the water and also class lead, after time correction.
In IRC Two reigning class champion, Oyster 48 Scarlet Logic, co-skippered by Ross
Applebey and Tim Thubron, have opened up a three mile lead on the approach to St.Barths.
The tough beat will have suited the vintage Oyster more than her close rival, Grand
Soleil 43, Quokka LLYC.
Several other yachts put in a great performance over night, notably Boyd, Cunningham
and Dowling's First 40, Lancelot II. RORC Admiral, Andrew McIrvine, sailing Weir
Kracken is having a great race, as is local hero Bernie Evan-Wong on High Tension.
The Antiguan dentist turned 60 just before the race and is putting in a performance
fit for a man half his age. In feisty conditions with one of the smallest yachts
in the race, Bernie is punching well above his weight.
In IRC Three Jonty Layfield's British J/39, Sleeper, has opened up a ten mile lead
on the water and leads after time correction, but Adrian Lower's Swan 44, Selene,
and Valerio Bardi's Italian Swan 46, Milanto, are revelling in the tough conditions.
They may be astern of Sleeper, but hard upwind conditions at the top of the course
may well see the two heavy displacement Swans close the gap.
Pick of the Blogs from the boats:
Adrian Lower: Swan 44, Selene:
"Morale is high and Selene is in good shape, our AIS tells us we are in touch with
Quokka with mates from Lloyds of London Yacht Club on board with whom I did this
race last year. Quokka is a fast, well-sailed boat who just beat us in the ARC,
so we are pleased to be close to them.
There are a couple of other bigger boats still well in sight and we were close enough
to enjoy the spectacle as the fleet gybed round North Sails mark off Barbuda and
began the down wind leg to Nevis. We saw Adela and Athos bowling along under full
sail looking magnificent as they ploughed through the fleet."
"It feels a bit lonely now that they are all pushing on, but that is what we expect
as the slowest boat in the fleet. Our mission is to stay as close as we can and
at the moment our boat speed is very good. For now it is something of a procession
and waterline length is key. We hope to manage the next important tactical phase
which will be the beat from Saba up to St.Barths. We should see something of the
faster boats making their way south after rounding St Marten. That will be a bit
exciting as we shall be on reciprocal courses with a closing speed of over 30Kn,
so eyes peeled then!"
Overnight retirements were received from Whisper and Haspa Hamburg, both with torn
indexsails. All are well on board the boats and they are heading back to Antigua."
During the race, there will be daily news stories, images and video updates from
the fleet. All of the yachts are fitted with Yellowbrick trackers and competitors
are encouraged to send blogs and images from the yachts, which will also appear
on the website.
ENDS/....
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