| Early entries for the 2019 RORC Caribbean 600 reveal a stunning fleet of famous professional teams taking part alongside passionate corinthian crews. Famed for spectacular sailing conditions on an intricate and mesmerizing course, the 11th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 is set to be an absolute cracker. Two months before the start of the race 50 teams have thrown down the gauntlet; over 10% more than the same time prior to the record entry of 88 yachts in 2018. The race is a truly international affair with teams from all over the Caribbean Islands, Canada, Chile, Great Britain, Finland, France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the USA. For the first time in the history of the race, three ocean-going trimarans in the shape of Jason Carroll’s Argo, Giovanni Soldini’s Maserati and Peter Cunningham’s PowerPlay will be battling for multihull line honours and the race record, set in 2016 by Lloyd Thornburg’s Phaedo3 in 31 hours, 59 minutes, 4 seconds. The IRC fleet racing for the overall win and the RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy, boasts three magnificent yachts; the 203ft (62m) schooner Athos, skippered by Tony Brookes, the 115ft (35m) sloop Nikata, skippered by Tom Brewer, and the 96ft (30m) sloop Sorceress, sailed by Will Apold. Two Maxi 72s will be locking horns; previous winner George Sakellaris’ Proteus and the brand new Bella Mente sailed by Hap Fauth. American Volvo Ocean Race skipper Charlie Enright will be hoping for victory with the American Volvo 70 Wizard. In two previous editions, the race has been won overall by a Cookson 50. This year, two new teams will be hoping to increase the statistic. Franco Niggeler’s Kuka3 is on a high from their overall win in the RORC Transatlantic Race and the highly experienced team racing Triple Lindy will be led by Joseph Mele. A record entry of Class40s is also expected to compete in the race. The 2018 Route du Rhum featured 53 of these pocket rockets, bound for Antigua’s neighbour island of Guadeloupe. With another transatlantic race organised in March, 10 or more Class40 are likely to take part in the RORC Caribbean 600. Among the early entries is Catherine Pourre’s Eärendil which set a new Class40 record for the race last year (2 days 13 hours and 15 seconds). “We are delighted to be heading back to Antigua for the 11th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600,” commented RORC Racing Manager, Chris Stone. “This coming year we are anticipating close to 100 boats from all over the world who will be coming to Antigua to enjoy the challenging racing and amazing weather. We are expecting an extremely good mix from within the fleet, seeing our smallest competitors tussling with the larger race machines for the prestigious IRC overall trophy. As usual, there will be a great welcome party and prizegiving event, plus every yacht will be met dockside with cold beers and a warm welcome from our wonderful team of volunteers.” For more information, please go to: http://caribbean600.rorc.org or contact the RORC Race Team: E: racing@rorc.org Notice of Race: http://caribbean600.rorc.org/Race-Information/2019-notice-of-race.html Entries to date: http://caribbean600.rorc.org/Entries/race-entries.html ENDS/…Louay Habib NOTES TO EDITORS MEDIA ENQUIRIES: Trish Jenkins RORC Press Officer M: +44 (0)7880 518689 E: trish@j2pr.co.uk Skype: trish jenkins RACE REPORTER: Louay Habib M: +44 (0)7801 800521 E: louayhabib@gmail.com RORC Race Enquiries:Chris Stone, Racing Manager Royal Ocean Racing Club T: +44 (0) 1983 295144 E: racing@rorc.org W: http://www.rorc.org/ Royal Ocean Racing Club: 20 St James’s Place London SW1A 1NN Tel: 020 7493 2248 Fax: 020 7493 2470 E: info@rorc.org THE RORC CARIBBEAN 600: RORC Caribbean 600 minisite: http://caribbean600.rorc.org The 11th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 starts from Antigua on Monday 18th February 2019. The 600nm course circumnavigates 11 Caribbean Islands starting from Fort Charlotte, English Harbour, Antigua and heads north as far as St Martin and south to Guadeloupe taking in Barbuda, Nevis, St Kitts, Saba and St Barth’s . Twitter: Follow @rorcracing – Hashtag: #Caribbean600 #rorcrc600 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rorcracing/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RoyalOceanRacingClub RESULTS: RORC CARIBBEAN 600 TROPHY – IRC OVERALL (Best corrected time under IRC) 2018 – George David, Rambler 88, Maxi (USA) 2017 – Hap Fauth, Bella Mente, JV72 (USA) 2016 – George Sakellaris, Maxi 72, Proteus (USA) 2015 – Hap Fauth, JV72, Bella Mente (USA) 2014 – George Sakellaris, RP72, Shockwave (USA) 2013 – Ron O’Hanley, Privateer, Cookson 50 (USA) 2012 – Niklas Zennström’s JV72, Rán (GBR) 2011 – George David, Rambler 100, JK 100 (USA) 2010 – Karl C L Kwok, Beau Geste, Farr 80 (HKG) 2009 – Adrian Lee, Lee Overlay Partners, Cookson 50 (IRL) THE ROYAL OCEAN RACING CLUB: Established in 1925, The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) became famous for the biennial Fastnet Race and the international team event, the Admiral’s Cup. It organises an annual series of domestic offshore races from its base in Cowes as well as inshore regattas including the RORC Easter Challenge and the IRC European Championship (Includes the Commodores’ Cup) in the Solent. The RORC Caribbean 600, based in Antigua and the first offshore race in the Caribbean, has been an instant success. The 11th edition will take place in 2019. The RORC extended its organisational expertise by creating the RORC Transatlantic Race from Lanzarote to Grenada, the first of which was in November 2014. The club is based in St James’ Place, London, but after a merger with The Royal Corinthian Yacht Club in Cowes, now boasts a superb clubhouse facility at the entrance to Cowes Harbour and a membership of over 4,000. Twitter: #rorcracing @RORCracing Facebook: www.facebook.com/royaloceanracingclub Instagram: www.instagram.com/rorcracing RORC RATING: The RORC has also been a leader in yacht handicap systems and in co-operation with the French offshore racing club, UNCL, created IRC – the principal yacht measurement system for the rating of racing yachts worldwide. The Spinlock IRC rating rule is administered jointly by the RORC Rating Office in Lymington, UK and UNCL Centre de Calcul in Paris, France. The RORC Rating Office is the technical hub of the Royal Ocean Racing Club and recognised globally as a centre of excellence for measurement. For Spinlock IRC rating information in the UK please see: www.rorcrating.com IRC rating globally: www.ircrating.org Social media: www.facebook.com/rorcratingwww.facebook.com/ircrating Twitter @RORCrating @IRCrating RACE PARTNERS:The Royal Ocean Racing Club has partnered with Rolex SA, adding the RORC Caribbean 600 to the leading Swiss watchmaker’s prestigious roster of yachting events around the world. www.rolex.com Sevenstar Yacht Transport – Official Logistics Partner to the RORC Caribbean 600. Sevenstar Yacht Transport is the world’s leading provider of yacht shipping services. A global network of destinations, ranging from the familiar to the exotic, and our own fleet of more than 100 independent carriers have propelled Sevenstar to the peak of its sector for more than 25 years. For race yachts, Sevenstar offers a unique package to the teams which includes all logistics of boat and spares. http://www.sevenstar-yacht-transport.com/racing-logistics.aspx Sevenstar Yacht Transport Enquiries: Wouter Verbraak – Direct: +44 238 021 5063, Mb: +44 755 752 6451 E: wouter@sevenstar-uk.com |
About Bella Mente
The original Bella Mente Racing campaign kicked off in 2006 with Key West Race Week, and since then owner and skipper Hap Fauth has had three additional racing yachts in the program.
Launched in September of 2018, the current Bella Mente is a Maxi 72 designed by Botin Partners in Spain and built by New England Boatworks in Rhode Island.
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