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Press Release: Video Pre-Start Highlights from RORC 2017 – Caribbean 600

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VIDEO – 2017 RORC Caribbean 600 – Pre-start Highlights

Posted in Race Videos 2017

With 80 yachts competing, including some of the world’s best-known racing teams, the 9th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 offshore race around 11 islands is about to get underway. Interviews, preparation and practice action from Antigua.

2017 pre start highlights

Tags: Race Updates, Videos

PRESS RELEASE: RORC – Quick Guide – How to follow the RORC Caribbean 600

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PRESS RELEASE: RORC – Quick Guide – How to follow the RORC Caribbean 600 –

FOLLOW BELLA MENTE RACING
Organised by The Royal Ocean Racing Club in association with Antigua Yacht Club
Start: Antigua, West Indies – Monday 20 February 2017
 Course: 600nm non-stop around 11 Caribbean Islands
PRESS RELEASE
Thursday 16 February 2017, Antigua
Quick Guide – How to follow
the RORC Caribbean 600
An record fleet featuring 80 of the world’s most spectacular yachts and crews are gathering in Antigua for the start of the 2017 RORC Caribbean 600 on Monday 20th February 2017. To keep up to date with all the news and to follow the race, please see full details below.

Race minisite:   

http://caribbean600.rorc.org/
Blogs from the boats, daily race reports, images, videos and news. Follow the action as it unfolds on the RORC Caribbean 600 website.
Join the Virtual Regatta: http://click.virtualregatta.com/?li=4740

RORC YouTube channel:  

https://www.youtube.com/rorcracing
Social Media:
#rorcrc600  @rorcracing
RORC Caribbean 600 fleet
RORC Caribbean 600 © RORC/Tim Wright/Photoaction.com
Start: Monday 20th February – 1050 (First warning signal)
Fort Charlotte, Antigua will be the starting and finishing point for this sensational 600 mile non-stop yacht race around 11 Caribbean Islands.
Class start times:
1100  (1500 UTC)   – IRC 2, IRC 3, CSA
1110   (1510 UTC) –  IRC 1 & Class40
1120   (1520 UTC) –  IRC Zero and CK
1130   (1530 UTC)  – Superyachts
1140   (1540 UTC)  – Multihulls
Note: A Warning Signal will be given 10 minutes before the Starting Signal

80 yachts will take the start on Monday 20 February. The First Warning Signal is at 1050, but yachts will leave the dock much earlier to make their way to the start area. The start sequence with nine different classes will take 50 minutes to complete.

Spectators are in for a treat. The 9th edition of the race will showcase an astounding fleet of yachts: from record-breaking high performance racers to magnificent schooners, fast production yachts and foiling multilhulls.
Due to the size of the yachts and the sheer number competing, considerable sea room is needed to manoeuvre and a team of highly experienced volunteers will act as on-the-water marshals maintaining an Exclusion Zone to keep spectator boats at a safe distance from the yachts racing.
Watch from the water:
For those wishing to watch the race from the water, please note that there will be an Exclusion Zone around the starting area effective from 1030 to 1200 on Monday 20 February 2017.
The safety of spectator vessels and competitors is paramount and therefore Marshal Boats displaying a white flag with a red “M” will be policing the exclusion zone as per the diagram below.
PLEASE NOTE: EXCLUSION ZONE FOR THE START
The safety of spectator vessels and competitors is paramount and therefore Marshal Boats displaying a white flag with a red “M” will be policing the exclusion zone as per the diagram below.
Watch from the shore:
The yachts will be starting south of Fort Charlotte on Monday 20 February. Those left on land can get a wonderful view from there, or from Shirley Heights. The starting line is formed between an orange triangle on Fort Charlotte and an orange cylindrical Outer Distance Mark approximately 0.50nm south of Fort Charlotte. The Race Committee may adjust this position with reference to the wind direction on the day of the start. Fort Charlotte is at the eastern entrance to English Harbour above the Pillars of Hercules and below Shirley Heights.
There’s also a chance to catch a glimpse of the boats leaving Falmouth Harbour from Pigeon Beach and the boats leaving English Harbour from Galleon Beach from 0930 onwards. Boats will be gathering in the start area from around 1000, so get there early to get the best view. The start sequence begins at 1050.
Join the Virtual Race:
If you can’t make the race but want to compete against thousands of ‘armchair sailors’ around the world, join the RORC Caribbean 600 Virtual Regatta now. Test your skills, but beware, you will be hooked as the delights and frustrations of the course become apparent.
Join the Virtual Regatta HERE: http://click.virtualregatta.com/?li=4559
A word from the RORC Racing Manager:
“The support of the members of the Antigua Yacht Club plays a vital part in the success of the RORC Caribbean 600. The fact that we see so many familiar faces and new volunteers helping us each year, with their vast experience of the local area and conditions, gives the RORC the confidence to be able to organise this demanding offshore race with a small RORC team from the UK,” says RORC Racing Manager, Nick Elliott.
“We are very pleased that ABSAR, the Antigua Barbuda Search and Rescue team will be on hand to help with the many aspects of safety and fleet management required to run an offshore race. ABSAR’s highly trained team and safety network throughout the islands on the Caribbean 600 course, is vital to the safe running of the race. ABSAR will also be on hand to help identify any boats finishing in the hours of darkness,” continues Elliott.
The 2017 edition of the RORC Caribbean 600, organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) and hosted by the Antigua Yacht Club, will start on Monday 20 February 2017.
Entry List as at 16 Feb 2017:
Quick Fact Sheet on the RORC Caribbean 600:
Facts & Stats

 

 

Story Leads for press:

 

Media Resources:

Interviews/media requests:

Please get in touch if you have any requests or wish to interview one of the organisers or competitors before, or after the race. Contact Trish Jenkins: press@rorc.org

Images: High resolution, copyright free images will be available after the start, from Barbuda, St Barths and Redonda, where our event photographer, Tim Wright (Photoaction.com) will be capturing the race.

Video: Four video edits will also be made available: preview, start, early arrivals and a wrap up highlights edit. Let us know if you have any requests for broadcast quality footage. All edits will be available on the RORC YouTube channel/RORC Racing.

Features: if you would like a specific feature for your magazine on the race, or certain boats within it, we’d be pleased to help.

Follow the race: Social media, a race tracker and daily updates on the race minisite will bring the race alive for those of us not lucky enough to take part.

Media Team: On site in Antigua: Trish Jenkins (Press Officer), Louay Habib (Race Reporter), Roddy Grimes-Graeme (Video), Tim Wright (Photographer), Ted Martin & ELWJ Photography. Race team based at Antigua Yacht Club.

 
NOTES TO EDITORS

PRESS ENQUIRIES:

Trish Jenkins
RORC Press Officer
Local Cellphone: +1 268 725 4367
Skype: trish jenkins
Race/Press office opens at Antigua Yacht Club on Tuesday 14th Feb


RORC Race Enquiries:
Nick Elliott, Racing Manager
Royal Ocean Racing Club
Royal Ocean Racing Club:
20 St James’s Place
London SW1A 1NN
Tel: 020 7493 2248
Fax: 020 7493 2470
 

THE RORC CARIBBEAN 600:

  • RORC Caribbean 600 minisite: http://caribbean600.rorc.org
  • The 9th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 starts from Antigua on Monday 20th February 2017
  • 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
  • 73 yachts have entered the race to date and a record number of boats from around the world is expected to take part
  • Twitter: #rorcrc600 @rorcracing
PAST RESULTS: RORC CARIBBEAN 600 TROPHY – IRC OVERALL
(Best best corrected time under IRC)

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 Rolex 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 such as the RORC Easter Challenge and IRC National Championships in the Solent
  • The RORC works with other yacht clubs to promote their offshore races and provides marketing and organisational support. The RORC Caribbean 600 based in Antigua and the first offshore race in the Caribbean, has been an instant success and in 2014 the RORC extended its organisational expertise by creating the RORC Transatlantic Race from Lanzarote to Grenada in November
  • The club is based in St James’ Place, London and Cowes, Isle of Wight
  • In co-operation with the French offshore racing club, UNCL, RORC is responsible for IRC, the principal international handicap system for yacht racing 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

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

Latest News from the Royal Ocean Racing Club for the 2017 Caribbean 600!

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Organised by The Royal Ocean Racing Club in association with Antigua Yacht Club
Start: Antigua, West Indies – Monday 20 February 2017
 Course: 600nm non-stop around 11 Caribbean Islands
CORRECTED VERSION
Please note change in paragraph 10
 
PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday 15 February 2017, Antigua
Record entry for RORC Caribbean 600
Overall winner from the 2016 race – George Sakellaris’ Maxi 72, Proteus © RORC/Tim Wright/Photoaction.com
A fleet of over 80 yachts is expected for the ninth edition of the 2017 RORC Caribbean 600 in which 900 sailors from 30 different nations will race non-stop around 11 Caribbean islands, starting and finishing in Antigua. Passionate corinthians will be rubbing shoulders with Olympic medallists, America’s Cup winners and round the world sailors in a race to take home the coveted RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy. The 600 mile course is designed to offer a tactical, high speed race with stunning vistas at every corner.
Latest Entry Lists: HERE
“The RORC Caribbean 600 is very different to the other 600 mile races and definitely not a holiday race in the Caribbean,” commented RORC Racing Manager, Nick Elliott. “The race has many tactical legs with land effects and wind-driven currents which are both difficult to predict. The heat of the day and the long nights are also unusual features for an offshore race making it every bit as challenging as the Rolex Fastnet Race, and just as exciting. It is interesting to note that the records for the Rolex Fastnet Race and the RORC Caribbean 600 are very similar.”
Featuring a magnificent collection of yachts, an incredibly varied fleet will be racing under the IRC, CSA and MOCRA rating systems, as well as Class40s racing under class rules. Rambler 88, Phaedo3 and Maserati will be gunning for course records, however, the winner of the RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy will be decided by the yacht with the best corrected time under IRC.
Monohull Record: 2011 George David, Rambler 100 – 40 hours 20 mins 02 secs.
Rambler
George David’s Rambler 88 © RORC/Tim Wright Photoaction.com
George David’s American Maxi Rambler 88 is back with an impressive crew line-up for another tilt at the race record, the overall win and class honours. New Zealand’s multiple America’s Cup winner, Brad Butterworth is part of an impressive afterguard including fellow Kiwi, Brad Jackson and Australian navigator, Andrew Cape. Virtually the entire crew are America’s Cup winners and stars of the Volvo Ocean Race.
Multihull Record: 2016 Lloyd Thornburg & Brian Thompson, MOD70 Phaedo3 
– 31 hours, 59 mins 04 secs.
Lloyd Thornburg’s American MOD 70 Phaedo3 has lowered the bar for the multihulls for the last two years and this year will be up against stiff competition from Giovanni Soldini’s Italian MOD70, Maserati.
Phaedo3 has assembled a phenomenal crew for the race and multiple world record holder, Brian Thompson is joined by Volvo Ocean Race winners Robert Greenhalgh and Damian Foxall. Extreme 40 champion, Pete Cumming and the formidable talent of Michel Desjoyeux, the only sailor to have won the Vendée Globe twice. Maserati’s skipper, Giovanni Soldini is Italy’s most decorated offshore sailor and Maserati has been fitted with foils which can provide a speed advantage over Phaedo3. A fascinating contest for multihull line honours is expected.
Phaedo3, Lloyd Thornburg’s MOD70 © Rachel Fallon-Langdon
The winner of the Multihull Class will be the yacht with the best corrected time under MOCRA. Seven teams are entered including Shaun Carroll’s Australian Modified Sea Cart 30, Morticia which is the smallest yacht competing in the entire fleet, and the head-turning all-carbon R-Six, skippered by Robert Janecki, which is the first ever entry from Belize.
IRC Overall for the RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy
Overall winners of the previous eight editions of the race have all come from IRC Canting Keel and IRC Zero. Amongst this year’s favourites are two Maxi 72s: Hap Fauth’s Bella Mente – overall winner in the 2015 race, and current holder of the RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy, George Sakellaris’ Proteus.
Whilst the two Maxi 72s are firm favourites, the stellar cast racing in IRC Canting Keel and IRC Zero includes; Farr 100 Leopard and three Volvo 70s, Lionel Pean’s SFS II from France, Trifork skippered by Dutchman Bouwe Bekking and Green Dragon, skippered by Austrian Johannes Schwarz. The dark horse of the canting keel class is Maverick, skippered by Oliver Cotterell. The Infiniti 46 with DSS side foils was class winner for the RORC Transatlantic Race and the Rolex Middle Sea Race.
2015 RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy winner – Hap Fauth’s Bella Mente © Bella Mente Racing/Tim Wight
In IRC Zero, the 182ft schooner Adela, skippered by Greg Perkins is the largest yacht taking part and making a RORC Caribbean 600 debut is Anders Nordquist’s Shamanna. The 115ft superyacht is the largest of nine Swans competing this year and boasts a crew including many of Malta’s best sailors from the Calascione, Podesta and Ripard families. RORC Admiral and IMA Secretary General, Andrew McIrvine is a guest aboard Grant Gordon’s Maxi cruiser 72, Louise. Overall winner of the 2017 Cape to Rio Race, Stefan Jentzsch’s German Carkeek 47, Black Pearl is the smallest yacht in IRC Zero. South African America’s Cup sailors, Mark Sadler and Marc Lagesse form the afterguard.
Adela, the magnificent schooner is the largest yacht in the RORC Caribbean 600 fleet © RORC/Tim Wright
With 17 yachts, the largest class competing this year is IRC One and a huge variety of yachts includes Giles Redpath’s Lombard 46, Pata Negra, with RORC Commodore, Michael Boyd among the crew. Bernie Evan Wong’s RP37, Taz will be proudly flying the Antiguan flag once again. Bernie is the life and soul of the race having competed in all nine editions as skipper.
The IRC Two champion, Ross Applebey’s Scarlet Oyster is back attempting to win the class for the fourth consecutive race in a highly competitive field including; Ed Fishwick’s Redshift on El Ocaso with a young, top-class crew including, 2012 Olympic Silver Medallist Luke Patience and Figaro sailors, Alan Roberts and Nick Cherry, as well as Volvo Ocean Race sailor, Nick Bubb.
Close racing is expected in IRC Three among four vintage Swans, including two Sparkman & Stephens designed Swan 48s, Jonty Layfield’s Sleeper X and Andrew & Mia Schell’s Isbjorn. Peter Hopps, skipper of the Sigma 38, Sam has competed in every edition of the RORC Caribbean 600.
This will be Bernie Evan-Wong’s 9th race as skipper on Antiguan entry, Taz © RORC/Tim Wright
Short-Handed Challengers
A number of young talented Figaro teams are expected from Guadeloupe and James Heald’s British Swan 45 Nemesis will be racing Two-Handed. Five Class 40s will be competing including Halvard Mabire and Miranda Merron’s Campagne de France which won the Class40 division in the 2016 RORC Transatlantic Race, Catherine Pourre’s Eärendil, Peter Harding’s Phor-ty, Mikael Ryking’s Talanta and Marc Lepesqueux’s Saint-Pierre & Miquelon.
For more information and to follow the race go the race minisite: http://caribbean600.rorc.org/ 
Campagne de France
Miranda Merron and Halvard Maibre’s Class40, Campagne de France © James Mitchell
HOW TO FOLLOW THE RACE:
For more information and to follow the race go the race minisite: http://caribbean600.rorc.org/ 
All yachts will be fitted with a tracker:
ENDS/…. Louay Habib
NOTES TO EDITORS

PRESS ENQUIRIES:

Trish Jenkins
RORC Press Officer
Local cellphone: +1 268 725 4367
Skype: trish jenkins
Race/Press office opens at Antigua Yacht Club on Tuesday 14th Feb


RORC Race Enquiries:
Nick Elliott, Racing Manager
Royal Ocean Racing Club
Royal Ocean Racing Club:
20 St James’s Place
London SW1A 1NN
Tel: 020 7493 2248
Fax: 020 7493 2470
 

THE RORC CARIBBEAN 600:

  • RORC Caribbean 600 minisite: http://caribbean600.rorc.org
  • The 9th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 starts from Antigua on Monday 20th February 2017
  • 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
  • 80 yachts have entered the race to date and a record number of boats from around the world is expected to take part
  • Twitter: #rorcrc600 @rorcracing
PAST RESULTS: RORC CARIBBEAN 600 TROPHY – IRC OVERALL
(Best best corrected time under IRC)

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 Rolex 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 such as the RORC Easter Challenge and IRC National Championships in the Solent
  • The RORC works with other yacht clubs to promote their offshore races and provides marketing and organisational support. The RORC Caribbean 600 based in Antigua and the first offshore race in the Caribbean, has been an instant success and in 2014 the RORC extended its organisational expertise by creating the RORC Transatlantic Race from Lanzarote to Grenada in November
  • The club is based in St James’ Place, London and Cowes, Isle of Wight
  • In co-operation with the French offshore racing club, UNCL, RORC is responsible for IRC, the principal international handicap system for yacht racing 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
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
MEDIA RESOURCES:

Images: High resolution, copyright free images will be available after the start, from Barbuda, St Barths and Redonda, where our event photographer, Tim Wright (Photoaction.com) will be to get the best shots.

Video: Four video edits will also be made available: preview, start, early arrivals and a wrap up highlights edit. Let us know any requests for broadcast quality footage.

Features: if you would like a specific feature for your magazine on the race, or certain boats within it, we’d be pleased to help.

Follow the race: Social media, a race tracker and daily updates on the race minisite will bring the race alive for those of us not lucky enough to take part.

Media Team: On site in Antigua from Tuesday 14 February: Trish Jenkins (Press Officer), Louay Habib (Race Reporter), Roddy Grimes-Graeme (Video), Tim Wright (Photographer), Ted Martin & ELWJ Photography. Race team based at Antigua Yacht Club.
RORC Media | The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC)
T: +44 (0)7880 518689 | E:  press@rorc.org 
www.rorc.org – RORC Caribbean 600 minisite: http://caribbean600.rorc.org/
 #rorcrc600 @RORCRacing – www.facebook.com/royaloceanracingclub

Bella Mente departs for Antigua!

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2017 Here we go! Bella Mente is off and running to the Carribean! The Bella Mente Shore Team loaded Bella today and the ship has departed from Cracker Boy Boat Works in Riviera Beach, Florida to Antigua for the start of our 2017 Season! We kick off racing in February in the RORC Carribean 600! #bellamenteracing #rorc #gobellago #CBBW

 

(Photo Credit: Peter Henderson & Whitney Curtin)

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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