Caribbean 600: thrills on day two

The 600 mile race is living up to its billing as a high-speed race

By mid-morning on day two, the RORC Caribbean 600 was living up to its billing as a high-speed thrilling race. The majority of the fleet is at the top part of the course and should be around St.Maarten during the day.

George David’s Maxi, Rambler 100, is setting an amazing pace and is already rounding the south of Guadeloupe, 220 miles from the finish. The canting keel speed machine is expected to cross the finish line before daylight tomorrow and is well on course to beat the monohull course record of 44 hours 5 minutes 14 seconds, set by Mike Slade’s Maxi, ICAP Leopard, in 2009.

Rambler 100 is the favourite to take line honours and is currently winning the race on corrected time. ICAP Leopard is 34 miles behind Rambler 100, sailing along at around 15 knots, on the long ride to the bottom of the course.

In IRC Zero Richard Oland’s Southern Cross 52, Vela Veloce, is class leader, with 338 miles to go they have rounded St. Maarten and are heading south.  Peter Harrison’s Farr 115 Sojana is having a great race, showing the magnificent yacht’s pedigree in big breeze. Brian Benjamin’s Carbon Ocean 82, Aegir – whose crew includes Yachting World’s Matthew Sheahan – is having a fine debut.  ”The boat is really optimized for the Mediterranean and the solid Trades are giving us a bit more than that,” commented the boat’s builder Britt Colombo from on board. “Last night was pretty hard work with a lot of sail manoeuvres and shifty conditions around the back of St.Kitts but this is just fantastic sailing, it is great to be out here.”

The Army Sailing Association’s A 40, British Soldier, had a first class start and they have continued to lead their class on handicap, they have taken the most northerly line of any of the yachts after Saba. (John Burnie comments on this in his commentary on the RORC Caribbean 600 website.)

Two yachts have retired from the RORC Caribbean 600. Gonzalo Botin’s Class 40, Tales, has an injured crew member (badly swollen ankle). They are returning to Jolly Harbour, Antigua to seek medical attention.  Bernie Evan-Wong’s Mumm 36, High Tension, dismasted just after dawn NW of Saba. No one was hurt in the incident and Antigua Barbuda Search and Rescue coordinated with the Martinique Co-ordination centre to offer assistance. However none was required, the rig was recovered and Bernie and his team are motoring back to Antigua.

To track the fleet, click here.