MOCRA Class
Gunboat 68 Tosca (USA) skippered by Alex Thomson, won the MOCRA Class after time correction. Giovanni Soldini’s Multi70, Maserati, was second, with MOD70 Zoulou third.
“Tosca is a perfect boat to do this race,” said Thomson. “You have the comfort of a superyacht and the speed of a Volvo 70. Tosca has a great crew and together we are really understanding how to improve the boat’s performance. We are really chuffed to win the MOCRA class, it is a milestone for this boat.”
IRC Zero
RORC Vice Commodore Eric de Turckheim, racing NMD54 Teasing Machine (FRA), won the highly competitive IRC Zero Class. Second was Kate & Jim Murray’s Pac52 Callisto (USA), and third was Frederic Puzin’s Ker 46 Daguet 3 – Corum (FRA).
“This year we had a fantastic battle in IRC Zero with four highly competitive boats that Teasing Machine was in contact with all the time,” said de Turckheim. “We finished within 30 minutes of each other; that is exciting as well as the sailing itself. Callisto sailed really well and was always a threat. Further back, because they are 46 feet, was 3 – Corum.
In the last race they beat us, this year we beat them. So well done to Callisto and 3 – Corum for making this class very hard to win.”
Teasing Machine crew includes de Turckheim, Laurent Pages, Aymeric Chappellier, Alexandre de Girval, Bertrand Castelnerac, Christian Ponthieu, Gabriele Olivo, Jerome Teillet, Paco Lepoutre, Quentin Bouchacourt, Quentin Le Nabour and Tony Brochet.
IRC One
Dan Litchfield’s classic Hound (USA) put in a great last beat from Redonda to win IRC One. The Aage Nielsen 59 sloop was built in 1970, the oldest boat in the race.
Laurent Courbin’s First 53 Yagiza (FRA), skippered by Phillippe Falle, was second by just 24 minutes after IRC time correction. In third place was Andrew & Sam Hall’s Lombard 46 Pata Negra (GBR), just six minutes behind Yagiza after IRC time correction.
“We got pushed really hard by the other boats in our class; somehow we pulled it out at the end and it feels great,” said Litchfield, Hound owner. “It was only when we were rounding Redonda that we thought the win was possibly for real. The Hound crew is the best I have ever sailed with and the RORC Caribbean 600 is our big race of the season. Hound will be heading back to Newport, Rhode Island, and I know our two daughters will have missed cruising her, as we will do in the summer.”
Hound crew includes Tom Stark, Adam Klyver, Chris Murray, Daniel Litchfield, David Rosow, Devin Santa, Edward Cesare, Glenn Cook, Jason Black, Lyndsey Gibbons-Neff, Nicholas Horbaczewski, Owen Johnson, Peter McGrath, Rich du Moulin, Sumner Fisher and Taylor North.
IRC Two
Peter McWhinnie’s JPK 1080 In Theory (USA) has won IRC Two by just under two hours from J/133 Vamoose (USA), skippered by Bob Manchester. Andy Middleton’s First 47.7 EH01 (GBR) was third.
“It feels fantastic. It has been great to get around the course with a wonderful crew. I can’t thank them enough,” said In Theory’s McWhinnie. “It was a relief to get through the last beat as the wind got a little fluky, but we made it to the finish and that was a very happy moment. One of the highlights of this race has been the close competition from other boats. We were always mixing it up with Vamoose, J Bella and EH01. There were a lot of great moments and a lot of hard sailing; it was pretty full on.”
In Theory crew includes McWhinnie, Com Crocker, Erin Sprague, John Slattery, Peter Fackler and Simon Karstoft Jensen.
IRC Two-Handed
Verdier 54 Notre Mediterranee – Ville de Nice (FRA) sailed by Fabien Biron and Pim Nieuwenhuis romped home in the double-handed class completing the course in an elapsed time of 2 days 17 hrs 15 mins 15 secs and taking the win after IRC time correction. Markus Moser’s Pegasus 50 Lifgun (SUI) racing with Marco Pas was runner up. Szymon Kuczynski’s Figaro 1 Hultaj (POL) racing with Anna Jastrzębska was third.
With all of the fleet accounted for, RORC racing manager Steve Cole said: “As always, the RORC’s primary concern for any race is safety, and we have special regulations in place to mitigate the risks of offshore racing. All the boats are accounted for and we hope that everyone has thoroughly enjoyed the race. The RORC race team supported by Antigua Yacht Club with the invaluable help of the army of local volunteers have produced a well-organised event here in Antigua. I am sure that I speak for all of the competitors in thanking them for their commitment and hard work, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back for the fifteenth edition in 2024.”
The 15th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 will start from Fort Charlotte, Antigua, February 19, 2024. The 600-mile offshore race is the centerpiece for the RORC Nelson’s Cup Series, which is a new six-race regatta in Antigua. For more information visit www.caribbean600.rorc.org
