Willy Bissainte and Benoit Reffe’s Class 40, Tradition Guadeloupe, were rightly proud as they crossed the finish line in the early hours of Sunday morning (28 February), having spent five nights at sea. A large contingent greeted the yacht – including Elizabeth Jordan, Commodore of the Antigua Yacht Club and Ian Loffhagen, RORC Racing manager.

In face, every yacht competing in the RORC Caribbean 600 was welcomed back to Antigua, regardless of the time. Jonathon Cornelius and his ABSAR team was on call day and night through out the race and piloted every yacht into Falmouth Bay.

“We were never going to retire,” said Willy Bissainte dockside. “The RORC Caribbean 600 is a big part of my training for the Route de Rhum, which I will be racing solo, later in the year. We always had at least a little wind, we kept going all of the time. It was great to have such a reception from the Antigua Yacht Club and the RORC. We will only be staying for a short while though, we must go back to work in Guadeloupe in just a few hours.”

Richard Bamford’s Swan 38 Dolfijn retired on Friday morning which meant that Karl Kwok’s Farr 80, Beau Geste, was awarded the RORC Caribbean 600 trophy for best yacht overall under IRC, the line honours trophy for monohulls and Class trophy for IRC Super Zero.

Willy Bissainte and his co-skipper Benoit Reffe picked up the Concise Trophy for the best Class 40 and the class trophy for IRC Zero. After a quick shower, the two sailors who defied the unusual weather, set sail for home. The last yacht in the 2010 RORC Caribbean 600 was finally accounted for.

To see the overall results for the RORC Caribbean 600, click here.