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The 4th edition of the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s Caribbean 600
starts from Antigua on Monday 20th February. Starting from Fort
Charlotte, Antigua, the 600nm course circumnavigates 11 islands, including St
Martin in the north and Guadeloupe in the south, passing Barbuda, Nevis, St
Kitts and St Barth’s.

Among the 40 entries taking part are a team from the Lloyd’s of
London Yacht Club as well as Austrian investor Gerhard Andlinger; Fidelity’s
president of asset management Ron O’Hanley; and George David, the former
chairman of United Technologies. Peter Harrison (Chernikeef) and Skype founder,
Niklas Zennstrom and Barry Holman – ex head of Legal and General are also
racing. 

One of the yachts taking part in this year’s trace is RP87 IDEA. Here’s what they have to say about taking part:

“For
2012 we want to really make an impression on the race course and compete with
sailing superstars on a level that would really challenge us,” says Andrew
Jameson from the Lloyd’s of London Yacht Club (LLYC).

Chartering
the RP78, Lloyd’s IDEA, the crew is made up of keen amateur sailors, some who are
boat owners themselves, but all are members of the Lloyd’s of London Yacht Club
which was formed in 1936 for underwriters working in the ‘Room’ at Lloyd’s, as
an introduction to offshore racing. The club has supported RORC races to this
present day the Lloyd’s club Commodore, Liz Lotz and Andrew Jameson chartered
places on the Farr 65, Spirit of Minerva, in 2009 and found the RORC Caribbean
600 a great challenge and loved the race.

“Talking
endlessly about the Race with other LLYC club members, we noticed a great level
of interest. On the back of this we ended up taking 23 club members to Antigua
to race in 2010 but unfortunately had to retire due to lack of wind that year!
In 2011 LLYC were unable to enter a yacht into the race as many members of the
club had commitments, but this didn’t stop a few crewing on yachts such as
Windrose of Amsterdam and Northern Child. For this race the wind blew and
stories from the returning members re-lit fires of longing to enter the race
again.”

“We
would love nothing more than to get a podium position but we have the utmost
respect for the teams we will be racing against and to be able to support this
amazing RORC race is great. The quicker the yacht, the longer in the bar after
the race!” concludes Jameson.

The
crew racing on board include Lloyd’s of London Yacht Club members from UK, New
Zealand, USA, South Africa and Germany.

Find out more information and track the progress of yachts
online via the RORC minisite: http://caribbean600.rorc.org

The RORC600 essential facts and figures:

• Start: Monday 20th February 2012
• 40 impressive yachts include: Racing Maxis, Superyachts, Spirit of Tradition, Class 40s
• Average boat length 70ft, 18 boats racing in IRC 1,2, 3
• Professional sailors as well as corinthian crews – the Caribbean 600 has wide appeal
• Crews from 32 nations: Antigua, Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Cayman Islands, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Guadeloupe, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Puerto Rico, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, St. Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, United States of America, US Virgin Islands
• Largest yacht: 214ft Hetairos – the world’s largest carbon composite sailing yacht. The 29 crew on board include Volvo Ocean Race and America’s Cup sailors as well as Jules Verne around the world veterans
•  Smallest yacht: Bernie Evan-Wong’s Mumm 36, High Tension
• 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
• Race organisers: Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) 
• Hosts in Antigua: Antigua Yacht Club 
• Fans can follow the race live, as all of the boats taking part will be fitted with RORC Trackers
• Past Results: RORC CARIBBEAN 600 TROPHY – IRC OVERALL 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)
• Records: Multihull record holder – Region Guadeloupe in 40 hours 11 mins 5 secs (2009) Monohull record held by Rambler 100 in 40 hours 20 mins 02 secs (2011)
• Others designs include: Volvo 70; Cookson 50; Baltic Custom, Reichel Pugh 90′ JV72′; Dijkstra 40m Schooner, RP 78; TP52; Shipman 63; Andrews 72; Tripp 75; Farr 65; Mumm 36; CNB Briand 76; Oyster 48; J/39; Class 40; First 40; First 40.7; One off 63′ Trimaran;
• The Inn at English Harbour are awarding a prize of a week’s holiday for two at this elegant and exclusive resort to the overall winner on corrected time in IRC 1, 2 or 3.
• Video: JL Offshore Media will be producing a video report of this year’s race, filmed mainly on ‘Windrose’, through the eyes of her skipper and crew, but with material from other participating boats. Before the race, a series of video reports will also be posted.
• Official Supporters: Antigua & Barbuda – Antigua Yacht Club Marina –  North Sails – The Inn at English Harbour –Hot hot hot spot! – Carib Beer – Antigua & Barbuda Search & Rescue –

Photo: Tim Wright/ www.photoaction.com