A Truly Special 2025 RORC Caribbean 600
by Louay Habib / RORC 2 Mar 06:43 GMT
The 2025 RORC Caribbean 600 marked its 16th edition with a spectacular display of offshore racing prowess, attracting a diverse fleet of 66 boats from 32 countries. The race is renowned for its challenging 600-nautical-mile course around 11 islands and providing Caribbean racing in the depth of the northern hemisphere's winter months.
The race started from Fort Charlotte, Antigua, with all five starts executed flawlessly by the RORC Race Team assisted by the Antigua Yacht Club. The diverse fleet launched into the ultimate offshore tropical challenge with a sunshine beat up to Green Island. The favourable conditions at the start set a positive tone, but this was nothing short of a gruelling race, especially for the long leg from St Barths to Guadeloupe.
Race results available here.
Monohull Line Honours: Lucky's Stellar Performance
The Juan K 88 Lucky, skippered by Bryon Ehrhart, clinched Monohull Line Honours with an impressive performance in an elapsed time of 1 day 17 hours 14 minutes and 12 seconds. Lucky is on a winning streak, having claimed Monohull Line Honours and set a new race record for the RORC Transatlantic Race this January. Read more: caribbean600.rorc.org/lucky-strikes-gold
Overall Winner under IRC: Tschüss 2's Triumph
Christian Zugel Volvo 70 Tschüss 2 (USA), co-skippered by Johnny Mordaunt emerged as the overall winner under IRC, winning the RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy. The victory is a testament to the crew's amazing abilities but also exceptional teamwork and relentless dedication to performance. Read more: caribbean600.rorc.org/tschuss2-wins-2025-rorc-caribbean-600-overall
IRC Super Zero: Competitive Spirit in the big boat class
The IRC Super Zero class showcased a fierce yet friendly rivalry among some of the world's fastest offshore monohulls. Teams demonstrated exceptional boat handling on a course that weaves day and night through islands and rocky outcrops. Tschüss 2 was the winner of IRC Super Zero Class after time correction. Second was Mills 72 Balthasar with Louis Balcaen at the helm. George Procopiou's Volvo 70 Aiolos took third after IRC time correction by less than an hour from Balthasar.
IRC Zero: Tactical Mastery and Seamless Execution
The IRC Zero class was exceptional this year with top contenders from Europe and the United States, but in the end Niklas Zennstrom's Carkeek 52 Rán put in a superb performance to win the class for the third year running. Rán pulled out all the stops on the final leg to win IRC Zero by just 8 minutes and 7 Seconds after IRC time correction from Frederic Puzin's Carkeek 54 Daguet 5. Jon Desmond's PAC52 Final Final took third. The competition was intense, with teams pushing their limits to harness every advantage. The challenging conditions tested their resilience and their performances were a testament to meticulous preparation, unwavering determination and a world class level of racing. Read more: caribbean600.rorc.org/epic-duels-furious-finishes
Multihull Class: Wellness Training & Malolo share the spoils
The multihull battle came to a conclusion with Marc Guillemot's MG5 Wellness Training taking Multihull Line Honours in an elapsed time of 2 Days 7 hrs 51 Mins 17 secs. Thomas Kassberg's ORC 50 Malolo was just over 20 minutes behind, but after MOCRA time correction was the winner of the Multihull Class. In essence, honours were shared between the two teams, and a beer afterwards.
Read more - Multihull, IRC One and IRC Two classes: caribbean600.rorc.org/winners-crowned-battle-continues
IRC One: Albator's Consistent Excellence
Philippe Frantz's NM43 Albator secured first place in IRC One with an elapsed time of 2 days 22 hours 44 minutes and 33 seconds ahead of Richardson & Sheehan's Class40 Tquila. Andrew & Sam Hall's Lombard 46 Pata Negra out in a strong finish to come third, just a whisker behind Tquila after time correction. The victory marked Albator's second IRC One class win in the RORC Caribbean 600. The defining moment in the race came at Guadeloupe, underscoring a deep understanding of one of the race's most notorious wind traps.
IRC Two: Team Scarlet's Strategic Brilliance
Elan 450 Team Scarlet on Emily, skippered by Ross Applebey, won the IRC Two class after IRC time correction. Applebey's ninth class victory in the RORC Caribbean 600 highlights his strategic prowess and the crew's solid adaptability, particularly when racing a new boat. The two other podium places were decided by a full-on battle for IRC Two Line Honours between two J/122s. Peter Dunlop & Victoria Cox, racing Mojito and El Ocaso skippered by Nikki Henderson with a charter crew from 59 North. After IRC time correction Mojito was second and El Ocaso third.
The 2025 edition attracted over 600 sailors from six continents, highlighting the race's global appeal. This diverse representation fostered a rich exchange of sailing culture and competition rarely achieved in any other race, bar the Rolex Fastnet Race.
At the Prizegiving held at the Antigua Yacht Club, RORC Commodore Deb Fish, who had been competing in the RORC Caribbean 600 for the third time, welcomed sailors to the awards ceremony. "The RORC Caribbean 600 is all about teamwork, camaraderie and making memories that last a lifetime," commented Deb Fish, whose special mention for Matic Vrecko, skipper of the Slovenian Elan 450 Karpo, raised loud applause. "Karpo are here racing as the first ever Slovenian entry and Matic sailed the boat here solo across the Atlantic; that's something every sailor admires. Yet again the RORC Caribbean 600 lived up to its reputation for the best racing around this amazing course, in perfect trade winds and the best parties."
While the RORC Caribbean 600 is nowhere near as big a race as the Rolex Fastnet Race, which celebrates it's 100th birthday this July, with a fleet of over 400 boats, the boutique size of the RORC Caribbean 600 fleet allows an army of volunteers to welcome every sailor home.
"The RORC Caribbean 600 would not happen without the amazing support of the Antiguan volunteers," commented Race Director Steve Cole. "The competing boats are always appreciative of the cold beers delivered with a warm smile to all the finishers no matter if it's day or night - now that is truly special."
RORC CEO Jeremy Wilton commented: "The 16th edition of the RORC C600 has been a great success, with a different set of challenging conditions than usual, but once again the race has proved to be unique and it is firmly embedded as one of the classic 600 milers. We look forward to welcoming everyone back to Antigua next year for the 17th edition of Caribbean's longest and biggest offshore race."
The 17th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 will start on 23rd of February, 2026 and will be proceeded by the RORC Nelson's Cup Series.
For more stunning pictures from the 2025 RORC Caribbean 600 visit the Gallery here. Prizegiving Images here.
Find out more at caribbean600.rorc.org