RORC CARIBBEAN 600

NEWS AND SPECIALS

Back to RORC Caribbean 600

FIRST OVER THE LINE IN RORC 600
Wednesday 22nd February 2023



Zoulou Crew: Erik Maris, Ned Collier Wakefield, Thierry Fouchier, Loick Peyron, Bruno Jeanjean, Bruno Mourniac, Thomas Le Breton.​

After over 30 hours of racing at speeds approaching 40 knots, MOD70 Zoulou sailed by Erik Maris (FRA) won Multihull Line Honours in the 2023 RORC Caribbean 600 by just 11 seconds. Zoulou completed the 600-mile race in just under 31 hours. Giovanni Soldini’s Maserati Multi70 (ITA) endured the pain of coming second after another photo-finish; Maserati was also second last year by just two minutes from Jason Carroll’s record-breaking MOD 70 Argo.

That was an incredible race with such a close finish,” commented Zoulou’s Erik Maris. “We were ahead until midnight on the first day but we lost Maserati when they were very fast on their foils going down to Guadeloupe. Maserati sailed really well on the second day but on the penultimate leg (Barbuda to Redonda), they lost themselves under a cloud, just as Zoulou had done in the RORC Transatlantic Race. We came back together and the lead changed many times on the leg to Redonda. The last leg was really tough as the wind speed and direction was very unstable, but we managed to pass them on the one that counts. It was as close as it gets; an incredible finish and great fun. I decided to get into the MOD70 Class to do all the RORC races, that was the plan and we intend to do the Rolex Fastnet Race later this year.”

 Zoulou’s tactician is Thomas Le Breton who has competed in the Laser, Finn, AC45, SailGP and the GC32 Circuit, but this was Le Breton’s first RORC Caribbean 600. Le Breton described the strategy and the tactics for the last leg from Redonda to the finish.

“At Redonda, Maserati was ahead of us with 30 miles upwind to the finish. We had two or three squalls and Ned Collier Wakefield knows the race very well and knew all the tricks for this last leg. We decided to play the shifts in the rain and wind to the north. We lost contact with Maserati which went to the south. At the end we ended up together and finally we were in a match race for the last five miles. We managed to pass Maserati just before the line by just 11 seconds, it was a very good fight. Maybe what helped us was our experience in the GC32 where we are used to making decisions at high speed. This race has super-nice weather and we had good fun on board, and to race against a good team with a tight finish, this has been a very good regatta,” commented Le Breton dockside.


Maserati skipper, Giovanni Soldini

Maserati Multi70 took the lead for the first time from Zoulou after rounding Saba at around midnight on day one of the race. Using their foils Maserati extended their lead, touching 40 knots of boat speed on the long leg down to Guadeloupe. Having built-up a 13 mile lead, Maserati then got caught under a cloud and lost the breeze after passing the penultimate mark of the course at Barbuda. Zoulou then came into Maserati with the pressure to catch up to stage the grandstand finish.

“The whole race was interesting and crazy, not just the finish,” commented Giovanni Soldini. “We arrived at the finish together and with our foils we are slower to tack in lighter winds. We made an error in the last tack; we went too early and that is the story, but it was a very nice race all the way. We pushed a lot and really enjoyed a beautiful rivalry with Zoulou. This time they have won, but it is no problem, next time it will be Maserati!”

 

 

 

 

 


Click here for all News and Specials for RORC Caribbean 600

 
connect with antiguanice.com
FacebookTwitterYoutubeNewsletterRSS

contact
TEL: +1 (268) 460-1799
UK TEL: +44 207 493 2248
FIND US ON: Facebook
WEBSITE: Click here

news and specials

STAN PEARSON: CO-FOUNDER OF THE RORC CARIBBEAN 600

Friday 1st March 2024
The yachting community mourns the passing of Stan Pearson: Co-Founder of the RORC Caribbean 600...
Read More

A REMARKABLE RORC CARIBBEAN 600

Friday 1st March 2024
A Remarkable RORC Caribbean: 600 Sixty-four boats took on the challenge, with 561 sailors from all o...
Read More

YOUNGSTERS VISIT LIMOSA, THE FAMOUS PROJECT

Monday 26th February 2024
Youngsters form Antigua Yacht Club were invited to Visit Limosa, The Famous Project ...
Read More

LEOPARD OVERALL WINNER OF RORC

Thursday 22nd February 2024
The Royal Ocean Racing Club has announced that the Farr 100 Leopard 3 (MON), skippered by Joost Schu...
Read More

RORC DAY THREE

Wednesday 21st February 2024
Keep up with the fleet with Day Three RIRC Caribbean report ...
Read More

All News Stories and Specials


photo gallery
To view more photos of Rambler 100 Winds RORC Caribbean 600 click here View Image Gallery
To view more photos of 2011 RORC Caribbean 600 click here View Image Gallery
To view more photos of RORC Caribbean 600 click here View Image Gallery

video

Video by acquafilms on Vimeo.

2011 RORC Caribbean 600 race - Day 1 highlights

Video by acquafilms on Vimeo.


whats on

RORC NELSON'S CUP SERIES

Tuesday 18th February 2025. Read More

RORC NELSON'S CUP SERIES

Wednesday 19th February 2025. Read More

RORC NELSON'S CUP SERIES

Thursday 20th February 2025. Read More

RORC NELSON'S CUP SERIES

Friday 21st February 2025. Read More

RORC CARIBBEAN 600

Monday 24th February 2025. Read More

All Whats On Listings