RORC CARIBBEAN 600

RORC Caribbean 600
Organised by The Royal Ocean Racing Club in association with Antigua Yacht Club

Course: Approx. 600nm non-stop around 11 Caribbean Islands

How to Follow the Race
An record fleet featuring 80 of the world's most spectacular yachts and crews are gathering in Antigua for the start of the 2017 RORC Caribbean 600 on Monday, February 20th, 2017. To keep up with all the news and to follow the race, please see full details below.

Record Fleet - World's Most Spectacular Racing Yachts
The Race Team from the Royal Ocean Racing Club, based at Antigua Yacht Club is busy preparing for the start of the 9th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 on Monday, February 20th .

Since its inception in 2009 when 24 boats took the start, the only offshore race in the Caribbean has grown in popularity and this year, a record fleet of 80 yachts from around the world will compete in the Caribbean’s only offshore race.
 
The quality of the fleet is second-to-none. Some of the world's fastest racing machines with top offshore sailors have flown in from all parts of the world to secure the silverware, and the prestigious RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy will be on the same challenging race course as Corinthian sailors seeking the ultimate offshore challenge.

The diverse fleet will be made up of boats representing 18 different nations and crews from over 30 different countries, and will also include several Caribbean sailors.

Fort Charlotte, Antigua will be the starting and finishing point for this sensational 600 mile non-stop yacht race around 11 Caribbean Islands.
 
The Start: Monday, February 20  - 10:50 am (First warning signal)

A myriad of 80 yachts will take the start on Monday, February 20th. The First Warning Signal is at 10:50 am, but yachts will leave the dock much earlier to make their way to the start area. The start sequence with nine different classes will take 50 minutes to complete.
 
Spectators are in for a treat. The 9th edition of the race will showcase an astounding fleet of yachts: from record-breaking high performance racers to magnificent schooners, fast production yachts and some of the fastest foiling multilhulls around.
 
Due to the size of the yachts and the sheer number competing, considerable sea room is needed to manoeuvre and a team of highly experienced volunteers will act as on-the-water marshals maintaining an Exclusion Zone to keep spectator boats at a safe distance from the yachts racing.
 
See where to watch the start and how to follow the race from the water.

Please Note: Exclusion Zone For The Start

For those wishing to watch the race from the water, please note that there will be an Exclusion Zone around the starting area effective from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm on Monday, February 20th, 2017.
 
The safety of spectator vessels and competitors is paramount and therefore Marshal Boats displaying a white flag with a red "M" will be policing the exclusion zone as per the diagram below.

Class Start Times:

1100     IRC 2, IRC 3, CSA
1110      IRC 1 & Class40          
1120      IRC Zero and CK
1130      Superyachts
1140      Multihulls
 
Note: A Warning Signal will be given 10 minutes before the Starting Signal

From The Shore:
The yachts will be starting south of Fort Charlotte on Monday, February 20th. Those left on land can get a wonderful view from there, or from Shirley Heights. The starting line is formed between an orange triangle on Fort Charlotte and an orange cylindrical Outer Distance Mark approximately 0.50nm south of Fort Charlotte. The Race Committee may adjust this position with reference to the wind direction on the day of the start. Fort Charlotte is at the eastern entrance to English Harbour above the Pillars of Hercules and below Shirley Heights.
 
There's also a chance to catch a glimpse of the boats leaving Falmouth Harbour from Pigeon Beach and the boats leaving English Harbour from Galleon Beach from 09:30 am onwards. Boats will be gathering in the start area from around 10:00 am, so get there early to get the best view. The start sequence begins at 10:50 am.
 
Race Minisite: Follow the race on the minisite: http://caribbean600.rorc.org

Keep up-to-date with all the news. There will be blogs from the boats themselves on the race course, images, video and daily race reports.

Follow the action as it unfolds on the RORC Caribbean 600 website.

Social Media:
Facebook. Follow the race on: https://www.facebook.com/RoyalOceanRacingClub
Twitter: #rorcrc600  - Follow @rorcracing
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rorcracing/
 
Track The Fleet:
Every yacht is fitted with a race tracker and their progress can be followed on the race website: http://caribbean600.rorc.org/Race-Information/Tracking/

Join the race and play the game - Virtual Regatta:
If you can't make the race but want to compete against thousands of 'armchair sailors' around the world, join the RORC Caribbean 600 Virtual Regatta now. Test your skills, but beware, you will be hooked as the delights and frustrations of the course become apparent.
 
Join the Virtual Regatta (found in the RORC minisite: http://caribbean600.rorc.org)

View the Class List here.