Credit : photoaction.com
Two of the world's most impressive racing yachts have been locking horns over 600 miles of high-speed action in a fight to the finish. Competing against each other for the first time and battling it out to snatch the record for the third edition of the RORC Caribbean 600.
The Rambler crew contained the entire compliment of the Puma Ocean Racing team which will be competing in the 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race, tired but elated, Puma skipper, Kenny Read commented dockside in Antigua: "That was a lot of fun but hard work for a while, you do something like sail around the world and that is almost easy compared to this, because there is no time to take any sleep, you're taking so many corners and turns but it is also a gorgeous course, it's a dream come true type of event. I am glad we came and that George invited me. Probably the most memorable part of the course was at night with a full moon at the top of St. Maarten, big breeze and massive breaking waves, it was huge fun and really cool, we came out of their doing 26 knots, it has been a real adventure and a this course and Rambler 100 is a whole new dimension for sailing."
Rambler 100's George David, an avid sailor and member of the New York Yacht Club, has been sailing with Kenny Read for 17 years.
"Rambler 100 is quite a handful, it's like a Volvo 70 on steroids and this is a big fast race, which favours us," commented David. "It is part of the Atlantic Ocean Racing Series, the RORC Caribbean 600 has been a great race as part of that series. We never took this win for granted, we have carried out some optimisation towards the IRC rating and we really didn't know how we would perform, as this is the first time that the boat has been raced to be IRC competitive. Leopard is a powerful boat and they are a good team that has been sailing together for a number of years. Thank you to the RORC and the Antigua Yacht Club, a lot of people have put a great deal of effort into making this a great race, I think this race is going to attract a lot of competitors, we have a record fleet this year and I can only seeing it growing, I think we will be back next year."
George David's Rambler 100 may have defeated Mike Slade's ICAP Leopard, but Slade was his usual charming self dockside, he even quoted Shakespeare: "Well we have to suffer the slings and arrows, Rambler is really quick, we made a valiant effort and we enjoyed ourselves, as we always do, that was just a fantastic sail. We had a few issues, which cost us but Rambler sailed impeccably and hardly put a foot wrong, the whole way around the course."
Clarke Murphy, who has joins forces with Mike Slade on ICAP Leopard for this race and the forthcoming Transatlantic Race, was racing on Leopard for the first time and despite the defeat, was wide-eyed about the experience; "Hitting those speeds hour after hour was just amazing, I couldn't have asked for a more exciting sail with a great bunch of guys who are really at the top of their game. Early on, just before Barbuda, we had a major issue with the main and although the crew managed to repair it, the sheet went again, later in the race, putting a small tear in the main, which we had to fix but we are not making any excuses, Rambler showed how quick they were and were deserving winners."
While the crews of Leopard and Rambler are enjoying a beer together in the Antigua Yacht Club the rest of the fleet is still battling away out on the course. It may be perfect Caribbean conditions but offshore it is a wild bumpy ride with big waves and tricky gusts making life on board difficult. After two nights at sea, fatigue will really become a big factor.
Two Cookson 50s are still racing in IRC Canting Keel, at the moment Chris Bull's Jazz has the upper hand 23 miles ahead of Adrian Lee's Lee Overlay Partners and ahead on handicap.
IRC Zero is producing a fantastic contest between Richard Oland's Southern Cross 52, Vela Veloce and Peter Harrison's Sojana. Vela Veloce holds pole position but Sojana may well benefit from the beat to the finish from Redonda, but don't discount Brian Benjamin's Carbon Ocean 82, Aegir. They have 70 miles to go and their velocity made good indicates that they are still in with a chance of winning their class.
IRC One has Piet Vroon's Ker 46, Tonnerre de Breskens still out in front on corrected time but their closest rivals have been hauling them in. Andy Middleton's First 47.7, EH01 will be hoping that the breeze holds out. They may be about 50 miles behind Tonnerre on the water, but on corrected time they are still very much in it. Richard Balding's Swan 60, Fenix has been having a great race and are currently third in class.
The Army Association's A 40, British Soldier has been the star of the show in IRC Two. However, Christian Reynolds' Swan 51, Northern Child has been chipping away at the early lead taken by British Soldier.
As far as the overall or individual class winners for the RORC Caribbean 600, the only think certain is that there is still everything to play for.
From Carribean 600 RORC
