February 25, 2022
Antigua (February 23, 2022) – Dmitry Rybolovlev’s ClubSwan 125 Skorpios (MON), skippered by Fernando Echavarri, crossed the finish line today to take Monohull Line Honours at 03:59:51. The elapsed time of 1 day, 16 hours, 39 mins, 51 secs was not enough to break the current monohull record set in 2018 by George David’s Rambler 88 (USA) of 1 day, 13 hours, 41 minutes, 45 seconds.
“This is the first RORC Caribbean 600 for Skorpios, both for myself, and some of the crew,” commented Skorpios’ skipper Fernando Echavarri. “I am super-proud of all the team that have made this possible; it has been an incredible effort just to be here.
“It has been a very interesting race, demanding for the crew with sail changes and very tactical. The speed of Skorpios has been one of the key ingredients, but also managing the changes as we rounded the islands; especially Guadeloupe where we parked in the wind shadow, but there was enough separation for us to stay in first position.”
Skorpios Crew: Dmitry Rybolovlev, Fernando Echavarri, Pepe Ribes Rubio, Bruno Zirilli, Matteo Celon, Claudio Celon, Antonio Cuervas Mons, Dirk de Ridder, Viktor Filippov, Bruno Garcia Del Blanco, Aleix Gelabert, Carlos Hernandez, Brad Jackson, Michael Joubert, Andrei Konogorov, Neal McDonald, Juan Meseguer, Antony Mutter, Michael Pammenter, David Pella, Elliot Pilcher, Nicolas Pruvost, Fernando Rodriguez Rivero, and Russell Whitworth.
The VPLP/Verdier 100 Super Maxi Comanche finished less than an hour behind Skorpios on the water. After IRC time correction, Comanche is in first place with 57 boats still racing under IRC for the overall win.
“Skorpios did a good job, we did get inside them at the start but after that they defended their position very well,” commented Comanche’s skipper Mitch Booth. “Skorpios was always in sight, even at night there was enough moonlight to see them and that gave us motivation. Comanche was never more than 10 miles behind and we knew there would be some passing opportunities. Comanche is quick downwind and we came within a mile of Skorpios at that angle.
“The big moment was underneath Guadeloupe; Skorpios hit that zone before us and we had a good indication of where the breeze was. At one stage they stopped and we were coming at them at 16 knots. The game is never over on this sort of race course because there are a lot of obstacles that make it interesting and a lot of fun.”
Will Oxley, Comanche’s navigator commented dockside about the competition under IRC still out on the race track. “I haven’t looked at the weather after Comanche’s finish, but I would say that Christopher Sheehan’s Pac52 Warrior Won is having a really good race and looking strong as they got to Guadeloupe.
“Thomas Kneen’s JPK 1180 Sunrise, of course, was doing well, but there is quite a lot of beating in this race and the 52s will do a bit better than Sunrise in that. I noticed the NMYD 54 Teasing Machine was also up there. I think it is probably going to be a 52 (for the overall win).”
The 13th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 started February 21 for 74 teams with over 700 sailors from 32 countries. The 2022 race once again tackles the 600nm course which 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 RECORDS:
• Multihull record (2022) – Jason Carroll, Argo, MOD70 (USA) – 29 hours, 38 mins, 44 secs
• Monohull record (2018) – George David, Rambler 88, Maxi (USA) – 37 hours, 41 minutes, 45 seconds
PREVIOUS WINNERS: RORC CARIBBEAN 600 TROPHY – IRC OVERALL
2019 – David and Peter Askew, Wizard, Volvo 70 (USA)
2018 – George David, Rambler 88, Maxi (USA)
2017 – Hap Fauth, Bella Mente, JV72 (USA)
2016 – George Sakellaris, Maxi 72, Proteus (USA)
2015 – Hap Fauth, JV72, Bella Mente (USA)
2014 – George Sakellaris, RP72, Shockwave (USA)
2013 – Ron O’Hanley, Privateer, Cookson 50 (USA)
2012 – Niklas Zennström’s JV72, Rán (GBR)
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)