The 53 strong RORC 600 fleet blasted away from Antigua today in 25 knots of breeze and the promise of more to come on the fifth edition of the 600 mile offshore course around the Caribbean Islands.
The strong winds which had been topping out at 30 knots prior to the start led to early disaster for the crew of the Class Zero 100′ Maxi Liara who were dismasted shortly after starting.
Watch out for a spectacular battle between Mike Slade’s Maxi, ICAP Leopard and Hap Fauth’s, smaller, nimbler mini-maxi Bella Mente, skippered by Volvo Ocean Race veteran Mike Sanderson. This pair were locked together right from the off with Leopard’s extra waterline length giving them the early advantage in the breezy upwind conditions at the start.
Whilst Leopard is the favourite for monohull line honours, the multihull fleet and in particular Peter Aschenbrenner’s trimaran Paradox, will be well in the hunt to be first home.
[UPDATE 5pm local time Antigua] Both averaging 18 knots, Leopard and Paradox were leading the monohull and multihull fleets on the water on the water, completing the first 400 miles in a blistering seven and a half hours. Neither were leading their class however, with Brain Thompson in charge of the much heavier Gunboat 66 cat Phaedo correcting out as top multihull and Mike Sanderson’s boys on Bella Mente leading in Class Zero. However, Ron O’Hanley’s Cookson 60 Privateer led the fleet in IRC Overall with Bella Mente in second. At this point in the race the leaders have just under 450 miles to go.
Images credit: Tim Wright/Photoaction.com
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