RORC Caribbean 600

600 miles, 11 islands, zero respite: the RORC Caribbean 600 returns in 2026

Start on Monday 23 February 2026 from Fort Charlotte, south of Antigua. More than 600 sailors from around the world will line up for the 17th edition of what has become, in barely fifteen years, one of offshore racing's major fixtures. The RORC Caribbean 600 is no longer a holiday regatta: it's a tactical battlefield where America's Cup professionals, round-the-world veterans and sharp amateur crews all converge.

Logistical news this year: the RORC Nelson's Cup Series (17-20 February) is fully integrated into the preparation programme. Three days of preliminary racing in Caribbean conditions, then the big leap into 600 miles.

A race born to fill a gap

Launched in 2009, the RORC Caribbean 600 answered a glaring hole in the offshore calendar: a mid-distance event—comparable to the Fastnet or Rolex Middle Sea Race—but sailed in the trade winds of the tropics. Adrian Lee's Cookson 50 Lee Overlay Partners inaugurated the honour roll in that first edition.

Since then, the race has established its signature. Where an Atlantic crossing often rewards pure speed on long straight runs, the "C600" is a giant slalom between islands. Constant manoeuvres, repeated sail changes, surgical management of island wind shadows: nothing is ever settled, even for the leaders.

Records to beat

The reference times reflect the technological evolution of fleets engaged in recent years:

• Multihull: 1d 05h 48min 45s — Argo (MOD70), Jason Carroll, 2022
• Monohull: 1d 13h 41min 45s — Rambler 88, George David, 2018
• IRC (corrected time): 3d 10h 09min 41s — Warrior Won (Pac52), Christopher Sheehan, 2022

The course: 11 islands, one giant trap

The route doesn't change—and that's precisely what makes it the DNA of the event. From Fort Charlotte, the fleet launches into a complex loop around 11 islands: heading north towards Saint Martin, then back down towards Les Saintes (Guadeloupe), passing Barbuda, Nevis, Saint Kitts, Saba and Saint Barthélemy.

Three key moments define the race:

• The upwind start: departure from Antigua often demands tight tacks in a built sea, sorting the fleet from the first hours.
• Rounding Guadeloupe: this is the moment of truth. The wind shadow downwind of La Soufrière can stop leaders dead for hours. Chasers close in, rankings are upended.
• The final beat back to Antigua: a brutal endurance test for crews already worn down by constant manoeuvres.

Entered classes: from MOD70 to doublehanded duos

The diversity of boats makes the event rich. The RORC Caribbean 600 2026 is part of the RORC Season's Points Championship, the world's largest offshore racing championship.

• IRC (Offshore): the premier category, from Maxis to smaller racers, classified under handicap. This determines the winner of the RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy.
• Class40: 40-foot monohulls, often the theatre of the closest duels—first across the line, first in the rankings.
• MOCRA (Multihulls): from overpowered MOD70s to fast cruising catamarans.
• CSA (Caribbean Sailing Association): rating suited to local and regional boats.
• IRC Two-Handed: category dedicated to duos, in line with the growth of doublehanded sailing.

The favourites: who can win in 2026?

Analysis of entries and recent results reveals a strong field, historically dominated by American and European teams.

IRC contenders

• Leopard 3 (Farr 100) — Joost Schuijff (Monaco): 2024 IRC winner, this giant has proven its ability to win on corrected time when conditions are windy.
• Pyewacket (Volvo 70) — Roy P. Disney (USA): 2023 winner, an absolute reference in sustained breeze.
• Warrior Won (Pac52) — Chris Sheehan (USA): 2022 champion, formidable in variable conditions where a 52-footer's agility makes the difference.

Names that matter

The entry list also features top-tier navigators: Alexis Loison (on Albator), Nikki Henderson (on El Ocaso) and weather router Will Oxley (on Summer Storm), whose reading of the files could prove decisive in wind shadow zones.

Find the complete list of entered boats and compare their characteristics on spencer.club.

Tactical challenges of February

February places the race at the heart of trade wind season. Typical conditions: steady East-North-East wind, 15 to 25 knots. But reality is trickier. The volcanic topography of the islands creates zones of brutal acceleration and massive wind shadows. Tropical squalls can appear without warning. And now there are sargassum seaweed, capable of significantly slowing a boat by accumulating on keel and rudder.

The Nelson's Cup as dress rehearsal

The RORC Nelson's Cup Series, which concludes three days before the 600 start, offers participating teams a concrete advantage: full-scale tuning, validation of sail plans, crew cohesion shake-down. For the Maxis and IRC Zeros, these preliminary races aren't a warm-up—they're a tactical investment.

How to follow the race

The start will be given on 23 February 2026. Several tools will allow you to experience the race in real time:

• Tracking map: positions and speeds updated continuously on the official RORC website
• Rankings and results: IRC corrected times accessible via the SailRaceHQ portal
• Social media: videos and photos broadcast from race control and media boats

Follow the news from this race and the complete offshore season calendar on spencer.club.