RORC Caribbean 600: Soldini mocked by 11 seconds, battle among Class 40s

The RORC Caribbean 600 runs as fast as expected, with an intense trade wind in the 20-25 knots blowing steadily day and night and sending the fleet flying at high speeds. So high that in the night the Multi 70s have already arrived at the finish line in Antigua, with a thrilling photo finish between Zoulou and Maserati with Giovanni Soldini. The battle between the Class 40s was heated, with Allagrande Pirelli of Ambrogio Beccaria and IBSA Group of alberto Bona who are playing for the top position.

RORC Caribbean 600 -Zoulou mocks Maserati

The two Multi 70s took turns leading the RORC Caribbean 600 throughout the race, often exchanging positions, with Maserati appearing faster in terms of pure speed at times. The finish in Antigua, however, was with erratic winds disturbed by the islands, and with Maserati just ahead, Zoulou managed a decisive overtake in the finale. The French trimaran’s time was 1 day, 6 hours, 55 minutes and 34, Maserati’s 1 day, 6 hours, 55 minutes and 45 seconds, just 11 seconds apart after 600 miles of battle .

Giovanni Soldini’s comment upon arrival: “First of all, congratulations to our opponents. It was a crazy 600 miles and we had a great race, building mile after mile, so much so that at the buoy north of Antigua we had built up a gap of about 13 miles, but then when we turned the buoy the wind ran out, and the opponents who passed an hour later we saw them parading past us at 28 knots, while we were going at 5. We still managed to catch up and overtake them at the Redonda buoy, and by the last windward mark we had a half-mile lead, a margin maintained until the finish then, the lay line mocked us by a handful of meters“. For Zoulou, this is a partial rematch after Maserati came out on top in the Rorc Transatlantic Race.

The Battle in the Class 40s

A heated challenge at the top in the Class 40 fleet, 13 entries out of 73 total, with Ambrogio Beccaria and Alberto Bona vying for the podium. They are not alone in their ambition to win the RORC; they will have to contend especially with Axel Trehin’s crew, which has taken the lead and leads by a two-mile margin right over the Italian duo.

Allagrande Pirelli and IBSA race virtually within sight, and just to leeward of them is the provisional leader. They are facing a wide windward leg that will take them rounding the small islet of La Desirade before opening the throttle on the leeward side toward Antigua. The finish line for them is about 190 miles away, which they should cover in less than 24 hours.

Tracking