RORC Caribbean 600: Tschüss 2 wins, the most successful VOR 70 there is

The verdicts begin at the RORC Caribbean 600, the most iconic offshore ocean race held in the Caribbean Sea through a spectacular course between Antigua and Guadeloupe. The long-awaited result for the overall winner of the regatta is official, taking the victory in IRC overall is Christian Zugel ‘s VOR 70 Tschüss 2 , which had covered the more than 600-mile course in a time of 1 day, 21 hours, 31 minutes and 15 seconds. A great performance by the VOR 70, which finished only 4 hours on corrected time behind the 27 m maxi Lucky, which then finished sixth on corrected time. The RORC Caribbean is an ideal regatta for this type of boat, as carrying or transverse gaits are frequent.

Behind Tschüss 2 were Carkeek 52 Ran and Carkeek 54 Daguet 5. After Celestial’s victory at the Sydney Hobart 2024, comes another success for a VOR 70, Tschüss 2 actually being one of the most successful boats in the history of those that took part in the Volvo Ocean Race and then went on to participate in the world’s major offshore races.

Tschüss 2 – A VOR 70 always a winner

The VOR 70 class has beenone of the most highly regarded box rulesin the history of ocean sailing, regarded by many as one of the most spectacular boats ever to be used in the former Volvo Ocean Race, round-the-world crewed races, albeit fragile and often prone to failure. Many of these boats then successfully competed in major international regattas.

Tschüss 2 is a VOR that left its mark back in the days of the Volvo Ocean Race: designed by guru Juan K, 21.50 m long and 5.70 wide, she was launched on May 14, 2011 in Lorient and christened as Groupama 4, for the French challenge to the VOR captained by Franck Cammas. The French crew included what would become some real rock stars of transalpine sailing-Charles Caudrelier, Thomas Coville, Yann Riou-and Groupama 4 won the 2011-2012 Volvo Ocean Race. In that round-the-world race Groupama won 2 of the 9 legs, managing to bring home almost always good placings in the others, and imposing themselves in several In-port races.

From then on, the boat continued with a history of major achievements, under the names Giacomo, Wizard, and precisely Tschüss 2. This VOR 70’s palmares include a win at the Sydney Hobart, a win at the Newport Bermuda Race, two RORC Caribbean 600s, a win at the Fastnet, a RORC Transatlantic Race, plus many other podium results in ocean offshore classics.

For the RORC Caribbean 600 aboard Tschüss 2 were Christian Zugel, Sonia Zugel, Johnny Mordaunt, Al Fraser, Alex Higby, Andrew McLean, Campbell Field, Christopher Welch, Cian Guilfoyle, Edward Myers, Fredric Shanks, Luke Muller, Neal MacDonald, Pete Cumming, Simon Johnson, Stefano Nava and Stu Bannatyne.

Mauro Giuffrè