RORC CARIBBEAN 600

NEWS AND SPECIALS

Back to RORC Caribbean 600

PHAEDO 3 AND PARADOX FLY INTO ANTIGUA
Friday 20th February 2015

RORC Caribbean 600
Organised by The Royal Ocean Racing Club in association with Antigua Yacht Club
Start: Antigua, West Indies - Monday 23 February 2015
Course: Approx. 600nm non-stop around 11 Caribbean Islands

Phaedo 3 and Paradox fly into Antigua

Lloyd Thornburg's MOD 70, Phaedo 3 blasts into Antigua
© Richard and Rachel/www.teamphaedo.com

The Multihull record for the RORC Caribbean 600 has not been broken since the inaugural race in 2009. For the last six editions the record set by John Burnie and Claude Thelier on ORMA 60 trimaran, Region Guadeloupe (40 hours 11 mins 5 secs) has remained unbeaten. However, this year there are two multihulls, both owned by RORC members, that have the potential to smash the record by hours. Lloyd Thornburg's MOD 70, Phaedo 3 and Peter Aschenbrenner's Nigel Irens 63, Paradox. Both crossed the Atlantic to take part in this year's race.

Phaedo 3 was a late entry for this year's race and blasted into Falmouth Harbour, Antigua just four days before the start. Owner Lloyd Thornburg is taking part in his third RORC Caribbean 600 and is relishing the prospect of racing the MOD 70 around the course at phenomenal speed. Phaedo 3's crew include Jules Verne record holder, Brian Thompson and double Vendee Globe winner, Michel Desjoyeaux, with Sam Goodchild and Pete Cummings.

"Brian Thompson and I have been working on getting a MOD 70 for two years and it only came to fruition in January," commented Lloyd Thornburg. "Phaedo 3 sailed direct from France, across the Atlantic. She was originally Foncia, skippered by Michel Desjoyeaux and Michel will be racing with us for the RORC Caribbean 600. Brian Thompson put all the crew together and from what he has told me about Michel, he is an extraordinary sailor.

"For me this race is just fantastic. Once you have gone around this course fast, you just want to go faster and that is the real driving force behind the MOD70. As far as the record is concerned, the boat and the crew are capable of beating it, but we will wait to see what the conditions are like for the race and we know we have to finish the course before we can start talking about record pace. Besides keeping our eye of the competition, we will be watching the clock for sure."


LtoR: Brian Thompson and Michel Desjoyeaux - Lloyd Thornburg's MOD 70, Phaedo 3
© Richard and Rachel/www.teamphaedo.com

In 2013 Peter Aschenbrenner's American 63ft trimaran, Paradox came so close to beating the multihull course record, finishing just 11 minutes 47 seconds out of time. Paradox is back with a world-class crew including Jeff Mearings, as boat captain, Jonny Malbon, Paul Larsen and RORC Caribbean 600 multihull record holder and race founder, John Burnie. Since Paradox's last race, the all-carbon trimaran has hit the turbo-charger. Paradox now sports carbon-fibre asymmetric daggerboards and a longer bow sprit with additional sail area.


Peter Aschenbrenner's American 63ft trimaran, Paradox ©Tim Wright/Photoaction.com

Crew member Paul Larsen is a self-confessed speed-freak, setting the outright world speed sailing record in 2012. Sailrocket clocked up an astonishing 65.37 knots. (75.23 mph - 121.06 km/h).

"The next Sailrocket is going to be an offshore boat so this is a great way to remind myself of the issues and compromises offshore," commented Paul.  "Plus this race is in the Caribbean and I am based in the UK, so it is a great place to be in February! Paradox is a very strong, fast boat but it weighs a couple of tons more than say an ORMA 60 because, as the name Paradox suggests, it is a blend between a cruising and a racing boat.

"The daggerboards are lifting foils which are designed to reduce the drag on the boat, significantly reducing the friction in the water. There are two ways to make a boat go faster, you can add more power or you can reduce the drag. Foils lift the boat dynamically in much the same way as the wing of an aircraft. Getting the balance right is the trick.

"As far as the competition with Phaedo 3, the MOD70 is in a class of her own. Paradox really is exactly what her name suggests, a boat that has made compromises for cruising. However, the calibre of some of the monohulls is absolutely awesome and potentially we could be racing around with them. If we can give Rambler 88 a run for her money, that would be fantastic. Personally I don't want to sail around this great course on our own, it would be great to have some company."

 


Click here for all News and Specials for RORC Caribbean 600

 
connect with antiguanice.com
FacebookTwitterYoutubeNewsletterRSS

contact
TEL: +1 (268) 460-1799
UK TEL: +44 207 493 2248
FIND US ON: Facebook
WEBSITE: Click here

news and specials

2025 RORC CARIBBEAN 600: A BATTLE OF LEGENDS AND RISING STARS

Tuesday 11th February 2025
Starting on the 24th of February, the 16th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 has attracted close to ...
Read More

RORC CARIBBEAN 600: MEDIA INFORMATION, FACTS & STATS

Wednesday 29th January 2025
Prior to this, the stand-alone RORC Nelson's Cup Series will see several competitors 'warming-up' ah...
Read More

RORC TRANSATLANTIC RACE

Tuesday 21st January 2025
On Day 10 of the RORC Transatlantic Race, 15 teams continue their race to the finish line in Grenada...
Read More

HOW TO FOLLOW THE RORC TRANSATLANTIC RACE 2025

Thursday 9th January 2025
Race fans can keep up-to-date with the RORC Transatlantic Race - a 3,000NM race from Calero Marinas ...
Read More

NOR FOR RORC NELSON’S CUP SERIES 2025

Tuesday 7th January 2025
The Notice of Race for the RORC Nelson’s Cup Series confirms a key change to the third edition of ...
Read More

All News Stories and Specials


photo gallery
To view more photos of Rambler 100 Winds RORC Caribbean 600 click here View Image Gallery
To view more photos of 2011 RORC Caribbean 600 click here View Image Gallery
To view more photos of RORC Caribbean 600 click here View Image Gallery

video

Video by acquafilms on Vimeo.

2011 RORC Caribbean 600 race - Day 1 highlights

Video by acquafilms on Vimeo.


whats on

RORC NELSON'S CUP SERIES

Tuesday 18th February 2025. Read More

RORC NELSON'S CUP SERIES

Wednesday 19th February 2025. Read More

RORC NELSON'S CUP SERIES

Thursday 20th February 2025. Read More

RORC NELSON'S CUP SERIES

Friday 21st February 2025. Read More

RORC CARIBBEAN 600

Monday 24th February 2025. Read More

All Whats On Listings