6 sources · updated 3 Nov 2026
The RORC Caribbean 600 was conceived by a group of Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) members living in the Caribbean and launched jointly by the RORC and the Antigua Yacht Club. The first edition started on 23 February 2009 off Fort Charlotte, at the entrance to English Harbour, Antigua.
The non-stop course of about 600 nautical miles (605 miles announced in 2009) starts and finishes in Antigua and goes around eleven islands. In 2009 the fleet headed north to a mark off Barbuda, passed Nevis, Saba and St Barths, rounded St Martin, sailed south to Guadeloupe, then returned to the Barbuda mark before finishing in Antigua. The start is still given off Fort Charlotte.
Held every February, the race welcomes IRC boats, Class40s and multihulls, and counts towards the RORC Season Points Championship. The organiser says more than 500 sailors take part.
After the 2022 edition, the multihull record belonged to Jason Carroll's MOD70 Argo, in 29 h 38 min 44 s (2022), and the monohull record to George David's Rambler 88, in 37 h 41 min 45 s (2018). In 2026 Argo again took multihull line honours, Black Jack 100 monohull line honours, and Leopard 3 won overall under IRC. The 18th edition is scheduled to start on 22 February 2027.