The 4th RORC Nelson’s Cup Series held 17-20 February once again transformed the race area of Antigua into a stage that witnessed some spectacular confrontations. During the intense coastal races and the main Antigua 360 event, sailors battled it out in typical Caribbean conditions, with trade winds blowing 18 to 20 knots, a choppy sea, sunshine and constant pressure.
Against a picture-postcard backdrop, YCM Maxis dominated the Caribbean waters as they set their own pace.
In the RORC Nelson’s Cup Series, Leopard 3 took first place ahead of Karel Komarek’s V from YCM who finished 5th. In the Antigua 360 IRC Overall, Leopard 3 came 5th ahead of V in 8th. Not far behind in 15th came Remon Vos’s Black Jack, helmed by Tristan Le Brun. In the Maxi category of the Antigua 360, YCM racing members, again extended their list of results in the performance table with the 2nd place of Leopard 3 (who also secured victory in CSA), followed by V and their 5th place and Black Jack in 6th.
The RORC Nelson’s Cup Series is not just a warm-up regatta before the Caribbean 600. It’s a test of form. Two days of tight coastal racing, followed by a challenging 48 nautical mile circumnavigation of Antigua tested the 25 teams representing more than 10 nations to the limit. The format pushes teams to constantly fine-tune settings, manage sail transitions with millimetre precision and master manoeuvre sequences.
What stands out in this 2026 edition is the consistency of YCM Maxis in the different races. Whether upwind or downwind, sailing at full speed, the Monaco boats were able to fully exploit their potential. Given that margins between these giants are shrinking every year, this ability to perform under pressure makes the difference.
By winning and pulling off some superb results in the RORC Nelson’s Cup Series 2026, YCM Maxis dominated this Caribbean venue confirming their intentions before the region’s major offshore event, the 17th RORC Caribbean 600. This classic 600 mile non-stop race round 11 Caribbean islands starts 23 February with the start and finish in Antigua.
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