Thirty-five teams representing 16 nations gathered for the Antigua 360 race organised by Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) in partnership with Antigua Yacht Club on Friday 21 February. The 48 nautical mile race round Antigua is part of the Nelson’s Cup Series 2025 and gives contestants a taste of what’s to come in the RORC Caribbean 600 that starts on 24 February.

From the start a brisk 15-knot south-easterly set the scene for a choppy sea. Ideal conditions for a race where precision counts. The Carkeek 52 Rán won the event overall and also the RORC Nelson’s Cup Series.

Among the challengers was Joost Schuijff’s Leopard 3 from Yacht Club de Monaco who put in a great performance. The Monaco team finished 12th in Overall IRC, 6th in IRC Super Zero and 3rd in the CSA category.  Encouraging results that bode well for the RORC Caribbean 600 where Leopard 3 will be defending their title and confirming their reputation after a record set in 2009.