Maserati Multi70 is in a fierce fight for the lead of the RORC Caribbean 600 Race with the American MOD 70 Phaedo3.
The two trimarans have been locked together in a high-speed battle for supremacy ever since the start of the race yesterday morning in Antigua (afternoon in Europe).
Making the most of more wind than was forecasted prior to the start both boats blasted north from Antigua at speeds over 25-knots quickly overhauling the monohull fleet as they sped towards the island of Barbuda.
At Barbuda, there were just seconds between Giovanni Soldini’s Italian crew and the US boat skippered by Brian Thompson as the pair jostled for the lead at the turning mark situated to the west of the island.
On the next leg to the island of Nevis – another close quarters high-speed dash at speeds up to 25 knots – saw the boats racing line abreast as the two crews fought tooth and nail for the lead.
This pace continued unabated for a while after the turn but as the sun set the wind dropped as the boats tacked their way up to the small island of Saba in the Caribbean Netherlands. As the boats rounded Saba Phaedo3 had eked out a small lead.
However, Soldini’s men managed to close the gap again by the time the multihull pair rounded St. Barths island and turned north-west heading for Saint Martin, the most northerly island on the racecourse.
Phaedo3 had the best approach to Saint Martin and shortly before midnight entered the Anguilla Channel with a lead of around 10 minutes over Maserati Multi70. Around 45 minutes later the pair rounded the uninhabited outcrop of Ile Tintamarre in the same order and headed south.
At 04.00 local time (09.00 in Europe) this morning Phaedo3 and second placed Maserati Multi70 were separated by just two miles as they sped south at around 18 knots, approximately 14 miles behind the race record pace set by Phaedo3 in 2016.
credit@RORC/Tim Wright photaction.com
