It’s one of the greatest races in the hemisphere: the RORC Caribbean 600.

It’s a 600-mile race that starts and finishes in Antigua and circles 11 Caribbean islands in between.

This year’s race, which is organized by the Royal Ocean Racing Club in association with the Antigua Yacht Club, will have a record entry of more than 70 boats.

“The support of the members of the Antigua Yacht Club plays a vital part in the success of the RORC Caribbean 600,” said RORC Racing Manager, Nick Elliott. “The fact that we see so many familiar faces helping us each year, with their vast experience of the local area and conditions, gives the RORC the confidence to be able to organize this demanding offshore race with a small RORC team from the UK.”

Yachts carrying a total of more than 800 crew members from around the world will meet in Antigua, culminating in the award of the RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy to the monohull with the best corrected time under the IRC rating room.

Yachts from the U.S. have won five out of eight editions of the race.

This year there are 16 entries from the U.S., and others from Antigua & Barbuda, Australia, B.V.I., Belize, Cayman, Spain, France, Great Britain, Germany, Sweden, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland and Russia.

— Dana Niland, CJ Contributor