RORC Caribbean 600 pre-race form guide

By the time you read this the 6th RORC Caribbean 600 will have started. It looks like over 60 yachts will be taking part. Since 2009, the number of entries has grown and with the first RORC Transatlantic Race happening next year, the race is going to get even bigger.

Class Zero this year is nothing short of awesome. The only Class Zero fleet to top this one was last year's record Rolex Fastnet Race. Rambler 90 looks the favourite for the line and has an amazing crew including many Olympic, Volvo Ocean Race and America's Cup sailors. The pick outs for me on Rambler are Jerry and Rome Kirby – father and son who have both won the America's Cup and both raced around the world in the Volvo Ocean Race. Jerry is one of the real characters of the sport his son Rome won the America's Cup with Team Oracle, I hope to get an interview with them when they dock.

The overall winner is likely to come from the Class Zero fleet but not to forget Ron O'Hanley's Cookson 50, Privateer who is back to defend their overall win from last year (despite Privateer getting smashed up by a fishing boat last summer.) The weather is looking a little lighter than it has been but the fleet should experience normal Trade Wind conditions of 17 knots from the east but the big squalls can rapidly change the scenario. Wind speed can reach 30 knots in squalls and at night, it is very difficult to spot them.

Given average weather conditions throughout the fleet, you have to fancy one of the Mini Maxis for the overall win: Bella Mente or Shockwave. Bella Mente is fully stealthed up with a top class crew but I have got to go for the RP78, Shockwave. Robbie Doyle and Adrian Stead are the brains in the afterguard and Richard Bouzaid and Mark Mendlebatt will be taking the wheel for long periods but the owner, George Sakellaris will be at the helm, when Shockwave goes through the line.

One change to this year's coverage will be a stealth zone on the tracker through the wind shadow of Guadeloupe. The boats will go dark going through a part of the course were massive losses or major gains have been made in the previous five editions.

Carlo Falcone's Classic, Mariella will be dining in style. Carlo sent a fishing boat out a day ago and it came back with Tuna, Wahoo, and Dorado. The fish has been marinated by chef Nico and fresh pasta and fine Italian wines are on board. The token fast multihull, Johnny Be Good will be a bit more hard core. 3 sailors from St.Martin will be living off a diet of no sleep and a small bowl of pasta when possible.

To tune into the action visit caribbean600.rorc.org