RORC Nelson's Cup Series: Argo unleashed - MOD70 rocket smashes Antigua 360 record
by Louay Habib / RORC 20 Feb 22:02 GMT
20 February 2026
A new race record was set in the 48nm Antigua 360 by Jason Carroll's MOD70 Argo - 2026 Antigua 360 Race © Tim Wright / RORC
The Royal Ocean Racing Club Antigua 360 Race organised in partnership with the Antigua Yacht Club has a new race record! Jason Carroll's MOD70 Argo blasted around the 48nm course in an elapsed time of 2 Hrs 29 Mins 20 Secs.
"It was a beautiful day for sailing and a fantastic lap around Antigua," commented Argo's Jason Carroll. "It was a little rough on the east side of the island, but nothing outside our comfort zone. We saw about 20 knots at the start, so we chose to go with one reef, which felt like the right call. I think we sailed it relatively conservatively and didn't leave much out there. We had one bad tack where we ended up in irons and had to back out, which probably cost us about a minute, but apart from that it was smooth sailing all the way around.
"It's great to be back on the boat. I'd missed the RORC Transatlantic, so it feels good to be back with the boys and pushing hard again. Setting a new course record around Antigua is special. Now we've got a couple of days to cool our heels, fine tune a few things and get ready for Monday. We're very excited for what's ahead."
Sam Goodchild was also on Argo for the record-run in the Antigua 360 and will be racing again on Argo for the RORC Caribbean 600.
"The lap around Antigua is always spectacular on a MOD70, but it really comes alive once you turn at Green Island and light it up on the reach," commented Goodchild. "You're straight into proper trade wind sailing, touching the mid 30s, and that's where preparation and precision really matter. At those speeds, every manoeuvre has to be clean and everyone needs to be completely switched on, especially with other boats on the course. You close distances incredibly quickly, so awareness and communication are key.
"It's a great test ahead of the Caribbean 600. The team is very well drilled, but it's always the small details that make the difference offshore. There are far more ways to lose a race than to win one, so these next couple of days are about making sure the boat is 100 percent and that we're fully dialled in. If the forecast plays out as it looks, it could be quick and that's always exciting on a boat like this."
Jon Desmond racing MOD70 Final Final - Zoulou for the very first time had an adrenalin soaked ride. Final Final - Zoulou crossed the finish line 18 minutes and 19 seconds after Argo.
"That was pretty unbelievable," commented Jon Desmond. " Antigua really brought it today; 20 knots, big waves at the start and proper trade wind pressure. It was my first race on a MOD70 lining up against Argo and the other big multihulls, it definitely got the adrenaline pumping. Once you crack off on those reaches and the big gennaker goes up, the boat just lights up, we saw about 36 knots at times.
"These boats are incredibly powerful but they feel stiff and controlled, even at speed. Driving through the Caribbean spray with water blasting through the nets at you, it's an awesome sensation. Back home there's snow on the ground, and here we are racing flat out around Antigua. The 360 was huge for us as a team; our first proper race manoeuvres and a chance to hit most of the angles we'll see in the 600. It's only made us more excited for Monday."
With the Antigua 360 record now reset and the MOD70 rivalry fully ignited, attention turns to the main event. On Monday 23 February, the fleet will charge off the start line for the 600-mile RORC Caribbean 600. If the 360 was the dress rehearsal, the 600 promises a full-throttle showdown and after a statement run like this, Argo and her rivals are clearly primed for battle and record setting pace.
A full report featuring all of the classes will follow this Multihull Race Record update.
SailRace HQ Multihull Results available here.