2026 RORC Caribbean 600 - IRC Two Report
by Louay Habib / RORC 27 Feb 15:14 GMT
27 February 2026
Richard Dilley's Grand Soleil 46 Belladonna (GBR) claimed IRC Two victory in the RORC Caribbean 600 © Tim Wright / RORC
The largest class in the 2026 RORC Caribbean 600 was IRC Two and it proved to be a battle of stamina and steady execution with as much as five days and nights of trade wind racing for the class and highly competitive pressure among the front runners.
Richard Dilley's Grand Soleil 46 Belladonna (GBR) claimed IRC Two victory, completing the 600-mile course in 3 days 06 hours 37 minutes 55 seconds elapsed.
Ray Rhinelander's J/133 Bella J (CAN), skippered by Sarah Nicholson pushed hard throughout. Third place after IRC time correction went to Cox & Dunlop's J/122 Mojito (GBR).
In true RORC Caribbean 600 fashion, IRC Two rewarded consistency, smart positioning and relentless focus and sustained offshore discipline.
For Belladonna owner Richard Dilley, victory in IRC Two was far more than a line in the results. It was the fulfilment of a long-held ambition to compete in the RORC Caribbean 600.
"For me, it's kind of a lifetime achievement really, to come out here and race in these amazing waters," Dilley says, emotion close to the surface. "I can't put into words how amazing it is. I've always wanted to come out here and race."
Having grown up racing on the Solent with his father and recently joining the Royal Ocean Racing Club, the Caribbean 600 had become the next dream. "After doing the Fastnet last year, I thought it was time to bring Belladonna out here and compete in a much sunnier climate than back in the UK during spring."
But the reality was sobering for Dilley. "There's a huge amount of time and investment that goes into this. It's not just turning up with a boat and sticking a crew on and hoping you're going to do well," he explains. Modern offshore racing demands preparation, compliance and safety at every level. "It's bringing the crew together, working with them. I've been so fortunate with the team; they were pivotal for our event this year."
In a competitive IRC Two fleet featuring strong rivals such as Bella J, Mojito and Jackknife, the pressure was relentless. "We knew some of the competitors were going to be tough to beat," Dilley says. "It all came down to my crew. They were incredible. They put everything into it."
Sleep was scarce. "I probably had about two hours' sleep throughout the whole race. I don't sleep much offshore because I like to make sure everything's working, everyone's happy, and the boat's going fast."
Crossing the finish line brought relief more than anything. "For me, it was bringing the crew home safely and the boat home safely. It was just a relief."
Alongside Dilley stood experienced helmsman Tim Thubron, who has raced the Caribbean circuit extensively for decades. Even for him, this edition had its highs and lows.
"At the start we were OCS, we got a bit eager," Thubron admits. "These things happen. I made a quick call to go back. It always costs you, but we don't think it cost us a lot. If anything, it put us on the back foot and kept the pressure on."
That pressure never lifted. "You're constantly checking the deltas. What was interesting wasn't just one boat, there were several in the running at different times. We'd get away, then they'd close. A decision doesn't quite go your way, and suddenly they're back in it."
A punishing squall approaching Guadeloupe forced them to reef and run off temporarily. "We were trying to avoid headsail changes, which we managed to do, but it cost a little. The chasing pack closed on us, so we had to work hard, very hard thereafter."
Downwind after Les Saintes, conditions turned full-on. "Twenty-plus knots, screaming reach, hitting 15 knots of boat speed. It was hard and dark, proper old school sailing. But that's why we come to do this."
For Thubron, Dilley's passion was infectious. "To sail with someone like Richard, who's so passionate and has put so much into preparation - weeks, if not months beforehand - that's why he's a brilliant leader. It reflects in the result."
And among the crew, one figure stood out in classic Caribbean 600 style: Ross Applebey, who as skipper has amassed 11 race finishes, winning class an unprecedented nine times. This was Applebey's twelfth race and his tenth class win.
"In one word? Ross is a machine," Thubron says with a grin. "He's relentless. He never sleeps. Whenever a big decision needs to be made, he's there. Whether it's grinding, fixing the bowsprit, pushing hard: it's phenomenal to see him at work."
For Belladonna, IRC Two was not just won on corrected time. It was earned through resilience, leadership and a dream finally realised for owner and skipper, Richard Dilley.
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