First yachts home inside two days on Caribbean 600

Congratulations to the Royal Ocean Racing Club for having the guts to extend its stable of races at a difficult time for the yachting industry.

First over the line of the first Caribbean 600 was the trimaran, Guadeloupe Region, in 40 hours, 11 minutes, while ICAP Leopard, the 100ft British super maxi, was the first single-hulled yacht to finish, completing the course in 44 hours, 5 minutes, the 12th race record achieved by the yacht since its launch in 2007.

Mike Slade, owner of ICAP Leopard and Chief Executive of Helical Bar PLC, gave the race his stamp of approval: "The Caribbean 600 has been a really challenging race which deserves to be a classic, as it fits well with the Fastnet and the Sydney Hobart," he said.

The race, over a roughly triangular course, starts and finishes off Antigua’s English Harbour. RORC Caribbean 600 hopes become an annual fixture in the Caribbean racing season.

More "roadkill" from Leopard in the hunt

As Mike Slade's ICAP Leopard closes in on the transatlantic world speed record for a mono-hulled yacht with power-assisted winches, sea life is scattering from its path. Or not, in case of a poor sunfish that became wrapped around the rudder.

In the record bulletin the emphasis was entirely focussed on time lost rather than the plight of the fish. Fish, dolphins, whales - they just seem to be regarded as inconvenient hazards for yachts.

For surface swimming sea life a modern racing yacht travelling at speeds of between 20 and 30 knots is akin to a blunt blade cutting through the waves. A big whale might have a chance but anything else can forget it. Yet no-one seems to mind.

Well I would like to stand up for the fish and the mammals. It's distressing to hear of whales, sharks and other wildlife shredded and thumped by these high tech racers. I suppose it's just another form of road kill.