Juan K 88 Lucky, skippered by Bryon Ehrhart, has taken Monohull Line Honours at the 2025 RORC Caribbean 600, achieving this prestigious accolade with an elapsed time of 01 Day 17 Hours 14 Minutes and 12 Seconds. This year’s event unfolded across the picturesque waters of the Caribbean—a combination of excitement and formidable challenges.
The RORC Caribbean 600 is one of the standout events on the sailing calendar, featuring over 600 miles of racing around the beautiful islands between Antigua and Guadeloupe. It has established itself as one of the world's premier offshore yacht races, known for its frequent gusty conditions and consistent trade winds. This year's edition attracted 65 boats to the starting line, initiating what turned out to be another thrilling showdown.
Lucky managed to edge out competitors like the impressive Farr 100 Leopard 3, helmed by Joost Schuijff, and Roy P. Disney’s Volvo 70, Pyewacket 70, showcasing exceptional speed and tactical prowess throughout the race. Lucky finished just nine miles ahead of Leopard and twelve miles clear of Pyewacket 70, demonstrating their dominance on the water.
Ehrhart expressed his delight at winning, stating, "On Lucky (88-ft), you have to be surprised to cross the finish line against a hundred-foot boat; the conditions have to be just right, the navigation accurate, and the whole team has to perform perfectly.” His words encapsulate the intensity and skill involved in the race.
The crew of Lucky consisted of top sailing talent including Antonio Cuervas Mons, Brad Butterworth, and Juan Vila, among others. Vila, who has had significant victories including the America's Cup and the Volvo Ocean Race, commented on the demanding nature of the race: “The RORC Caribbean 600 is amazing. For navigators, it's non-stop, one thing after another. No time to relax. It's all about the next move, the next challenge, avoiding rocks, managing wind shadows, and reacting to changing conditions.”
The path to victory was marked by several strategic key moments; rounding Guadeloupe was particularly pivotal. According to Ehrhart, "Approaching Guadeloupe in first place, you become the guinea pig; people see where you decide to go... but with Juan making the judgements, we managed to stay in just enough breeze, and did not do any extra miles.” Responding to the conditions effectively proved instrumental for the crew.
Unfortunately for others, the race took its toll with 15 boat retirements occurring within the first two days, primarily due to technical issues. High-profile retirements included both the Italian crewed Wally 93 Bullitt and Vismara Mills 62 Leapd&Bound, as the challenging winds forced many to withdraw.
Leopard 3 gave its best effort to retain the title won last year but ended the race just over thirty minutes behind Lucky. The tense battle with Pyewacket was highlighted when both boats rounded the final island of Redonda literally side by side, underscoring the fierce competition present at this year’s event.
The weather featured strong wind conditions early on, making the pursuit of victory all the more thrilling. For the Lucky crew, effective communication and navigation skills remained pivotal. Vila noted, “St Barts and St Martin is very tricky. We had small showers making big differences in the wind over small areas. You have to choose your gybes carefully, play with the shifts, and read the weather, especially at night.”
The leg from Guadeloupe back down to Barbuda highlighted Lucky’s capabilities where they managed to stretch their lead considerably over Leopard. Vila pointed out, “Conditions were very tricky, with showers and shifts, but we were trying to stay in the pressure and avoid getting caught behind the showers.”
By the time Lucky executed the final stages of the race, they had established numerous advantages, displaying not only speed but also clever decision-making at every turn. Bryon Ehrhart concluded, “This race came together for us... we respected the competition, and that's what we love.”
The awe-inspiring outcome of the 2025 RORC Caribbean 600 is sure to resonate within the sailing community, solidifying Lucky's legacy and inspiring future generations of sailors. With many boats still on the course after the finish of Lucky, there remains palpable excitement as the results roll in.
To follow the RORC Caribbean 600 and see photos and videos of the action, including competitor tracking, you can visit the official race website at caribbean600.rorc.org.