Bellino Holds the Jazz Trophy Amidst Ocean Giants
From the Caribbean heat to North Sea calms, a white Sun Fast 3600 secures a fourth straight title in a season of extreme variety.
The Atlantic wind tears across the deck, salt spray stinging eyes that refuse to blink. Rob Craigie grips the tiller of Bellino, the white hull slicing through choppy blue water with surgical precision. Beside him, Deb Fish watches the horizon, her gaze fixed on the distant line that separates victory from defeat. This is the fourth year in a row the Sun Fast 3600 has held the Jazz Trophy, a feat that defies the chaotic geography of the RORC Season's Points Championship.
The scope of this campaign is staggering. Thirty-four-one boats from six continents converged on eight distinct bodies of water, spanning from the warm shallows of the Caribbean to the cold, grey expanse of the Baltic. The fleet was a mosaic of engineering: supermaxis towering like skyscrapers, sleek Class40s carving lines, and classic cruisers fighting for position in the IRC fleet. It is a contest where a light-air tactical battle on the English Channel offers as much danger as a heavy-weather crossing of the Atlantic.
Atlantic Crossing Sets the Tone
The season ignited with the 3,000-nautical-mile Transatlantic Race, a brutal test from Lanzarote to Antigua. Olivier Magré’s Mach 50 Palanad 4, steered by his son Antoine, carved a path through the open ocean. Their performance laid the groundwork for an IRC Zero title, showcasing raw speed and endurance. Behind them, James Neville’s Carkeek 45 Ino Noir held firm, eventually finishing third in their class. The race was a proving ground, establishing the hierarchy of the offshore world before the fleet even reached the Caribbean.
Six weeks later, the championship shifted to the RORC Caribbean 600. This route threads around eleven islands, a labyrinth of currents and wind shifts that demands constant vigilance. Joost Schuijff took the helm of the Farr 100 Leopard 3, guiding the massive vessel through the intricate course. The event highlighted the sheer diversity of the fleet, with 100-footers racing alongside high-performance multihulls and Class40s. It was a visual spectacle of scale and speed, where the largest boats often found themselves neck-and-neck with the fastest.
Patience Wins the Light Air
The Myth of Malham Race offered a stark contrast to the open-ocean battles. A 230-nautical-mile loop from Cowes to Eddystone and back, the course was defined by exceptionally light winds. Speed was irrelevant; patience was currency. Craigie and Fish, racing double-handed, navigated the tactical maze with meticulous care. Their victory in IRC Overall was not a burst of power but a slow, deliberate accumulation of gains. Derek Shakespeare’s J/122 Bulldog and Rob Cotterill’s J/109 Mojo Risin followed closely, converting consistent performances into podium finishes.
The Round Ireland Race presented yet another challenge. Guy Gillon’s Botin 56 Khumbu claimed line honours in conditions dominated by calms. Large sections of the fleet struggled against the tides around the Irish coast, where simply keeping the boat moving became a major tactical exercise. The wind was fickle, disappearing in pockets and returning in gusts. It was a test of nerve as much as skill, with crews managing their energy and strategy in an environment that offered little reward for aggression.
Final Legs Seal the Crown
The season closed with the Cowes Dinard St Malo Race, drawing one of the largest fleets to the start line. François Charles’ J/133 Sun Hill IV claimed the King Edward V Cup, a testament to the depth of talent in the IRC fleet. For Bellino, however, the focus remained on the aggregate points. The consistency displayed throughout the year, from the Transatlantic to the light-air battles, had already secured their place in history.
As reported by GN sports/sailing (en-US), the championship concluded with a clear hierarchy. Rob Craigie’s Sun Fast 3600 Bellino retained the Jazz Trophy as IRC Overall champion. Ian Hoddle’s Sun Fast 3300 Sky Business - Game On, raced two-handed with Willow Bland, finished second overall. The podium was completed by Fujitsu British Soldier, owned by the Army Sailing Association. It was a season of extremes, where geography dictated the strategy, and consistency ultimately triumphed over raw power.
