It’s the RORC Caribbean 600
In the Big Cat’s Backyard: Black Jack 100 vs Leopard 3 — The Maxi Battle Poised to Ignite the 2026 RORC Caribbean 600
Start: Antigua, West Indies — 23 February 2026
Antigua is their arena. The trades are their soundtrack. And the race record — 1 day, 13 hours, 41 minutes, 45 seconds — is the prize they’ll both be swinging for.
This is the kind of battle offshore fans dream about, the kind of matchup you circle twice in the calendar.
A Clash of Titans: Leopard 3 vs Black Jack 100
On one side stands Leopard 3, Joost Schuijff’s polished and relentlessly optimised Farr 100 — a boat with Caribbean 600 DNA woven into every carbon fibre. Project manager Chris Sherlock returns for his ninth assault on the race, carrying years of hard-earned local knowledge and a crew that reads this course like a favourite novel.
On the other side waits the predator from the Pacific: Black Jack 100, helmed by Remon Vos and skippered for the race by Tristan LeBrun. She may be new to the Caribbean 600, but nothing about the Reichel/Pugh 100 is shy. Born as Alfa Romeo II, reborn as Black Jack, she carries a resume studded with broken records, Sydney Hobart glory, and Transpac dominance.
Two boats. Two philosophies. One of offshore racing’s most technical and tactically demanding courses.
The gloves are off.
Leopard 3: The Veteran Gladiator
Some boats arrive with a curriculum vitae. Leopard arrives with a saga.
She helped launch the first Caribbean 600 in 2009, setting the original monohull record, and has returned time and again to refine her craft. Her 2024 campaign was nothing short of extraordinary — Monohull Line Honours, IRC Zero victory, and the overall win under IRC. A rare triple crown that took 15 years to land.
Under new ownership and fresh optimisation, Leopard is now:
lighter
faster
more efficient through the transitions
and specifically tuned for reaching legs — the bread and butter of this race
Sherlock puts it bluntly:
“The Caribbean 600 is a reaching race. We’ve optimised for that.”
New rudders. Revised mainsail area. Aero refinements for medium-air speed.
She knows this course. She knows these winds. She knows these islands.
Black Jack 100: The Challenger with Teeth
Where Leopard brings history, Black Jack brings swagger.
Originally launched as Alfa Romeo II, she left a trail of broken records from Mediterranean classics to the legendary Sydney Hobart. As Black Jack, the modifications have sharpened her further — a sleeker sail plan, a more balanced feel, and a boat that simply loves fast VMG sailing.
2025 saw her stamp authority with Line Honours in both the Rolex Fastnet Race and Rolex Middle Sea Race — proof she’s in lethal form.
LeBrun knows what he’s stepping into: “It’s a legendary race. Leopard has incredible experience, and that’s exactly what makes this battle exciting. We have everything to prove.”
Black Jack’s latest upgrades:
bigger headsails
reduced mainsail area for balance
an all-furling foresail suite for rapid transitions
crew positions refined for speed and safety
In a race with 11 island roundings and dozens of sail changes, “push-button speed” may be the edge.
Race Strategy: Strengths, Weaknesses & the Fine Line Between Victory and Despair
This is where things get delicious.
Leopard’s Strengths
Unmatched reaching power
Brutal top-end stability in 18–25 knots
A wider platform that stays on her feet when others depower
A crew that has lived and breathed this course for more than a decade
Sherlock puts it simply:
“If the trades blow, we can hang on longer. That’s where we strike.”
Black Jack’s Strengths
Faster in light airs
Deadly downwind and VMG-oriented sailing
Brilliant in transitions
Stronger acceleration and lighter displacement
LeBrun sums it up:
“Around eleven islands, versatility wins races.”
Where the Race Will Be Won
There are three legendary pressure points:
The Guadeloupe Wind Shadow — the graveyard of lead positions
The squall-streaked Marie Galante to Barbuda leg — where fatigue meets violence
The beat and reach into Antigua — a final hour of heartbreak or heroics
Sherlock warns:
“The first mistake gives the other boat the jump.”
LeBrun counters:
“The best races are the ones with a fight all the way.”
Crew Culture: Experience vs Evolution
Leopard sails with a crew built over decades — an offshore family forged by countless campaigns.
Black Jack’s squad is younger, hungrier, and meticulously assembled for long-term growth. Their “buddy system” watch setup blends inshore intensity with offshore practicality.
Two approaches.
Same goal: relentless boat speed.
Record Watch: Is Rambler’s Time Under Threat?
Both teams agree: Yes — if the trades settle into a clean 15–20 knots, the record is alive.
Sherlock: “It’s definitely doable.”
LeBrun: “Imagine both boats breaking the record, finishing side by side… that would be the perfect race.”
Respect in Rivalry
There’s no bad blood here — just two high-calibre outfits hungry for the same prize.
LeBrun: “Leopard are the rock stars of this race. We love the competition.”
Sherlock: “It’ll be a ding-dong battle. That’s what the Caribbean 600 is all about.”
And that’s exactly why this showdown is unmissable.
The 17th RORC Caribbean 600 — A Race for the Ages
Starting 23 February 2026, the world’s most tactical tropical offshore race will once again ignite Antigua’s coastline. And before the main event, the RORC Nelson’s Cup Series (17–20 February) gives both giants room to stretch their legs and size each other up.
Whether it’s Leopard’s deep Caribbean knowledge or Black Jack’s blistering form that prevails, offshore fans are about to witness one of the most compelling Line Honours showdowns in years.
This is big-boat ocean racing at its fiercest. This is the Caribbean 600. And the Big Cats are hungry.