Jason Carroll’s MOD70 Argo has taken Multihull Line Honours in the 2026 RORC Caribbean 600, completing the 600-mile course in 1 day, 12 hours, 1 minute and 46 seconds after a race-long contest with Jon Desmond’s MOD70 Final Final – Zoulou, which finished just over three minutes behind. At the line off Fort Charlotte in Antigua, the two trimarans were separated by roughly a mile, a minimal margin after nearly 600 miles around 11 Caribbean islands.
Argo gained the first advantage at the start, winning the multihull line by around 100 metres and positioning cleanly between the pin end and the cliffs at the Pillars of Hercules. That early move translated into a small but important lead, 1 minute 24 seconds ahead at Green Island. The gap extended through the northern loop, over eight minutes at Barbuda and more than eleven at Nevis and Saba.
This year the section behind Nevis did not follow its usual pattern. Instead of a steady reach, the boats found themselves running and gybing repeatedly, searching for pressure along the western side of the islands. Argo maintained control through that phase, but with MOD70s holding speeds above 30 knots, the race remained open.
Final Final – Zoulou stayed within range. Despite limited time in the boat compared to Argo’s established programme, Desmond’s team kept the deficit manageable and capitalised when conditions shifted. The turning point came in the wind shadow west of Guadeloupe. Argo entered with a cushion but slowed in an unstable breeze. Zoulou, sailing slightly further offshore, found pressure and moved ahead. By Les Saintes, Zoulou led by just over ten minutes, their first clear advantage of the race.
Argo responded quickly. The gap narrowed at Les Désirade and was reduced to just over a minute by the second rounding of Barbuda. From there the race compressed into a direct fight towards Redonda, with both boats regularly exceeding 30 knots. At Redonda, with approximately 35 miles to go, Zoulou still held a lead of under three minutes.
The final leg to Antigua was a beat in steady trade winds. Both crews tacked repeatedly to manage pressure and protect their lane. Argo executed a planned double tack in the closing miles, creating separation and gaining clear air. That move proved decisive. From that point, Argo edged ahead and held the advantage to the finish.
After nearly 600 miles, the margin was measured in minutes. The duel tested pace, positioning and timing rather than outright speed alone. Argo’s crew of Jason Carroll, Chad Corning, Alister Richardson, Brian Thompson, Charles Ogletree, James Dodd, Pete Cumming and Sam Goodchild delivered a controlled performance when the race tightened.
The RORC Caribbean 600 remains a course defined by sequence. Each island brings a choice. Each rounding alters the geometry. Each transition reshapes the fleet. In 2026, the difference came down to one moment in the closing stretch. Argo made it count and secured multihull line honours in one of the closest finishes the race has produced.
