“Thursday is expected to be the calmest day, with winds of around 10 knots. The trade winds will pick up over the weekend: 10 to 13 knots on Friday, 14 to 18 knots on Saturday, and a breeze that could reach 19 knots for the final day, Sunday,” assured Robbie Ferron, race director and expert on the waters.
The nine multihulls in CSA 1 and CSA 2 classes vary considerably in size, from a 38-foot Newick design – purchased just a few days ago! – to the Gunboat 72 Layla, skippered by British multihull legend Brian Thompson. The sailor's latest feat? He just completed the RORC Transatlantic Race aboard the MOD 70 Argo in under five days!
The 63-foot trimaran Sophia, designed by Nigel Irens, could well give Layla a run for its money. Under its former name, Paradox3, this multihull actually won the corrected time victory in the MOCRA multihull class during the 2025 edition of the legendary Rolex Fastnet Race. Flying the Italian flag, the 43-foot foiling catamaran DNA F4 is the only one in the fleet. Two ORC 50s, Wa-kan skippered by Erick Clement and Malolo skippered by Thomas Kasberg, complete the list of competitors in the CSA 1 category.
In CSA 2, two CMC regatta regulars are back. Georges Coutu is making his comeback aboard his Leopard 50, La Novia. Bernard Stoutenbeek is unveiling his Dick Newick Ninth Charm.
Another competitor to watch is Spike, Sam Talbot's Rapido 40. The fourth multihull entered in CSA 2, Triple Jack, deserves a mention. Damaged by Hurricane Irma in 2017 while in a shipyard in Nanny Cay, British Virgin Islands, its owner, Richard Woodbridge, literally picked up the pieces and managed to rebuild it. This year's entry list is completed by the fleet of eight boats registered in the Diam 24 one-design class. As for the five rally participants, they will compete in time trials and will also enjoy a cruise to Anguilla and St. Barth.
