Jason Carroll's MOD70 argo smashed the course record of the Royal Ocean Racing Club Antigua 360?Race. It sped around the 48 nautical-mile circuit in just 2 hours, 29 minute and 20 second - an improvement of 25% over the previous mark.

Carroll called it "a wonderful day for sailing, and a fantastic lap around Antigua." The trimaran cut 45 minutes from Argo's 2023 record, which was 3 hours, 14 mins and 23 secs.

Carroll's crew chose a conservative strategy with one reef to reduce the maximum sail size, and de-power their boat, despite rougher conditions and wind gusts up to 20 knots at the start.

"We decided to use one reef. It felt right." Carroll said, "I think we sailed it relatively conservatively and did not leave much out there."

It was a smooth ride, except for "one bad tactic where we got into irons and were forced to back out. This probably cost us a minute."

Sam Goodchild, who will also be racing on Argo at the RORC Caribbean 600 in the near future, emphasized the breathtaking nature of the course.

Goodchild stated that "the lap around Antigua on a MOD70 is always spectacular, but it comes alive when you turn at Green Island and light it up in the reach."

Precision is paramount at speeds that can reach mid-30s when the trade winds are right.

Goodchild stated that at those speeds every manoeuvre must be clean and everyone has to be fully switched on.

The record is a triumphant comeback for?Carroll who missed the RORC Transatlantic.

It's great to be on the boat again... it feels nice to be with the boys pushing hard and pushing forward. "Setting a new record in the Antigua area is a special thing." (Reporting and editing by Ossian shine; Ken Ferris).

(source: Reuters)