Caribbean RORC 600 - Doyle powered win for the third year running

by Ellie Brade on 4 Mar 2016 A successful run for Doyle Stratis powered yachts continues with Proteus’ win at the 2016 RORC Caribbean 600 the latest in a long line of consistent podium wins.

This is the third year running that the RORC Caribbean 600 race has been won by Doyle customers following Bella Mente’s win in 2015 and Shockwave’s win in 2014. For the majority of the 2016 race Stratis powered boats had battled for the lead, with Bella Mente leading the race for much of the time until being overtaken by Proteus and later being forced to withdraw due to a broken keel.

Proteus’ owner George Sakellaris is a long time Doyle customer, having worked with the Doyle team for many years on his incredibly successful Shockwave racing campaign and now on Proteus. Shockwave’s impressive track record includes wins at the RORC Caribbean 600 and a two time win of the Newport-Bermuda race, which Sakellaris will be looking to defend again in 2016 on board Proteus. “Doyle Sails has been an invaluable partner in my racing campaigns, with the team providing hands on advice and assistance that helps us get the most out of not only our sails, but the whole racing package” says Sakellaris. “We are very proud of this latest result and looking forward to racing Proteus to more wins in future.”

This latest winning result builds on consistent performances from Stratis powered boats in the maxi world, with results including Bella Mente’s win at the Maxi 72 World Championships 2015 and the Boat of the Week trophy at Key West Race Week 2016, Rio 100’s win of the Barn Door Trophy in the 2015 Transpac and first place and a new course record in the 2016 San Diego to Puerta Vallarta race.

The Doyle Sails New Zealand expert race team – which includes Mike Sanderson, Stu Bannatyne and Justin Ferris – works closely with the company’s race customers, allowing them to reap the many benefits of the team’s years of experience on the water. This experience combined with Doyle’s award-winning sail technology, sees results that speak for themselves. “It is great to see race results that reflect the work we have done to ensure that our sails and the teams we work with are the best in the world,” says Stu Bannatyne, Grand Prix Racing Sales & Projects Rep. “We continue to strive to make our sails faster, lighter and more durable than ever before and the results sheet speaks for itself. As more and more performance focused owners turn to Doyle to work with them on their race campaigns, there are exciting times ahead.”

About Doyle Sails New Zealand

Leading the fleet in the design and manufacture of quality performance and cruising sails, it is no coincidence that Doyle sails are aboard many of the world's most spectacular yachts. Doyle Sails' reputation for impeccable attention to engineering detail and high quality construction, utilising the latest technologies, ensure high levels of performance and reliability.

Doyle Sails NZ is 100% New Zealand owned and operated by four of the most well-known names in yachting: Chris McMaster, Richard Bouzaid, Mike Sanderson and David Duff. This team also owns the Stratis membrane technology that is manufactured in house and distributed throughout the world by the 65 Doyle Sailmaking facilities.

In addition to sailmaking Doyle Sails New Zealand also manufactures a full range of marine covers and upholstery for yachts and powerboats – from the largest superyacht to the harbour sailor.

About STRATIS

STRATIS™ was developed by Doyle Sails NZ in 2001-2002 in response to industry demand for lighter, longer lasting sails. From performance racing sails with higher durability, to superyacht sails that required the physical structure of high modulus fibres to take the huge loads that were generated, through to cruising yachts that simply wanted lighter sails that were easier to handle, it was time for something new

The STRATIS™ plant is based at the 7000sqm Doyle Sails NZ production facility. The factory has two production beds, with multiple fibre laying mahcines and laminators on each production bed, allowing a full range sails to be produced from the smallest dinghies to the largest superyachts.

Stratis is exclusively available through the Doyle global network of lofts.