Rushin Rowlette finishes off Nanny CayAfter 16 years experience the West End Yacht Club thought they had seen it all, but this year’s regatta held new surprises. For the second year the race was also the climax of the six-race Gosling’s Series that started last July with the Firecracker. Rather than “Dark and Stormy” the race might better have been described as “light and swelly” with NW winds on Saturday less than 5 knots and a 12 -15 ft swell promised for the passage to Anegada.
Sign up for 31 boats on Friday was well catered at the newly opened de Loose Mongoose. After a hearty breakfast competitors were instructed to motor out to the Eastern tip of Scrub Island for a shortened course direct to Anegada. Sadly the fleet was unable to congregate as planned and the promised 10 knot winds did not mature. So with a hint of a beer can race at the entrance to the harbour the committee postponed the race. However after five hours in the sun listening to their engines it was with a welcome relief that the fleet opted for early rums and a secure anchorage in front of the Anegada Reef hotel.
More surprises waited at the dock as the swell was rolling in with 2-3 ft waves making disembarkation at the dock like something out of ‘Cirque du Soleil’. But once ashore the live band made most frustrations dissipate. Sunday’s lay day was a more than usual frenetic series of sand castle building, kite flying, horseshoes and dinghy races with the added excitement of visiting youth triathletes competing in a duathalon. Chris Ghiorse’s tireless encouragement had 13 kids running and cycling on creative circuits –while the less energetic sailors sipped more rums than was good for them at their favorite watering holes like Cow Wreck or Loblolly beaches.
By Monday all eyes were on the wind and the swell which had been forecast to build. Worried questions about which side to pass The Dogs were muttered through egg and bacon sandwich filled mouths. But at the Skippers meeting Commodore van Houten described the course as “Get down to Nanny Cay any way you like—go via West End if you want!”
A 10 knot wind allowed an orderly start with only one unnamed boat inexplicably crossing the line one min early (it cost him a place). The pursuit race format had all boats started by 11.00 am on a dead downwind 25 mile race. The committee boat joined the race under engine with hammer down to get to the finish line off Nanny Cay before the first boats. More surprises emerged as boats took off to the East and West side of the course in an effort to find that elusive extra wind machine. As the fleet converged on the Dogs Sorceress surprised its fellow Tartan 10 competitor Cold Beer by taking a clear lead. Meanwhile the battle between Reba and Rushin Rowlette for the first place Gosling’s trophy played out as they zigzagged either side of the course. Several competitors enjoyed the sight of a small whale off West Dog. With a strengthening wind at Beef Island the wild card Melges 24 Firewater trumped all the leaders to arrive at the finish line ahead of the race committee on a screaming reach.
The extensive prize giving for the Dark and Stormy Anegada Regatta at Nanny Cay included prizes for all to the delight of several visiting boats from off island. In addition the first five winners of the Goslings Series received commemorative paintings.
Dark and Stormy Results
1st Firewater -Henry Leonnig
2nd Reba – Jon Charlton
3rd Rushin Rowlette – Kevin Rowlette
Goslings Series Results
1st Reba – Jon Charlton
2nd Rushin Rowlette – Kevin Rowlette
3rd Firewater – Henry Leonnig
4th Wildfire – John Hayes
5th Girasoli – Keith Li Greci
;)
Governor Boyd McCleary presents 1st place Gosling Series Trophy to crew of Reba.
