Only two weeks after Dave West passed away, in a fitting tribute his crew sailed his Melges 32, Jurakan, to an epic victory in the Peg Legs Round Tortola race. This year’s race was dedicated to Mr West’s memory in recognition of his huge contribution to sailing in the BVI.
Jurakan, skippered by Andrew Waters, won Racing Class in a corrected time of 4 hours, 39 minutes and 58 seconds – just 5 seconds ahead of second-place Pipe Dream, skippered by Peter Haycraft. Third place went to Kevin Rowlette’s Rushin’ Rowlette. Fittingly, the monohull record set by Dave West sailing Jurakan in 2009 still stands at 4 hours, 15 minutes and 5 seconds.
Winner for the previous two years and Round Tortola Race recordholder Triple Jack, skippered by Richard Wooldridge, won the multi-hull class, but wind conditions were not favourable for this old girl to pick up her skirt and fly this year. Bill Bailey’s Second Nature was victorious in Cruising Class once again.
There were 16 yacht entries this year, an increase on 2010. Skippers and crew flew in from as far afield as Connecticut and Puerto Rico, underlining the increasing prestige with which this event is regarded. The wind was relatively light at around 12 knots, so the Round Tortola records were not in danger of being surpassed.
Nonetheless benign sea conditions ensured the yachts were able to complete their circumnavigation in respectable times.
Prize-giving was held at the beach bar at Nanny Cay. Prizes were provided by Nanny Cay and Peg Legs as race sponsors, and general manager Miles Sutherland-Pilch presented them to the top three yachts in each class. Before the results were announced the assembled sailors and crowd at Nanny Cay held a one-minute round of applause in Mr West’s memory.
Jurakan’s crew assembled on stage to receive their first prize and the Peg Leg’s Round Tortola Trophy. Mr Waters made a short speech, which all the crew had agreed in advance would be the most fitting way to commemorate Mr West. It ended with the crowd raising their glasses to the words “Cheers Dave”.
The Royal BVI Yacht Club would like to thank everyone who contributed to making the event such a success. In particular thanks go to the sponsors Peg Legs and Nanny Cay, and the race committee volunteers Jane Metcalf, King Greenspan, Penny Haycraft and Matt Oliver.
The next Royal BVI Yacht Club will be the Commodore’s Cup on 17th December 2011.
Full results of the 2011 Peg Legs Round Tortola Race:
Racing Class
1 Jurakan – Andrew Waters
2 Pipe Dream – Peter Haycraft
3 Rushin Rowlette – Kevin Rowlette
4 Boomerang – Pat Nolan
5 Bonne Chance – Jose Sanchez
6 Reba/Team Red Stripe – Jon Charlton
7 Intac – Mark Plaxton
8 Luxury Girl – Guy Phoenix
Multihull Class
1 Triple Jack – Richard Wooldridge
2 Wildfire – John Hayes
3 Machete – Brian Duff
Cruising Class
1 Second Nature – Bill Bailey
2 Jack Dusty III – Bill Hirst
3 Ginger – Bruce Fletcher
4 Girasoli – Keith LiGreci
5 Veritas – Kara Phillips
Following the same format as the last two years, classes started in the Sir Francis Drake Channel off Nanny Cay and then head anti-clockwise around Tortola. After the beat up the Sir Francis Drake Channel, the fleet turned the corner at Great Camanoe and headed on a downward run to West End where, after a quick wiggle through Soper’s Hole, it was a beat back to the finish line off Nanny Cay.
While Triple Jack still holds the record for fastest circumnavigation of Tortola in the Round Tortola Race, the outright and multihull record is now held by Soma, a Formula 40. Soma, a St John-based catamaran and frequent BVI visitor, smashed the Round Tortola record on April 15th 2010 in the first, and so far only, attempt on the Nanny Cay Challenge. Soma circumnavigated Tortola and outer islands in 2 hours, 50 minutes and 15 seconds destroying Triple Jack’s record set in the 2009 PegLegs Round Tortola Race.
For more prizgiving photos visit the gallery
