With winds gusting to 26 knots, day one of the 35th running of the Sweethearts of the Caribbean was a rollicking affair. An unusually angry sea was pushing into Nanny Cay, the revised venue for this event – traditionally held in Soper’s Hole.
Nevertheless a fleet of four schooners and a dozen intrepid single-handed sailors made short work of the 14 miles course out to Peter Island Great Harbour, Pelican and Flanagan Islands. Hotel California galloped around in 1 hr 48 mins. whereas the beautiful double ender Afrigan Queen sailed her own course to the time limit of 5.00 pm. Since the race was a pursuit John Hayes’s catamaran Wildfire took line honors as first prize single hander.
On day two the committee called on Husky Salvage for a committee platform with less tendency for a Mount Gay fostered ‘mal de mare”. Eighteen Classics and Wannabe Classics enjoyed a similar course followed by the Sweethearts Couples fleet of five boats.
At the start a wind shift made the start line port favored. Some of the more savvy 25 -34 Classics caught this making a interest sting conflagration of port and starboard boats crossing the line. All went well. But the larger 45-60 ft Classics starting 10 minutes later, had not seen the shift and approached on the expected starboard approach. The early boats found it difficult to lay the line and so tacked to a vulnerable port position position. Mah Jong making a timely and fast starboard start tight on the committee boat, found Ginger in a slow port vulnerable tack position on the line. To the credit of both skippers the ensuing a nautical ballet had Mah Jong tacking smartly and Ginger sliding down behind the stern of Mah Jong.
With six classes there were lots of winners to celebrate at the 6.00pm “on time” prize giving. Commodore Martin van Houten handed out copious bottles of rum, Mount Gay Red Hats and prizes for every competitor, thanks to the generosity of Tortola local business and of course sponsorship by Mount Gay Rum.
Enjoy the photos by Yacht Shots BVI:
RESULTS
Schooner Class:
1st Russamee – Mike Brown
2nd Heron- Nigel Bower
Single Hander Class:
1st Wildfire – John Hayes
2nd Hotel California – Steve Schmidt
3rd Diva – Robin Tattersall
Classics 25-34 ft:
1st Zing – George Stuckert
2nd O’Dege – Sara O’Neil
Classics 34 – 45 ft
1st Diva – Robin Tattersall
2nd – Reba – John Charlton
3rd – Osprey – Larry Best
Classics 45 – 60 ft
1st Ginger – Bruce Fletcher
2nd Kalina – Patrick Lockett
3rd Croix Des Gardes – James Kelman
Wannabe Classics:
1st Hotel California – Steve Schmidt
Couples:
1st Wildfire – John Hayes
