Classic Conditions for Start of Antigua Sailing Week

(April 24, 2016) – Hundreds of spectators watched the start of racing for Antigua Sailing Week from the Shirley Heights Breakfast Party and from the Half Moon Bay spectator boats, but none of them got as good a view as the curious whale that lined up in the pre-start area with the racing fleet.

Warm air, 14 knots of breeze and a moderate sea state provided glorious conditions for the first day of racing sponsored by English Harbour 5 Year Old Rum. Three of the seven classes racing under the CSA Rule were just as hot as the weather, with seconds deciding the winners.

Jonty Layfield racing Antiguan J 11s Sleeper corrected out to win Race 1 in CSA 4 by just 11 seconds from Jim Hightower’s Texan King 40, Hot Ticket. Ian Hope Ross, Commodore of the Sint Maarten Yacht Club steered his Melges 32, Kick ’em Jenny 2 to third. In Race 2, Mark Chapman’s Ker 37, Dingo had an outstanding race. The Trini team smashed it to win by a big margin. Richard Archer’s Antiguan Melges 24, Regardless scored a third in the final race, just four seconds behind Hot Ticket.

Although Hot Ticket won neither of today’s races, Jim Hightower’s team leads the class by a single point from both Dingo and Sleeper.

“It looks like it is going to be really tight in our class. We wanted to be in a different class but now we are leading after two races, we have blown that argument,” explained Jim Hightower, Hot Ticket. “We would rather race other displacement boats but we went very well in the lighter winds today. When the light displacement boats get up and plane, we will have real problems.”

Jim Hightower’s Texan King 40, Hot Ticket © ASW/Paul Wyeth/pwpictures.com

In CSA 5, British yachts filled the podium for the first race of the day. Chris Body’s team racing J/122, El Ocaso corrected out to win CSA 4 by just 36 seconds from Sir Richard Matthews’ Grand Soleil 43, Team Oystercatcher – Quokka. Jeremy Thorp’s First 40, Arthur was third. El Ocaso won the second race of the day by a healthy margin. Pamala Baldwin’s J/122, Liquid from Antigua Yacht Club broke through the British dominance with a second in the last race by just 13 seconds from Team Oystercatcher – Quokka. El Ocaso’s perfect score has the team leading the class, three points ahead of Team Oystercatcher – Quokka, with Liquid ending the day in third place.

“The highlight today was three minutes to the first start, a huge whale longer than the boat, pops up just ten feet from the boat. As we were heading for the start, we didn’t have a camera on deck but it must have been at least 50ft. You don’t see that in the Solent,” said Chris Body of El Ocaso. “It must have been an omen because we went on to win both races. We had to pull all the stops out today and I have to say it was a memorable day, especially as we were sailing with four family members.”

Racing in CSA 6, Kay-Johannes Wrede’s German Swan 44, Best Buddies © ASW/Paul Wyeth/pwpictures.com

In CSA 6, Kay-Johannes Wrede’s German Swan 44, Best Buddies took the first race of the regatta in a thrilling contest. Ross Applebey’s British Oyster 48, Scarlet Oyster took line honours and looked astern. Carlo Falcone’s Antiguan Caccia alla Volpe and Best Buddies were locked in a duel for the finish. Best Buddies crossed the line one second ahead of Caccia alla Volpe to win Race 1 by 18 seconds on corrected time from Scarlet Oyster. Caccia alla Volpe was third in the race by just 14 seconds. In the second race of the day, Scarlet Oyster took the win to finish the day as CSA 6 class leader, just a point ahead of Best Buddies. Caccia alla Volpe is in third place after two races.

“We probably had the opportunity to do better in the first race, but I made a bad call on the kite for the first downwind leg. It ultimately cost us a win, but we came back, like we do and had another good start and kept our nose clear. This is going to be very competitive and if it goes light tomorrow, we could be in a lot of trouble. One lovely gesture was from Best Buddies who helped us clear our fouled prop after racing. A big ‘thank you’ from Scarlet Oyster,” commented Ross Applebey, Scarlet Oyster.

Ross Applebey’s British Oyster 48, Scarlet Oyster © ASW/Paul Wyeth/pwpictures.com

English Harbour 5 Year Old Rum was in great demand at the English Harbour Rum Race Day Prize Giving this evening. On the lawn at the Antigua Yacht Club, connoisseurs of Antigua’s amber nectar enjoyed sipping a few English Harbour Rum concoctions. Courtesy of the bartender Cocktail Competition for crews, a Cask of Gold from English Harbour Rum was the top prize won by the team from Performance Yacht Charter/EHO1.

As the sun set on the first day of racing, Antiguan ‘swunk’ (Swing-Funk) band, The Sound Citizens, fired up their guitars, drums, organ, saxophone and anything else within reach. The band delivered a high energy stage show that lit the blue touch paper and the party went on into the evening. There will be a few sore bodies going out for the second day of racing for the 49th edition of Antigua Sailing Week.

Antigua Sailing Week is scheduled daily from Sunday April 24 to Friday April 29 with a layday on Wednesday April 27.

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Report by Louay Habib.