Presented by Nanny Cay
Sunday 1 April 2012
A GRAND FINALE - 41st BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival
Louay Habib
A southeasterly breeze of about 12-15 knots emanating from Dead Chest Island, provided
shifty conditions for a tense last day of racing at the BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing
Festival. Today all classes raced in the Sir Francis Drake Channel outside Nanny
Cay and there was a lot of traffic to contend with. Probably the most important
factor was staying in clear air and spotting the shifts as they whipped over and
around the chain of islands on the south side of the Channel.
Racing in the Sir Francis Drake Channel on the last day of the 41st BVI Spring Regatta
& Sailing Festival
Credit: Todd vanSickle/BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival
Regatta Chairman, Bob Phillips has been on the water every day during the regatta
and he is rightly proud of the 2012 edition: "Above all, sailors love sailing and
the BVI Spring Regatta has an excellent race area. In the present economic climate
an entry of 100 boats has got to be seen as a success, especially as we have attracted
larger yachts including seven Swans and the STP 65, Equation. However, the BVI Spring
Regatta & Festival is not just about the big boats. This year the event celebrates
its 41st year and it has always been about providing good racing for a wide variety
of people on the race course and great entertainment back on the shore."
In the Multihull Class, Peter Aschenbrenner's ballistic trimaran Paradox, was the
comfortable winner. This is Peter's first regatta although he is no stranger to
the BVI: "This is my fourth trip to the BVI. It's such a spectacular place and I
have to say that we have really enjoyed the regatta, largely because of the courses
that we have been given, especially mixing it up with the keelboat fleet on the
second day. It would be great to have some other multihulls of the same speed. The
atmosphere at the regatta is excellent, we would just like a bit more competition."
In Class 1, clear air at the start is something that Stefan Lehnert's Tripp 56,
Passion 4C has been wanting throughout the regatta, but Bill Alcott's STP65, Equation
has just too much speed. Although Passion 4C have started well all week, the German
team was not able to hold their lane. However, two short windward leeward races
today favoured Passion 4C and the German team put in a perfect performance to finish
the regatta in style winning both races. Jason Putley was spotted on board Equation
today, a big treat for the 13-year-old BVI bowman.
In Class 2, Peake Yacht Service, RP37, Slippery took the first race of the day to
put pressure on class leader, Willem Wester's Grande Soleil 46, Antilope. The two
Farr 400s pinned Antilope out on the left of the course and Slippery got away well
on the favoured right side and covered Antilope from the front, effectively slowing
them down. However, Antilope came back strongly in the last two races to take the
class title. Blade won the battle of the Farr 400s, beating Magnitude in all three
races today.
In Class 3, Richard Wesslund's J/120, El Ocaso put in another solid performance,
scoring a win in the first race and two 2nd places to clinch the class win. El
Ocaso has not scored out of the top three in the nine race series. Jaime Torres'
First 40, Smile and Wave has a conventional spinnaker pole and today's windward
leeward racing is probably what the Puerto Ricans wanted all week. However the
team will take great satisfaction is scoring two wins today. Ondeck's First 40,
Lancelot II skippered by Chris (Jacko) Jackson claimed third. In the Melges 24 division,
Andrea Scarabelli's Budget Marine/Gill from St.Martin held off local BVI team, Fire
Water skippered by Henry Leonnig.
In Class 5, Ian Hope-Ross First 36.7, Kick 'em Jenny corrected out to win the first
race of the day and two further podium finishes secured the class win for the team
from St.Martin.
Kevin Rowlette's Olson 30, Rushin' Rowlette sailed extremely well today and was
rewarded with two race wins but the Tortolans had to settle for second place for
the class, but Kevin Rowlette was delighted to be named best BVI Boat at the regatta
winning the Premier's Cup: 'It's been a lot of fun, great sailing on an interesting
variety of courses and we were really in with a good chance of winning the Class,
but losing a guy over the side with the spinnaker up doing 10 knots put an end to
that, but we got him back on board okay. It is really an honour to be named best
BVI boat as there are so many good BVI teams at this regatta."
Winners of the Chief Minister's Cup for the Best BVI Boat - Rushin' Rowlette, Kevin
Rowlette's Olsen 30
Credit: Todd vanSickle/BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival
In Class 7, there was a dramatic change to the overnight standings. Class leader,
Henry van Melle's J/46 Jent went from 1st overall to 3rd. Andy Middleton's First
47.7, Global Yacht Racing scored three podium finishes to clinch second place in
the class but it was a very happy Christian Reynolds on the dock after today's racing.
His Swan 51, Northern Child scored two wins and a 2nd to win the class:
"With light weather and windward leeward courses, I knew Andy (Middleton) was the
biggest threat today," admitted Reynolds. "Jent has small headsails to reduce her
rating and we thought they wouldn't go well in the light, but I have to put a lot
of credit down to our crew. It was busy out there and we had to keep concentrating
and pulling off the maneuvers and we knew that would put us in with a chance. Winning
at this regatta is very special, it really is a lot of fun and we fully intend to
fill the trophy with Mount Gay Rum tonight and celebrate long into the evening."
In Class 8, Warren Thring's Cold Beer raised a cheer scoring their first podium
finish of the regatta but Antonio Sanpere's J/36, Cayennita Grande won the first
race today by a huge margin to secure the class win.
In Class 9 Jon Charlton & Claude Bonanni's Team Red Stripe won today's only race.
However, Keith Smith LiGreci's Girasoli came 2nd, which was enough to secure the
class win: "This is the first major regatta with the boat and we are absolutely
delighted to win our class," said Keith. "Although Girasoli is new this year, the
team have been sailing together for years with Bill Berardelli who passed away recently
and I would like to dedicate this win to his memory, he was a great guy."
In the IC24 Class, Frits Bus finished the 14-race series in style to clinch the
overall victory with Andrew Waters', Conch-Querer second. There was an intense battle
for the last podium position between Peter Houtzagers' Satisfaction and David Irwins'
Grey Ghost; Satisfaction won the encounter by a single point.
In Bareboat 1, Dick Backstom's Soul Mates finished the regatta on a high winning
the last race. However the class title goes to Christine Joseph's Sexy and We Know
It. Tijmen van Elst's BK Grondlogistiek takes second with Soul Mates third.
In Bareboat 2, Neil Harvey's Acadia won today's race and an outstanding protest
was dropped giving Acadia the overall class title. Bill Petersen & Peter Stazicker's
Team Trolly Car were second overall and Rob Swain Sailing School racing Perelandra
scored a third in today's race to win a close battle with Team Cape Fear and AvalonRacing,
to take 3rd place for the regatta.
In the Bareboat Class the winner of the International Yacht Club Challenge is BK
Grondlogistiek representing the IJmuidenYacht Club in Holland, winning the substantial
prize of a week's free charter in the BVI from Sunsail. The second prize of two
round trip tickets from Cape Air goes to Avalon Racing representing the Caernarfonshire
Yacht Club in Wales.
Tonight's Prizegiving will bring the BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival to a
close. 2,000 revelers are expected to pack out the Regatta Village at Nanny Cay
with cabaret provided by Moko Jumbies striding through the beachside tents on giant
stilts. Live music from Gazebo should light the blue touch paper with a set including
reggae, rock & roll and rock anthems. Tonight's closing party is expected to be
massive!
Class 7 winners Northern Child, Christian & Lucy Reynolds Swan 51
Credit: Todd vanSickle/BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival
Spectacular scenery on the race course at the BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival
where warm water and hot racing are guaranteed Credit: Todd vanSickle/BVI Spring
Regatta & Sailing Festival
Ian Hope-Ross' Kick 'em Jenny from St Martin win Class 5
Credit: Todd vanSickle/BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival
Great racing for all classes in the 41st BVI Spring Regatta Credit: Todd vanSickle
Nanny Cay Resort, Marina & Boatyard Credit: Todd vanSickle/BVI Spring Regatta &
Sailing Festival
Bill Alcott/Ed Palm/Tom Anderson's STP 65 Farr, Equation win Class 1 Credit: Todd
vanSickle
Antilope and Peake Yacht Services Slippery Credit: Todd vanSickle
For more information about the BVI Spring Regatta& Sailing Festival go to: www.bvispringregatta.org
RESULTS:
Full results for the BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival can be found here:
http://result.vg/bvisr/minisite?p=vindex
Event Press | BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival | Tortola | Virgin Islands, British
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