On the weekend of January 22-23, the Antigua Yacht Club (AYC) held its annual round the island race. Twenty-four yachts entered with six boats from Guadeloupe and Santa Cruz 70 Hotel California all the way from St Thomas. The largest entry was Magdulus Terzo, a 115-foot ketch with the smallest being Olson 30 Lost Horizon II.
The race went counter clockwise around the island from Falmouth Harbour to Jolly Harbour with marks at Bird Island and Diamond Bank. Local boat
Trouble, owned by Geoff PIDDUCK, had its rudder fall off near Green Island leaving a gaping hole in the bottom of the boat. Many boats came to his assistance namely,
Nouf Nouf, Encore and
Augustine all of whom got redress later.
Trouble was saved and limped back to Antigua Slipway where she was lifted out.
Encore found
Trouble's rudder and sent a swimmer over the side to retrieve it.
First home on day one was
Hotel California with
Nouf Nouf and
Maja 2 coming home after 5.00pm because of helping trouble.
'We had a great party at Castaways Restaurant at Jolly Beach with the theme being 'Gilligan's Island,' said Tommy PATTERSON of Antigua Yacht Club.
'Our queen show started at 8.00 p .m with our first queen ever from Guadeloupe in the shape of the lovely 'Brittany' from Timoe. The party was sponsored by Premier Beverages who donated lots of Cavalier Rum and Finlandia Vodka for the thirsty sailors. There was lots of dancing and merriment into the wee hours.'
The race on Sunday from Jolly Harbour back to Falmouth Harbour started at a very respectable 11.30 a.m. Conditions ideal with a 14 knot breeze and the boats all finished before 3pm. The prizegiving was held at the AYC at 6.00 p.m. with lots of prizes donated by the businesses in the area. The overall winner was
Lost Horizon for the seventh time.
Caccia Alla Volpe was second and
Marina Bas du Fort from Guadeloupe was third. Best elapsed time was won by
Hotel California in 7 hours 17 minutes. The toughest class was the racer/cruiser class with 12 entries. Bernie WONG'S 40-year old Cal 40
Huey Too won both days to win her class, with
Budget Marine second and
Nouf Nouf in third. The cruiser class was won by Tim WALLS' Swan 43
Thistle with new kid on the block Rick GORMLY'S Beneteau 38
Elithea second and Liz JORDAN'S Swan 36 Arc
Angel in third.
'Many thanks to Carlo FALCONE from the Antigua Yacht Club Marina and Festus ISSIAC from Jolly Harbour Marina for donating free dockage for all boats on the days of the race and to all the businesses that donated prizes and volunteers that did the organizing,' concluded Tommy.