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Robie and Mike HIRST, last year's clear winners too, teamed up with last year's second place helm, Colin RATHBUN, to make an unstoppable force. Counting nothing worse than a third place in their ten races the HIRST/RATHBUN Team BVI finished the regatta with a mere 17 points. Simon MANLY (AHO) and his Team St Martin finished in second place ten points behind and Team USVI with Chris CURRERI (ISV) at the helm was third.

Fourteen teams representing ten countries rotated through seven one-design IC24s in ten flights, giving a total of 20 races for the weekend with each team competing in ten races. Down time was spent in the regatta village on the Nanny Cay beach 'ringside' to the racing with cooling pool, bar, barbecue and plenty of shade.

Can Anyone Beat Them?

'The perpetual trophy stays in the BVI for another year and the question is will anyone be able to dethrone these guys next year?' said organizer Richard WOOLDRIDGE.

The winds were a little light but on Sunday a steady south easterly set in with glorious sunshine and perfect racing conditions. The fight for second place was intense; at the close of play on Saturday it was Team Holland who looked favourite with a six point cushion over the USVI. However MANLY and his St Martin team came out blazing on Sunday morning scoring two bullets. It all came down to the last flight with Team St Martin scoring two second places which knocked the USVI into third place.

A venerable British crew of Mike MASTERS, Robin 'Dr T' TATTERSALL and John WALSH, The Beefeaters, were all at sea on Saturday morning with one crew member short. A young lady offered her services and was quickly snapped up by these veterans. The Beefeaters went on to sail brilliantly knocking Holland into fifth place in the overall standings. 'They received the award for 'best dressed crew' with their white flannel shorts and old school ties. It should be noted that even with their 21 year old crew onboard they still managed an average age of 54!' said WOOLDRIDGE.

Seamus HENNESSEY (IRL) was awarded 'Bravest Man In The Regatta' for sailing with four spirited Irish ladies and surviving to tell the tale. Team Barbados was awarded a bottle of Moet for travelling the furthest and showing great spirit at the back of the fleet.

'All in all the regatta was a great success. John HOLMBERG was overheard muttering that his brother Peter [America's Cup skipper for Alinghi] would be onboard next year to 'sort those HIRST boys out'. Now that is something worth waiting for!' concluded WOOLDRIDGE.