| ANTIGUA CLASSIC YACHT REGATTA
2004
The trade winds returned to their usual strength as a dissipating
cold front caused light winds for the first day of the 17th
Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta sponsored by Mt Gay Rum. Cable
and Wireless and Holland Jachtbouw. The breeze on Day one
was 12 to 15 kts with holes along the south coast of Antigua
which caused the race committee to shorten the course about
the time the winds were filling back in. However at this
point Sea Cloud and Stavros Niarchos were drifting sideways
down the coast with little steerageway. All of the yachts
managed to finish the race and Lucia A, Nirvana, Juno, White
Wings, Lydia, Twilight, Grace, Summer Wind, Charm III, Virazon
and Velsheda were class winners.
Day two and the “Butterfly” saw 22 to 25 kts
out of the east, Cambria and Windrose tucked in a reef,
and fewer topsails were seen, but everyone had blast as
the sea was still reasonably flat. Windrose and Velsheda
were neck and neck at the 2nd mark, however after the short
rum down to mark 3 Windrose had problems getting the kite
down and Velsheda easily finished ahead of Cambria on corrected
time. Bolero found her legs and finished first ahead of
Mariella in Vintage B, and the powerful gaff schooner Aello
had the second fastest elapsed time behind Mariella with
all sails pulling hard. Grace the smallest yacht in the
fleet at 23 ft had her topsail set and while nearly horisontal
at times, pulled another bullet in Classic Class D.
The “Cannon” on day three saw slightly less
wind but still up to 25 kts at times. The sea was rough
offshore where the east going tide set up a choppy sea,
just before the outer mark. The “Cannon” is
an exciting course with one mark offshore and one at the
starting point and all yachts large and small pass in and
out in close proximity of each other making for exciting
encounters and great photo opportunities. Ranger managed
to get past Velsheda for a while but finished just behind
after the windward leeward leg at the end. Lucia A finished
ahead of Lone Fox and Nirvana, but ended up with a 6th place
only 3 minutes behind 1st place Lilly Maid who had the sail
of it’s life while celebrating her 100th birthday.
Bolero roared in for a 2nd only 20 seconds off the pace,
with Mariella 3rd, Latifa 4th and Ticonderoga 5th. Aello
powered in with the best elapsed time 10 minutes ahead of
Mariella who picked up the best elapsed time trophies after
3 races. Jambalaya proved that local trading schooners could
take the wind finishing only a minute behind Aello on corrected
time, and Grote Meid another schooner had the 3rd best corrected
time. Avrion, St Briac, and Rainbow sailed well with firsts
in their respective classes.
On Tuesday morning a match between the two J class yachts
and Cambria saw Ranger leading Velsheda all the way on a
windward Leeward 30 mile course, with Velsheda only winning
by a small margin on corrected time. Cambria was not far
off the pace but she was by far the most admired yacht of
the whole event. Cambria won 1st overall in the Boat International
Concourse d elegance, as well as the most photogenic yacht
for the Tim Wright / Tropical Studios trophy.
Gig Racing and Afternoon tea at the Admirals Inn was followed
by The Prize Giving held in the beautiful setting of the
Nelsons Dockyard, with a slide show of photos from the various
photographers enhancing the show. David Ray’s Nirvana
Won first overall and the best elapsed time the Classic
Class, as well as the Wayfarer Trophy for 1st overall in
Classic And Vintage Class, Bolero was 1st overall in Vintage
Class with Mariella getting the best elapsed time in Vintage
and overall. Aello was 1st overall and best elapsed time
in Schooner class. Velsheda won the Sintra Trophy for best
elapsed time in Spirit of Tradition Class and White Wings
went home with the Ticonderoga Trophy for 1st overall.
For complete results visit www.antiguaclassics.com, and
for photographs see Tim Wrights website www.photoaction.com.
Ken Coombs
ACYR Chairman
23 April 2004
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