The day yesterday was all about Galatea - and what better way to round off her 110 birthday celebrations than for her and her proud owner, Judd Tinius than to win the Single - Handed Big Classics class held yesterday afternoon. An equally popular win came in the Small Classics Class with Robin Tattersall, the sailing doctor from Tortola, taking first prize helming his own delightful small sloop Diva. The Carib Bean Coffee Roasters - sponsors of the event put on a fabulous Single Handed Sundowner Celebration party following the prize giving held below the yacht club and a crew of exceptional chefs including Nora Wall , Alison Comacho, Charlie Chaffin and yacht chef and provisioner "Two Cents", an official Friend of the Classics, received much praise for the delicious eats they provided to accompany the "Dark and Stormys" being generously served up by bronze sponsors, Mount Gay Rum.
Another light wind day (though not as light as forecast!) heralded the start of the second day of racing when the entrants in the Classic Yacht Regatta set off to tackle the Butterfly course. This is the race of the series where the contestants get to show their true colours (and sail wardrobe's) - over a twenty mile, six leg course designed to test all sail configurations. With sea states near perfect and the lightest of trade winds, the day passed without incident with again many spectacular moments for photographers and crew alike, especially on the down wind legs with spinnakers flying&.many will have their fingers crossed for a little more wind for tomorrow's longest race of the series - the 24 mile Cannon which precedes the Parade of Classics in Nelson's Dockyard.
Again this year the Classic Yacht Committee are truly amazed and fully appreciative of the generous help of the many volunteers, who either live on the island and just enjoy the atmosphere of this special event or are part of the live- aboard cruising community and return each year or like, Thomas and Charlotte from Germany who quit their jobs in Berlin in January, arriving in Guadeloupe and have sailed or volunteered their services in every major Caribbean regatta since then, making many friends en route and in May they will be sailing back to Germany with many good memories and a resolution to be back soon. Our thanks to all our volunteers -without you regattas would not happen!
Fingers crossed for more breeze tomorrow, and we are promised a sparkling finale on Monday - stay tuned.
