Race day 3 - The Cannon followed by the Parade of Classics
With just one more race day to go, apart from the blessed weather conditions, the chat on the dock this evening is definitely all about the fantastic hospitality dished up nightly by this year's generous sponsors. As the regatta progresses the Panerai lounge bar on the dock at Antigua Yacht Club Marina has become the happening place to meet old and make new friends over a pre race coffee, cool drink or post race cocktail before moving next door on to the lawn of the AYC, the venue for each day's end of race parties. On Saturday the bronze sponsors Gleeds Pimms party was one of the best attended of the event to date. Serving Pimms on the lawn from 1600 - 1800 the party was soon full of eager competitor's awaiting the day's race results as they were posted from Regatta HQ upstairs at the Yacht Club.
Later that evening it was Music night where anyone who played an instrument or sang was invited to participate. Whether most people were too tired after a day on the water, or too shy (unlikely!) there were few participants, however the local band Time Machine ended the evening playing some true classic calypso creating a great atmosphere with much dancing and lots of fun had by all.
There were few surprises in Saturday's race results - Stormvogel 'storms ahead' in Classic B class ahead of Lone Fox, whilst contention brews amongst the schooners in Vintage Class A with Charm III finishing just ahead of Astor, and looking equally as well matched out on the course again today.
With a grey and gloomy start to the day today and winds struggling to a feeble nine knots, by 9.30 this morning the judges wisely announced a 15 minute delayed start to all classes. A sensible decision as it turned out as from the first start at 10.15 the trades picked up gradually throughout the day to a pleasant 12 - 15 knots by the time the majority of the fleet were heading out to the southerly mark on the third leg. With unbelievably calm sea conditions all members of the classic fleet made good speed considering the light winds. Today's race was not without incident however with Eleanora sadly experiencing a torn mainsail at the start line forcing her to retire leaving Juno an open field in Classic class A.
Lunch at Catherine's Café was the place to be for non participants today, with some tables having been booked a year in advance! This is the Sunday during Classic week when all but the largest in the fleet form the Classic Parade in English Harbour and motor or sail gently passed Antigua Slipway and the Dockyard. As ever, an enormous crowd of spectators and well wishers turned out today to enjoy and cheer this amazing spectacle whilst a brilliant commentary was given by Jol Byerly. This evening it's lobster from Maine at the AYC and Champagne elsewhere and so the parties go on and with an increase in wind speed forecast for tomorrow the last race day could well be hold on to your hats day in more ways than one!
