Published: Sunday, May 2, 2004 at:10:20 PM




Midwinter Regatta of Champions

Tight finishes and light winds were the theme of the week.

by Katie McGauley

This year’s Midwinter Regatta of Champions, January 12th through January 16th, 2004, was full of clustered buoy roundings, neck and neck finishes and great prizes. Over the course of the week our skippers battled in both dinghies (Lasers) and keelboats (the new Hunter 216s!) to determine our overall BEYC racing champion. Contenders this year included defender Sally Sharp (3 time winner), Chuck Allen, Joan Shannon, and Henry Amthor. Gibby Rachleff, Ken Grillo and Judy Coates joined us as crew. Almost all of the Hunter crews raced single-handed in the Laser events, filling the line with exciting competition, and we were often joined by other enthusiastic hotel guests, some of whom were first time sailors. What an introduction to sailing!

The week started off with consistent easterly wind at 8 to 12 knots. Bullets spread across the board and finishes separated by seconds set the tone for the week’s racing. Chuck Allen, who happened to have designed the Laser sails for Bitter End, was the most consistent sailor, with Henry and Joan close behind him. Though he had nothing to do with the Hunter sails, Chuck still managed to win four out of five races aboard them in the afternoon sailing; his one loss was to Paolo Canavese. On Tuesday many of our racers were excited about our day trip sailing tour of Virgin Gorda, so we made a few adjustments to satisfy their excursion yen. Racing later in the day required sailing through a Caribbean sunset and continuing into the shifting wind of dusk, where Sally proved to be the master of roll tacks and reading the wind.

Wednesday most of our sailors took advantage of the opportunity to visit Anegada. Some saw a few flamingos and everyone remarked on the lobster pulled from the ocean just minutes before it appears on your plate. After the great day excursion, many racers joined us for our very casual Wednesday night Beer Can racing. In Beer Can racing, winners take bragging rights only and as there is no official race committee, all results are “on your honor.” It is impossible to remark on the standings, but everyone had a drink in hand, which is challenge enough while sailing a Laser!

Henry took first during Thursday’s Hunter racing in the morning, through wind that was shifting all over the place. In the afternoon, the wind had steadied a bit, but was very light and variable. Chuck sailed impeccably in the light air, coming across the line first every time.

To add to the excitement and performance of the Hunters, we used the Doyle Contender racing sails on Friday. Once again, the day was full of aggressive starts, tight roundings and split second finishes. Chuck took four first place finishes. Joan almost had him across the line twice and finally caught him, finishing first in the final race of the day. Henry was close behind her all day. We raced back to Watersports to share battle stories and a cold beer before lunch. The serious regatta tales had to wait until the dinner party, where we were joined by Boating Today TV.

Everyone was well outfitted by Soundings Magazine, West Marine and Boating Today TV. Second place winners, Joan in the Hunter 216 event and Sally in the Laser event, were awarded Pusser’s Rum survival kits, complete with fishing lures, matches, maps and well, …rum. Henry, with consistent third place finishes in each individual event, earned a second place overall and will also survive with rum. For the fist place overall, Chuck Allen did not get rum, but he will defend his title next year, compliments of Bitter End. Congratulations! Eirik Rosenberg of Norway has also been invited back, compliments of Bitter End, to participate in next year’s Midwinter Regatta, as the winner of our 2003 Sunday Regatta Winners drawing. See you all January 8th 2005!

Final Standings:

Chuck (33) 1ST

Henry (63) 2ND

Joan (65) 3RD