It was day one of the Laser Team
Championships and I had wanted to get to the Antigua Yacht Club for the
Skippers briefing. Up with a start, I realized I had overslept because it was
absolutely pouring.
I walked out to my terrace and
had a full view of the race; the white sails were back in Falmouth Harbour.
With them was a beautiful 42′ Bavaria donated by Horizon’s Yacht Charters and
the AYC Committee Boat with Chris Martin acting as on water judge.
Competing this year were Team
L’il Dicklings from St John USVI, Cool Runnings (an international team from St.
John, St. Martin and Antigua) and Jus Bus, Broke Asses and Higher Level all
from Antigua.
Twenty races were needed to
determine the champs this year (five teams, four races) each leg: six boats.
The point system in use was standard: 10 points or lower, you win…11 points and
higher, you lose. Should the on water judge call a penalty, the offending boat
needed to complete a 360 and then was free to continue. At the end of Day One,
they had run fifteen races at an average of about fifteen minutes each.
On Sunday, out to race by 8:30,
the teams needed five races to determine the winning placement. There was a tie
for third place and an exciting sail off was held to determine position. By
midday Sunday, the official results were in: First Place went to Broke Asses,
second Place to the international team Cool Runnings, the third place winner of
the sail off was Jus Bus, L’il Dicklings came in fourth and Higher Level from
Sunsail Colonna came in fifth. The remaining race time was spent on ability
races. The five top, intermediate and lower level sailors went out to race each
other.
Wrapping up the 2004 Laser Team
Championships back at the Antigua Yacht Club, all accounts were that it had
been a good weekend of racing. I give them all credit; rainy weekends always
get me down.
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