Llewellen Westerman’s lightening quick trimaran, Charis, provided the boat to beat during the St. Croix Yacht Club’s annual Round the Island Race, held December 4 and 5.
On the first day, the 37-foot, St. Croix-built Charis literally flew down the south shore of the island after starting in the Buck Island Channel and rounding Point Udall. Nearly outrunning the photo boat, and sailing in 12 to 14 knots of breeze, Charis finished in a short four hours. “Llewellen came in so early that his finish had to be taken from a kayak as the Race Committee Boat hadn’t arrived yet,” said race organizer, Chris Schreiber.
The second day, a couple of squalls made rounding Hamm’s Bluff tricks. But, soon the weather settled into 15 knots blowing from the east and once again Charis ate up the miles. This time, Westerman helmed his multihull to a finish 2 ½ hours after the start for a total elapsed time of 6 ½ hours around the island. “This wasn’t a record, but it wasn’t far off,” Schreiber said.
Not far behind Charis was Joe San Martin’s Piglet, a Tee Gull 23. “Piglet was close enough to nip Charis on corrected time and take overall honors in the multihull division,” Schreiber said.
Eleven boats racing in two divisions, multihull and monohull, competed in the event.
In the monohull division, Alan Mallory and Terry Hogan’s Alberg 35 finished second, but won on corrected time.
“The friendly rivalry between Charis and Piglet is legendary,” Schreiber says. We’ll look forward to another showdown between the two multihulls at the St. Croix International Regatta.”
RESULTS
(Top 3)
Multihulls
1st: Piglet, Joe San Martin
2nd: Charis, Llewellen Westerman
3rd: Chaka, Richard Petersen
Monohulls
1st: Aurora, Allan Mallory & Terry Hogan
2nd: Moriah, Troy Holloway
3rd: Cayenne, Tony & Ellen Sanpere
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