Beautiful sunshine and a 15 knot breeze were perfect sailing Tortola for the Royal BVI Yacht Clubs Annual Commodores Cup sponsored by Island Shipping and Trading on Saturday 18th December. Race Officer Mike Kirk and his helpers got the fleets away smartly from the Conch Charters Committee boat.
With their best pace of the day, IC24 Racing in Paradise, helmed by Emma Paul was first off the line and held their lead for all of several yards before Pipe Dream driven by Peter Haycraft thundered past them to lead for the rest of race.
John Havilchet in Tempest rounded the windward mark second with the pack of IC24s biting at her heels. Michael Hirst in Mostly Harmless, Andrew Waters in Conch-querer and Colin Rathburn in INTAC rounded the windward mark within minutes of each other and went low towards Road Harbor before gibing and heading for the mark off Sea Cows Bay. Mike Masters in Black Pearl and Racing in Paradise followed. Mostly Harmless pulled ahead from the others and continued to hold their lead on the other ICs until the finish. INTAC and Conch-Querer match raced one another until Conc- querer pulled ahead on the last beat and took the finish.
Black Pearl led Racing in Paradise until the last mark rounding when a bad drop gave Racing in Paradise a chance to overtake but Black Pearl showed their superior boat speed to finish in front. Ron Gurney in Tiswas was the lone entry in the cruising class.
Prize giving was held at the Commodore’s Dinner at the yacht club that evening where, for the first time, Peter Haycraft was awarded the trophy that he donated to the club 9 years ago.
1 Pipe Dream – Peter Haycraft
2 Mostly Harmless – Michael Hirst
3 Conch Querer – Andrew Waters
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