A FESTIVAL AFLOAT 2006
The BVI Watersports Centre has done it again! 91 medals and 29 trophies were awarded to water sport entries as a result of courses taken this year at the Manuel Reef, Sea Cows Bay, facility. The Hon. Minister Lloyd Black presented medals to swimmers from 4 years old up to the top competitors in each event. Mr. Allan O’Neal, of Prospect Reef Resort, is teaching several times a week at the resort pool. Century House Montessori School entered an impressive team with lots of wins. Students from the Eslyn Henley Richiez Learning Centre and the BVI Technical Institute demonstrated their skills with four experienced dinghy sailors and qualified powerboat drivers from the BVI High School, who were given special dispensations, taking time from their studies, helping the Special Needs children. Janet Macan christened the new flagship of Sailability BVI – ‘I-Tri’ a very extraordinary Trimaran given by the Rotary Club of Tortola. The Governor’s wife was joined on the dock by Rotary President Delma Maduro, who spearheaded the fundraising to provide a craft suitable for Special Needs youngsters allowing them to get on the water with ease.
‘I-Tri’ entered the BVI Spring Regatta with teams of Sailability and young sailors from the BVI Watersports Centre. Liz and El from Richardson’s Rigging Services and Harken, Inc. donated ‘state-of-the-art’ hard wear and sailing gloves together with racing T-shirts for all crews! The Youth Affairs and Sports BVI Youth Regatta set a new BVI record for the most entrants in a youth dedicated regatta with 54 competitors being presented to Governor Macan. Four fleets of dinghies and a small group of paddlers competed for 13 trophies in the Optimist Silver fleet demonstrating a show of boat handling skills on a short start line, with tight and fluctuating results over a series of four races culminating in close finishes and a tense finale. Mollee Donovan took a decisive first place. In the Optimist Green Fleet Charlie Tarn and Hana Keegan tied. ‘The Plastic Fleet’ (Picos, Tazs and Escapes) raced under the Portsmouth Yardstick Handicap system with Arno Paletta winning.
The last series of races of the regatta allowed the ‘Fast Handicap’ Laser 2000s, with asymmetric spinnakers, to participate. With light air, crews had to make the most of their skills. Well done Colin & Alison Bramble – this RYA Centre certainly leads the Caribbean in water sports training.
ITALY COMES TO THE CARIBBEAN
I met a most interesting man recently at Nanny Cay Marina. Corrado Gio Batta Bruzzo pulled onto the dock next to mine in his Picnic Boat – a F.lli Aprea 7.5 Open Sorrento, awl gripped a wonderful dark blue with gorgeous mahogany trim. It featured two 110hp Yamaha engines and is a copy of the boats that fishermen use in Naples. I was totally fascinated as I had not seen this type of boat before in the BVI so I introduced myself and inquired about the history of the vessel.
Corrado told me that he had first seen the boat in St. Tropez in 2000. Discovering that it was made in Italy (he is from Genoa) he placed an order. Owning a home in Coral Bay, St. John, he had the boat shipped to Puerto Rico and has used it throughout the Virgin Islands ever since. I was most appreciative of this information and thought that I would pass it on to you, my readers. What a great way to spend a leisurely weekend!
CONGRATULATIONS –
To Shanty Maritime Services owner, Kevin Rowlette, who recently married Rebecca Paull. Kevin has been one of the most active BVI racers in recent history helming Rushin’ Rowlette, an Olson 30 voted the BEST BVI Boat in 2001; Synergy , a 49’ Frers; and his most recent Picaroon, an Oyster 54. Becky is not only his proud new wife but is his helpmate in all of his salvage endeavors at Shanty Maritime – Hats off and Best Wishes to these two.
