The 7th Annual Caribbean Laser Team Racing Championships are just
weeks away now, held on the 15th & 16th October.
Email [email protected] or go to www.antiguayachtclub.com or simply
call (268) 460 1799 for a Notice of Race and registration information.
Cuba
In the wake of Hurricane Dennis in June, Commodore Escrich of the
Hemingway International Yacht Club would like to remind readers that, “With
great satisfaction and pride I inform you that in our Yacht Club we did not
suffer neither human nor material damages which is the result of the work done
with great love from all of us to assure the facilities, boats and equipment in
the office.” It takes more than a storm to dampen the welcome at the HIYC.
St Croix
Dates have been announced for the 2006 winter regattas. The 13th
annual international regatta will take place on President’s Weekend, February
18-20, with the 3rd annual Valentine Optimist Regatta on the 18
& 19.
Last year’s overall
winner was a St. Thomas boat, Magnificent
Seven, skippered by John Foster who received the traditional prize of the
skipper’s weight in Cruzan Rum. Mistress
Quickly from Tortola placed second and El
Shaddai II from St. Croix finished third.
Sailors from Puerto Rico
also had a strong finish last year, winning the Racer Cruiser, Cruiser, and
Beach Cat classes at the 2005 regatta.
Big boat racing is
planned to start at 10 a.m. on three days, from Saturday, February 18th through
Monday, the 20th. Last year’s third day of racing was cancelled due to weather
conditions.
Boat classes are Racing,
Racer/Cruiser, Cruiser, IC-24, Beach Cat and Large Multi-hull. The IC-24
category debuted in this regatta last year with five participants.
The St. Croix
International race committee kicks off the weekend with its famous Cruzan Rum
Welcome Party on Friday, February 17 at 6 p.m. U.S. Customs & Border
Protection check-in for international sailors is offered on site at the Yacht
Club from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday afternoon.
For more information
contact:Julie San Martin, Regatta
Director on (340) 773-1048, Ext. 11 or 12 or go to www.stcroixyc.com For the Notice of Race
and Entry forms.
St Lucia
St Lucia took a well-deserved fourth place in July’s Chief
Minister’s Cup in Tortola. The team was chaperoned by Kathrine Brinks and coach
Hugh Cooper and included Emma Dodd, Felix and Louis Meixner, Miguel Louisy,
Erik Simmons and Charles Daher, who raced in the IC24 class.
St Lucia overcame some
pre-race nerves to finish 5th in the first race. However, due to a
minor collision, the team had to accept a penalty of eight points—organizers
were extremely strict regarding collisions and rightly or wrongly added penalty
points to the boats involved.
Putting this behind them,
the team sailed a very clean series of races ending the day with a second
place—putting them equal third with an experienced team from St Croix.
Laser racing took place
after lunch with Felix and Louis representing St Lucia. Alternating every two
races, they had a very consistent series of results and finished an excellent
fourth place just 1.5 points off third. Race 10 saw St Lucia taking first place
in Sunday’s lighter conditions. The racing was extremely close often with only
inches to spare at starts and mark roundings. Sunday afternoon saw more
improvement from the St Lucia team with three third places and a first in the
final race. However, it was St Croix that held on to third overall with St
Lucia fourth.
St Maarten
Still quiet at the Yacht Club, but Lagoon
Sailboat Rentals continues to cater for those who want to get out on the water.
In conjunction with Tropical Sail Loft, the Tuesday Night series takes
advantage of the longer summer light and has been running since July 5th.
The series will wrap up this month on the 20th.
Racing starts at 5.30pm and the price is $35 a night. If you want a
twilight run-out, contact Cary at [email protected]
or call 552 0068. Alternatively, call Erns on 544 5472 or email [email protected]
