COLE BAY--Sam Talbot’s Spike, a J111 with a mixed young team from the BVI and USA that won CSA 3 emerged Most Worthy Performance winner of the Gill Commodore’s Cup at the prize-giving in Port de Plaisance last night.
Some 68 racing boats contested the Gill Commodore’s Cup out of 100 that will start the 38th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta today. Thursday produced a light breeze and an overcast sky with the sun occasionally poking through. An inshore around-the-buoys course was organised for the racing classes while the Maxis and Ocean Racing class were sent on a longer course. Even with the breeze in the 10-knot range with occasional puffs, overall it was a satisfying day.
The Maxi class was won by Bank von Bremen with the Brazilian team Camiranga-Croula on a Soto 65 Opus taking second place. Sapphire was third. Kialoa III ended up in fourth place after they were disqualified in their second race. They finished second in the first race.
In the Ocean Racing Class, the Volvo 70 Green Dragon scored a perfect two bullets to win class, sending Monster Project with two third-place finishes into second. Akouavi was third. Ambersail did not start the second race and up to press time it was not known why.
In CSA 1 the Puerto Rican outfit on the Melges 32 Lazy Dog took first place with a second and two first places. But they were pushed hard by second-placed Ian Hope-Ross’ Kick em Jenny with a fine performance scoring a third and two second places. Bernie Evan-Wong’s Taz from Antigua was third in this class.
CSA 2 was dominated by two of Performance Yacht Racing’s. (PYR) yachts EH01 and Quokka. EH01 with a perfect three bullets won the class. Quokka had to settle for third after retiring from the second race, but returned for a second place in the third race. Pata Negra. (Performance Yacht Charters) took second place, preventing a clean sweep on the podium for the PYR teams.
Spike won the 11-boat CSA 3 ahead of Touch 2 Play Racing and Apollo in third place. The J122 El Ocaso surprisingly fell off the pace to finish in fourth place.
Maelia from St. Barths won CSA 4 taking two firsts and a fourth. Jan vanden Eynde on his new boat Wanna B finished second in this class with three straight second places and he will no doubt be delighted after losing his former boat Panic Attack to the hurricanes. Solstice was third. CSA 5 was won by Out of Africa.
Bareboats 1 was by KHS&S Contractors with Autoboat in second and Marinero Sailing School Ukraine in third.
In the Melges 24 class Frits Bus’ Team Island Water World emerged triumphant despite incurring a penalty in the first race during a tight start around the committee boat. After completing the 360 they went to win the next two races. Caraibe Marine from Martinique was second and Gill Race Team third.
Morticia won Offshore Multihull Class. In CSA Multihulls, Belle was first, followed by Trixi in second and Paltin in third.
“It wasn’t as light as we were afraid it might be, and we ended with a lovely breeze, around 10 knots sometimes slipping to seven,” Race Director Paul Miller reported. “Racing classes got three races and they were good races, 30-35 minutes of tight racing. Quality of racing was superb. Everything went very smoothly and I’m very happy with the professionalism of the crew I’ve got.”
The Heineken Regatta starts today with the around-the-island race. Another light wind day is expected.
