SIMPSON BAY--Island Water World the Melges 24 with the distinctive Red white and blue paint job took top honours in the St. Maarten Yacht Club Keelboat Race on the open waters of Simpson Bay Sunday. Not far behind were Amcon, Panic Attack and Island Water World.
Two nearly identical Island Water World keelboats were on the water racing. Frits Bus and crew raced their new Melges while the crew of Kick em Jenny raced the older version. Kick em Jenny suffered rudder damage in the last race.
A total of three races were sailed in challenging conditions, with wind shifting between two to 30 knots with higher gusts and several heavy downpours.
The new IWW lived up to the expectations as Bus and crew sailed an almost flawless series. They won all three races. Several boats experienced wipe- outs in the squalls. “Team Island Water World had everything under control, “noted Leo Ligthart from the Yacht Club.
“In cruising class there was an interesting duel between “Vanilla” and “Little Poe,” said Ligthart.
Little Poe, a small cruising boat with some students from the Sint Maarten Sailing School crewing, did remarkably well.
“The difficult circumstances didn’t bother the dapper little yacht, and they managed to come 2nd over the line in 2 of the 3 races, leaving some much bigger boats behind,” said Ligthart.
Vanilla finished all races first over the line. “As Little Poe just got measured and her rating is not yet in, it is not certain yet if Vanilla actually won the day.”
The next race will be the Heineken Warm-Up Regatta, Sunday, February 28.
