ANTIGUA YACHT CLUB

On 21st January 2012 an impressive fleet set off to circumnavigate Antigua in an anti-clockwise direction. With 17 to 20 knots of breeze, variable sea conditions and weather extremes from hot and sunny to cold and rain, this proved to be a challenge – particularly for the smaller boats.

Not so for the 60-foot trimaran ‘Paradox’, sailed by its four French crew who managed to scorch around the race course in less than four hours and be at Cloggy’s restaurant in time for lunch!!  They broke the course record, previously held by the 100 foot Swan Virago, and were duly awarded the ‘Sizzling Bacon’ Trophy donated as a memorial to George Chew.  Virago also managed to break her own record set in 2011 by approximately 10 minutes.

The fleet was very mixed with Marama at 115 feet, Virago at 100 feet, Whisper at 78 feet and Sofara at 72 feet.  At the smaller end was Blue Peter at 30 feet and Shamrock at 31 feet with the rest of the fleet in between.

The overall winner was yacht Whisper, a Southern Winds 78, skippered by Mark Dicker. They were awarded the new ‘Sleeper’ Trophy kindly donated by our Fleet Captain, Jonty Layfield, followed by the annual weigh-in on the see-saw for the skipper’s weight in rum – luckily (after we emptied his pockets and backpack) Mark balanced out at no more than 72 bottles of rum!!

In Racing Class Whisper was first, second place was Virago skippered by Richard Archer and third was Shamrock VII skippered by Tom Mullen.

In Racer-Cruiser Class Blue Peter (Tanner Jones) – winner overall in 2010 (and still drinking his rum) – won the class with Elethea (Rick Gormley) a very close second on corrected time.

In Cruising Class Tommy Paterson’s Gypsy Pearl took first place from Ocean Harmony (John Wills).

Thanks to our sponsors – English Harbour Rum for contributing toward the rum prize won by Whisper; Antigua Sailing Week for donating a free entry fee for the best performance by a new Round the Island Race entrant, also won by Whisper; and North Sound Marina for donating a half-price haul/launch to one lucky winner.

All the pictures in this report are courtesy of Tim Wright and there are many more on his website www.photoaction.com.

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Article by Elizabeth Jordan, Commodore of Antigua Yacht Club.