Mistress Quickly to defend

Competitors prepare for the 36th Pusser's Round Tortola Race

The 36th Pusser's Round Tortola Race is set to take place on Saturday, 26 November, under the auspices of the Royal British Virgin Islands Yacht Club. Spinnaker and non-spinnaker classes will cross the start line and last year's winner, Guy Eldridge, will be returning with Mistress Quickly, his Melges 24, to defend his title.

The skippers' meeting will be held at the Royal BVI Yacht Club on 25 Nov from six pm onwards with Pusser's Rum drinks to ease the registration process. Pusser's goody bags for each entry will contain special Pusser's skipper caps and enamel mugs plus a few added extras from Coors Light.

The non-spinnaker classes will start in Sir Francis Drake Channel off Nanny Cay and then head anti-clockwise around Tortola, finishing at West End. The spinnaker classes will start and finish off Nanny Cay, with the Race Committee deciding whether to send them clockwise or anti-clockwise on the day. The prize giving party will be held at Pusser's Landing, Soper's Hole, at six pm where Pusser's Rum ships decanters, flagons and hip flasks will be awarded together with the Pusser's Round Tortola Race perpetual trophy. A hog roast is planned together with the regular Pusser's menu. O2 will kick off the ongoing revelry at 7pm. Pusser's Landing will also be offering $1 off all Pusser's Painkillers and $2 Coors Lights.

Conditions last year in this 35-mile race, although perfect for much of the race, proved trying as the fleet attempted to cross the finish line in Soper's Hole on the west end of Tortola. After the initial beat up the Sir Francis Drake Channel, it was all down hill once the fleet rounded Great Camanoe and ideal conditions for the light Melges 24.

Pusser's Rum, the Original Navy Rum, has sponsored the Round Tortola Race since 1989. "It's a fun race and like our rum it's starting to get some history to it," said Charles Tobias, founder of Pusser's West Indies Ltd. "I like both. They go together."