Fun at Foxy's

A report from the annual Wooden Boat Regatta at the BVI's top party-central outpost of Jost van Dyke.

Great Harbour, Jost van Dyke seemed to take a step back in time this US Memorial Day weekend as wooden and classic sailing vessels filled the entire bay from South Side to Dog Hole.

This was the 32nd running of Foxy’s Wooden Boat Regatta and it is now a part of sailing history. Organizers from Foxy’s and the West End Yacht Club had predicted that this weekend would be the best in quite some time and they were not disappointed.

Teams from Puerto Rico, the US Virgins and the BVI enjoyed two days of great sailing whether with moderate winds of 12-16 knots without a drop of rain.

Although the race saw a record attendance, there were also a few noticeable absences this year. The singlehanded race was noticeably affected by the absence of both Edwin Cruz’s Dragon of Fajardo and Julien Davies’ Tiger Maru of St. John who usually battle it out for first in this race. Dragon unfortunately sank as she was being towed from Fajardo but has since been salvaged with no real damage. Julian on Tiger Maru had scheduling conflicts. Probably the most noticeable absence was that of the two traditional Tortola sloops Moonbeam and Youth Instructor. Unfortunately the boat slated to tow them from Tortola to Jost had engine problems which, sorry to say, left no wooden boats from the BVI to compete.

Foxy’s Wooden Boat Regatta traditionally starts off with the singlehanded race in which skippers show their boat handling skills by running the course solo. This year’s top three were all St. Johnians, with Joe Colpitt taking the first place honours in Virgin Fire a Gold Coast 56ft catamaran, followed by Tory Lane in his 33ft Alden sloop Jezephyr, and bringing up third was the man known only as 'Bear' in Lilly a 38ft Italian sloop.

Usually the singlehanded race is the only race scheduled for Saturday, but new this year was the addition of a new class and separate race for classic yachts. Boats of any material, designed over 30 years ago, were eligible. The course was around Jost van Dyke to port. The race was a single start and boats were handicapped using the PHRF system. Fittingly the race was won by newcomer Oasis of Fajardo, a 34ft wooden Gelo island sloop skippered by Miguel Gomez, second place was captured by Thatcher Lord in his Rhodes 40 Trinka, with third going to Scorpion, a 22ft Gelo island sloop sailed by Juan Ramden and Luis Nieves of Puerto Rico.

Sunday saw the actual Wooden Boat Race, with eight classes running the traditional two races, a short course in the morning, and a long course in the afternoon. Long time Race Captain Robin Pinfold and the committee consisting of Carter Powell, Paul Watson, Mike and Di Kirk, and WEYC commodore Martin van Houten, oversaw the race from Elliot Hooper’s beautiful 110ft schooner Silver Cloud. This was Robin’s final race as Race Captain and he will certainly be missed. Thanks again to Elliot for the generous use of his schooner.

In the Under 30ft Island Sloop class, Juan Ramden’s and Luis Nieves’ Scorpion again showed up, but this time to take the first place hardware, followed by Coaba, a 26ft Freddie Island sloop, skippered by Ricardo Alverez of Puerto Rico.

The big grudge match of the day was in the 30-40ft Island Sloop class, where Jaguar II, a perennial fixture on Foxy’s trophy boards, was pitted against newcomer Oasis who was fresh off a win in the classic race. Oasis took the short course, but was over the line in the second, allowing Jaguar II to retain the crown with ease in a race that otherwise would have been very close and exciting. Jaguar II is a 34ft Medina Island sloop, skippered by Michael Gomez of Puerto Rico.

Peacepipe smoked the competition in the Under 30’ Marconi Sloop class, she is a Laurent Giles 29, skippered by Parker Hall of St. Thomas. In second was Fred Renner of St. John in his bright yellow Culbert 23 Pepper.

Stiff competition in the 30-40ft Marconi Sloop class ended with Brad Glidden’s Rhodes 34 Yankee out of St. Thomas taking the first, with Jezephyr taking another second place award.

Out of St. John, Spree, Bob Reedy’s Acerman 50 took the wire, edging out Matt Carrolls Lu Lu Du, a 51ft Morcombe Bay Prawner, in the 50-60ft Marconi Sloop class.
Colin Hansen’s beautiful gaff rigged Tahiti Ketch Buxom II from St. John took the honours in the Traditional Rigs 30-40ft class.

The Multihull class saw Joe Colpitt in Virgin Fire take his second trophy over St. John’s Christopher Angel in his 37ft Trimaran Rafiki of his own design.

Foxy’s Belaying Pin Trophy for the fastest monohull in the race went to Brad Glidden’s Yankee. New in the awards ceremony this year was the Sandavore Trophy donated by Lance Burgo for the oldest boat in competition, going this year to Matt Carroll’s Lu Lu Du.

Cash Prizes were given for all first place boats in each category and many great gifts were donated by businesses in the BVI and USVI.

Of course, as is chance to happen at Foxy’s, a party did break out. Entertainment was provided by The Anna Cheek Band, 12 string virtuoso Reuben Chinnery, Cruise Control, reggae artist Ras Rio, The Shango Band, and of course the man himself, Foxy Callwood. Mount Gay Rum and Heineken at $2.00 each fueled the revelry.

Special thanks from Foxy and the gang going out to our sponsors Mount Gay Rum, Heineken Beer and Road Town Wholesale. To Carol King for all her help with the St Thomas prizes. To Dennis McDonald for his help with the BVI prizes. To Voyage Charters and Horizon Charters for their generous donation of accommodation boats. To Louis Juarbe for promoting the regatta in Puerto Rico. To all the local businesses who donated prizes. To the Loyal West End Yacht Club, and of course to all the participants who made this years regatta a complete success.