Beat to the Bitter End

A report from the opening day of the BVI Spring Regatta

The frantic call came in from a staff member at Bitter End Yacht Club around 1pm - “Was it true; the race is cancelled?” “What???” exclaimed Bob Phillips, Event Chairman. And then after a second “What???” the light bulb went on - it’s April 1st.

Bill Alcott, owner of the Andrews 68 Equation dangled the bait, and Bitter End staffers took the hook. Although the Equation team decided it would be a wise decision to save the wear and tear on the gear and the crew, motoring from Nanny Cay to Bitter End, about half the registered fleet took to Drake Channel to beat the 21 miles to weather. With winds of 20-25 knots and seas of 4-6ft, it was a bumpy ride; those not racing didn't want to miss the party and either motored up or took the ferry,

In the Racing class, only one third of the registered boats completed the course. Seven boats were scored and Mad V took top honours finishing the (mostly) upwind slog in three hours and 22 minutes. They corrected out nearly two full minutes ahead of second place Yani. A local boat owned by Christopher Lloyd, Three Harkoms, placed third.

Eight of the 14 boats in the Cruising division were scored in today’s Bitter End Cup. Swans dominated this class taking the first three places. Northern Child, a Swan 51, hailing from the UK, finished first and nearly six minutes corrected ahead of Avocation, a Swan 48. Clover III, a Swan 56, placed third.

The bare boaters get the prize for having the largest percentage of their fleet finishing today’s race. 11 of 19 boats crossed the finished line. Justice, a BVI Yacht Charters entry, sailed by local legend Presley King, narrowly beat Team Germany. Nipping at Team Germany’s heals, only 32 corrected seconds behind, was ProValor Yacht Charter’s entry, Chess.

A special prize should be given to Blew Bayou, a Manta 42. Winning the catamaran division as the only entry, Manta spent more elapsed time on the course than any other boat.

Wind does not seem to be a deterrent to those who want to sail for their nations honour in tomorrow's Nation’s Challenge Cup. Initial interest is high and a number of teams are expected to race Bitter End’s dinghies.

Thursday should be a downhill sleigh ride back to Nanny Cay as the fleet will be competing for the Nanny Cay Cup. As the fleet finishes racing, the Nanny Cay Regatta Village will be officially opening and the scene of the Mount Gay party late Thursday afternoon and an evening of entertainment by Carl Williams. All of this will lead up to the main event, the three-day BVI Spring Regatta which begins on Friday, April 4.