Antigua. Superyacht Cup
10th December. Race 1
Many yachts sailing to Antigua this year experienced heavy weather en route, and this delayed the arrival of some yachts that were planning to compete in the Superyacht Cup. We had just five yachts line up for the first race, but the racing was very intense.
The races are handicap pursuit races. The yachts start in reverse order of their expected speed, and if the handicap folk have done their job well, then all the boats will finish at the same time.
The Bruce King ketch Signe was the first boat away, starting some half an hour before Timoneer, who was the fourth to cross the start line. We had about 20 knots of wind on the beam to the first buoy, some six miles south of English Harbour. We were just able to carry the mizzen-staysail and arrived at the buoy at the same time as a rain squall, which brought a bit more wind.
We gybed around the mark and sailed another reach down to Curtain Bluff, passing Wild Horses about two thirds of the way down the leg. Another big squall with heavy rain arrived as we got close to the mark, making it a little difficult to spot the buoy.
We found the buoy, and rounded close behind Tenacious, and soon passed her on the beat up to the finish. Signe was a long way ahead, and although we were catching her quickly on the beat, she crossed the finish line off the entrance of English Harbour a couple of minutes ahead of us.
Wild horses gained a little on the beat, but finished in third place, just ahead of Tenacious. Kalikobas tore her genoa and finished fifth.
For further news, photos and information on the regatta see www.thesuperyachtcup.com
