Everyone is up early for the race. I go and wave Monica and Nick off from the ferry dock as they are going to St Martin for a nine day holiday. I kiss them both goodbye and one of the ferry deck hands demands his kiss too. I feel it would be too churlish to decline so I oblige, much to the amusement of his fellow deck mates.
The race, organised by Mike and Saildoggie (Mark) is a pursuit race, with the perceived slowest boats starting first and the fastest boats starting last. On this basis, Jeannius starts four minutes after the first two boats. We should be leaving at the same time as Blue Moon, but manage to slip behind her slightly at the start line as the skipper claims he was distracted by organising the rest of the fleet!
We start to catch up on Blue Moon’s early lead, but don’t quite manage it. This happens time and time again and it becomes obvious that we will have a fight on our hands to beat them. However, we are both catching the two boats which started in front, Aristocat II and Chipeta, a 52-foot monohull. Blue Moon gets past them both easily but when we come up behind Chipeta, they put up more of a fight, forcing us to turn gradually more and more into the wind in order to overtake them. Just as we get along side them a squall hits us both and the crew of Chipeta lose control of the boat and it starts heading directly for us. (I would like to point out that this is not their fault – they have weather-helm - there is suddenly so much wind that they cannot steer.) Mike has to turn away sharply as they are now within about twenty feet of our port side and a collision looks likely. Fortunately this is avoided but it costs us so much time that Blue Moon pulls out a lead that we cannot recover. I miss all this excitement as I am inside the galley preparing the shrimp for tomorrow’s dinner.
Photo: Racing along, flying the flag!
We pass Aristocat II easily after that and gain on Blue Moon, but not enough, and they cross the line at Anegada first. However it is still a result for Privilege yachts – first and second places! The rest of the fleet finish behind, all coming in within the next four minutes.
Photo: The winners – Blue Moon under Captain Jim
Photo: Chipeta (3rd), Aristocat II (4th), One Love (5th) and Yes Dear (6th)
Photo: Mal and Mike getting the gennaker in
Photo: Linda sunning herself on the bow of Jeannius
Photo: Malcolm, celebrating with a Red Stripe
Photo: Check out the t-shirt logo!
Photo: Me striking a pose
Photo: Heather is much more restrained
We anchor in low tide – just six inches to spare underneath our keel. The crew are excited by the race, and very hungry, so they go off to organise a taxi to Cow Wreck Bay for lunch. Mike goes with them in the dinghy and comes back somewhat happy as he as drunk at least two dark and stormies. He smiles sweetly and takes himself off to bed to sleep it off.
In the evening we all go to Potters By The Sea for dinner and prizegiving. Knowing that the tables are right on the sand, I douse my lower half liberally with ‘Off’ and put trousers on. I still get bitten. The little buggers just aim higher up and get me five times on the arms and back, the first time I have been bitten for ages.
I have a lovely dinner – a very large lobster which is very tender, and even have a dance, although the music is variable. Malcolm accepts second prize on our behalf, a large waterproof diving bag which we have been thinking of buying for ages, so we are pleased with this. All the prizes are donated by Seatrek.
Photo: Heather and Joe
Photo: Jim and Tim from Blue Moon decide that Heather should be their first prize!
Malcolm takes Mike, myself, Joe and Heather back to the boat in the dinghy then goes back to the party. When he reaches the dock, he manages to fall in the sea which sends people rushing to stop him drowning until they realise that he is only in two feet of water.
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