HARD
FIRST LEG FOR CAPE AIR CORT
Tortola,
British Virgin Islands, February 18, 2003 - St
Croix International Regatta (February 15-17) kicked
off the first leg of Cape Air CORT (Caribbean
Ocean Racing Triangle). Slate gray seas and sky
and whiteout squalls with winds topping 35-40
knots were the key ingredients for the first two
days of the regatta. Boats broached, crew went
swimming, spinnakers blew, headsails came down,
outhauls gave way, keels failed and crew were
injured in conditions where visibility dropped
to 300 feet as squalls came through. Conditions
eased for the last day but the wind was still
blowing 20-25 knots.
However,
despite the weather, the race committee managed
to get off 10 races for each class and spirits
were high among the competitors in the yacht club
bar after racing. As the first regatta of the
northern Caribbean this was a less than gentle
warm-up. A combination of punishing deliveries,
rusty crews and tough conditions took its toll.
The
ever-competitive racing class looks set to be
a repeat of the 2002 battle for podium honors
and so far it's the same as last year's winners.
Jamie Dobbs from Antigua is leading with 17 points
on his Olson 30 Lost Horizon II, John Foster's
Magnificent 7 from St Thomas is second with 22
points and the BVI's Kevin Rowlette and his Willy
T crew are third with 26 points. The crew onboard
Antrim 27 Rhumb Squall found themselves a little
overpowered throughout the regatta; on the second
day they were laid flat by a broach and the entire
crew was catapulted into the water. Angel Ayala's
Sun Bum II, a J/80, suffered a hellish delivery
from Puerto Rico followed by rig problems and
ended up only effectively racing for one day but
will be back in fighting form for the Puerto Rico
International Regatta.
In
the racer/cruiser class two BVI boats will be
slugging it out for the number one slot. Tartan
10 Cold Beer is currently leading its arch - but
friendly - rival Pipe Dream by 11 points. Pipe
Dream won CORT last year with a 14-point lead
and will be looking for the same margin or more
this year. John Haracivet's Tempest is in third
place leading the BVI's Dehlerious by one point.
The
usually competitive Melges 24 class faltered when
Don Q Limon, while being towed from Puerto Rico,
lost its keel. Another Melges 24 Mistress Quickly
retired on the start line on the first day as
its keel started to wobble as a collar around
this retracting keel slipped loose. The boat continued
to have problems on the second day and didn't
start on the third. St Maarten's 2 Contact Carib
was the only Melges 24 to race at St Croix and
they also experienced rig problems forcing them
to miss two races.
However
with up to 25 races expected in the three-regatta
series and with no throwouts there is still a
long way to go before the awards ceremony at the
BVI Spring Regatta. Cape Air CORT participants
are scored separately within their CORT classes.
In
a month's time, Cape Air CORT moves northwest
to Puerto Rico for the Puerto Rico International
Regatta, March 14 - 16 and then west to Tortola
for the final leg, the BVI Spring Regatta, April
4 - 6.
Prizes
for Cape Air CORT 2003 include roundtrip tickets
on Cape Air's Caribbean route and Maui Jim sunglasses
for the winning boat in each class. Veuve Clicquot
champagne will toast the winners and runner-ups.
There will also be a grand prize of an all-inclusive
4-day/3-night stay at Bitter End Yacht Club, Virgin
Gorda's world-renowned water sports resort. Each
Cape Air CORT entry at the BVI Spring Regatta
will be entered into a draw for the vacation package
valued at $1800.
Cape
Air flies with scheduled and charter flights between
San Juan and Ponce, Puerto Rico to St Thomas and
St Croix in the United States Virgin Islands,
and to Tortola in the British Virgin Islands.
For
further information on Cape Air CORT results and
visit: http://www.caribbeanracing.com/CORT/
For
photos from the St Croix International Regatta
visit:
http://www.caribbeanracing.com
