Saturday at the Loro Piana Caribbean Superyacht Regatta & Rendezvous dawned with the breeze down from the prior days of racing, and for the 13 superyachts taking part, all the prizes were in play. Not only were the J Class Hanuman and 30.5m Wally Indio tied at the top of the leaderboard, but the final fleet standings would be decided in this make-or-break last hurrah. The shorter course piled on the pressure.

With approximately 10 knots of easterly breeze, race officer Peter Craig opted for a laid mark course, making for a technical and tactical challenge. From the start in Virgin Sound, the fleet would be sent east to a windward mark, then out on a reach to a gybe mark before heading west to the Dog Islands, and back up to a finish line set in Sir Francis Drake Channel roughly between Seal Dog and Nail Bay.

Tacticians were divided on whether to head left or in toward Necker Island on the first tack. The first two yachts over the line – 29.3m Altair and the 34.25m Billy Budd – both crossed the line on the starboard board and headed left, as did the J Class Hanuman, but the third yacht to start – the 38.9m Ganesha – stormed the pin end on port tack and sailed right up the beat. The rest of the fleet also split tactics, with Bliss, Salperton, P2 and Indio opting to go right, while Lady B, Zefira, Sojana, Firefly and Marie all went left.

Hanuman rounded the windward mark before Indio – last in the start sequence – even crossed the start line, but while the big J appeared to be stretching out her lead for much of the race, some key calls and great crew work aboard Indio meant the trophy fight would go down to the wire. Meanwhile, the yachts that went right up the beat booked big gains. ‘Going right at the start really paid off,’ said Andrea Recordati, owner of Indio, which had managed to haul in P2 to a delta of just 30 seconds at the mark. Further up the fleet, Billy Budd, Ganesha, Bliss and Lady B rounded the mark in quick succession, with Salperton rounding next after crossing the similarly rated Zefira on the beat. Firefly picked a perfect lay and managed to overhaul Sojana.

The reach to the second mark north in the Anegada Passage saw a similar split, with the majority of yachts opting to run out on a starboard gybe. Ganesha and Firefly, however, quickly gybed onto port. ‘The first run went very well,’ said Firefly’s navigator Koen de Smedt. ‘We went left, and we gained a lot.’ Ganesha and Firefly both picked a perfect lay into the mark, approaching almost side by side and gybing on the mark to run down to the Dogs third and fourth behind Bliss and the rapidly disappearing Hanuman. Salperton was next to the mark, closely followed by Sojana and Indio which had soaked down well in the shifty conditions.

Once on the second leg of the run, positioning and clear air were key, particularly with several mini battles unfurling. Indio climbed over the top of Salperton in a quest for clear air, which then also headed up for a better lane. ‘The gybe mark was a key moment for Indio,’ said Recordati. ‘We played hard to get to windward and sailed very hot for quite a while, which was a challenge with the A2. But it paid off and we made really good speed at the end of the leg.’

P2, who approached the gybe mark on starboard just as Marie was coming down on port, suffered a problem and rounded the mark bare-headed. ‘There were little micro-bursts of wind all over the course,’ said P2’s captain Jonathan Kline, ‘so if you were in a cell, you tried to stay in it. Coming to the mark in light air, we sailed right through the kite due to the momentum of the yacht and got it on the wrong side, which we couldn’t correct until we gybed, so we rounded under mainsail alone.’

The wind continued to drop as the fleet rounded the Dog Islands, not only creating a further tactical challenge for the afterguards, but also stalling Hanuman. ‘The breeze filled in from behind, which let the fleet catch up,’ said Hanuman’s tactician Kevin Burnham. ‘We got a wild shift of around 70 degrees, and the wind to the right died completely but Indio was able to ghost through. However, I don’t think we could have made up the four minutes that Indio beat us by on corrected.’ For Andrea Recordati, it was the last beat that proved decisive. ‘We had perfect shifts,’ he said, ‘and that last leg was where we won the race.’ Not only the race, in fact, but the Boat International Media trophy for the overall regatta win.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FINAL RESULTS

Fifth over the finish line – behind Firefly and Sojana – was Bliss, competing in her very first regatta. ‘Key today was being able to shoot the top mark, and also being able to stop Firefly coming over us at the gybe mark,’ said her captain, Ross Haerle. ‘At the Dogs we couldn’t have done the drop any better, and going out to the left for one tack into the finish wasgood. The wind was shifting around all over the place and was very light in spots. The owner has had a lot of fun this week and seems to be thoroughly enjoying it.’

With Indio pipping Hanuman in this last race and the top two overall places set, the fight for the final piece of silver was between old rivals P2 and the ketch Sojana. For the first time this week, Sojana beat P2 on corrected, but it was not enough to steal third place overall from the Perini Navi. ‘We expected them to beat us today as we don’t like light airs on this boat, but it turned out well,’ said Sojana’s captain, Marc Fitzgerald. ‘It’s a fantastic event – a beautiful place with a beautiful clubhouse, and the YCCS is relaxed, professional, friendly and competent. The Italian feel is unique in the Caribbean and I think this regatta will become a fixture on the superyacht calendar.’

This sentiment was echoed by all who took part. ‘It was a wonderful event,’ said Kevin Burnham on Hanuman. ‘We can’t wait to come back next year.’

‘The organisation of the racing, the dock and the social events was superb, and it was a really friendly regatta,’ enthused Bliss’s captain Ross Haerle, while winning owner Andrea Recordati laid down the challenge for the 2013 edition. ‘It was a lot of fun,’ he smiled, ‘and even if we hadn’t won, it was a fantastic regatta. I’m very happy, and very happy for all the crew, and we will definitely be back next year to defend our title.’

For media enquiries and further information about the Loro Piana Caribbean Superyacht Regatta & Rendezvous, please contact:

Holly Lunn | Events & Marketing Executive
Boat International Media
Tel: +44 (0) 208 545 9336 | Cell: +44 (0) 7432 082 933
Email: holly.lunn@boatinternationalmedia.com

It was a thrilling day on the water today for the 13 superyachts competing in the Loro Piana Caribbean Superyacht Regatta & Rendezvous in the turquoise waters of the British Virgin Islands. With a steady 15 knots of breeze blowing in from the east, principal race officer Peter Craig selected a counter-clockwise course from the start line off Necker Island, sending the fleet round the Dogs followed by Round Rock and a long leg along the southern side of Virgin Gorda before a final downwind sprint from Pajaros Point back to the finish.

Crews prepared to set kites as they crossed the start line on the first leg to the Dogs. ‘The downwind start was excellent,’ said Peter Harrison, owner of the Farr-designed ketch Sojana. Jim Clark’s J-Class Hanuman made short work of taking the lead, having started a few minutes after the smallest yacht in the fleet, the 29.3m Altair, and from that point never looked back, extending her lead all the way round the course to secure line honours. But for the rest of the fleet, the early kite run and the subsequent white sail reach to Round Rock saw considerable compression of the fleet.

‘We had a great day, one of the best tactically and crew-wise,’ said Virgin Islander Peter Holmberg who is helming the Perini Navi P2. ‘We correctly identified the key moment, which was coming into Round Rock. Traffic management was critical, and we opted to go low to get a clear lane. It was a key move.’ It proved to be decisive, with P2 – along with Sojana and the F-Class Firefly – managing to get the inside track for the long tack along the southern side of Virgin Gorda.

The bunching of the fleet at Round Rock gave a real spectacle on the water and some close boat-on-boat action, but also dictated how the yachts approached the windward leg. ‘We were going to get gassed by Zefira, Ganesha and Sojana,’ explained Wes Cooper, captain of the 55m ketch Marie, ‘and we can’t sail as high, so we ended up well out to windward to get clear air.’ As the fleet rounded and hardened up, it was anybody’s race – for second – with the 39m Ganesha, 36.6m Bliss, 45m Salperton 49.7m Zefira and Sojana all fighting for their lanes. Slightly further back, Marie, P2, Firefly and Lady B were having another battle, while the 30.5m Wally Indio – winner of Race One on corrected time and the last yacht to start – began to press from the back.

By the time the yachts rounded Pajaro Point at the easternmost tip of Virgin Gorda, Salperton had powered through to second place on the water, with Sojana and P2 rounding in short order and setting their kites for the downwind sprint to the finish. Firefly rounded fifth, while Indio showed the great strides she had made sticking close to shore by rounding almost neck and neck with Bliss. ‘Starting last, we have to be patient and wait for our opportunity,’ said Philippe Mourniac, tactician on Indio. That opportunity proved to be in the few minutes leading up to Pajaro. ‘Just before the hoist we were close to five yachts,’ he continued, ‘and we were in the shadow of Bliss and Firefly. Our big call was whether to tack out for a clear lane or try to survive in dirty air. We tried to keep on, but in the end had to tack twice.’

As the fleet headed towards the finish, a slight drop in wind to around 11 knots saw further compression, and a nailbiting finish on the water. Hanuman was long gone, but the fight for second to fifth was intense, with Sojana, P2, Firefly and Indio all crossing the line within a couple of minutes of each other.

With all 13 yachts finished, it was Hanuman that took the win on corrected time, with Indio in second and P2 in third. With Hanuman and Indio level on points after two races, and P2 and Sojana not far behind, Race Three should prove a testing conclusion to the event.

Aside from the close racing, owners and crews alike were buzzing after today’s race. ‘The weather was nice, the wind was great, and the view was not so bad!’ quipped Indio’s Philippe Mourniac, while Marie’s captain Wes Cooper – whose onboard pianist had been playing Lohengrin as the yacht crossed the start line – was equally enthused. ‘It was a fantastic day, an awesome day,’ he said.

For Bob Eichler, owner of Altair, bringing up the rear didn’t matter. ‘The event and the racing is fantastic,’ he said once tied up on the YCCS dock. ‘The people are fantastic and the YCCS is amazing. We’ve had two wonderful starts – we’re loving it and we couldn’t be happier.’

Meanwhile naval architect Ed Dubois, who has five yachts of his design competing, spent the day racing on Salperton and summed up the event perfectly: ‘Perfect day, perfect venue, perfect company!’

This evening, owners and their guests look forward to the Gold Party at luxury resort community and beach club Oil Nut Bay, nestled on a private peninsula on the eastern tip of Virgin Gorda.

Day Three of the racing will start at 11:00 AST tomorrow, March 17.

For media enquiries and further information about the Loro Piana Caribbean Superyacht Regatta & Rendezvous, please contact:

Holly Lunn | Events & Marketing Executive
Boat International Media
Tel: +44 (0) 208 545 9336 | Cell: +44 (0) 7432 082 933
Email: holly.lunn@boatinternationalmedia.com

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The fleet of 13 racing superyachts attending the Loro Piana Caribbean Superyacht Regatta & Rendezvous were greeted with perfect conditions today as the racing got under way in earnest. Race officer Peter Craig selected course 10, sending the fleet counter-clockwise around Necker Island, Virgin Gorda and Ginger Island for a total of 29 miles under blue skies and with a breeze that hovered between 13 and 17 knots.

The yachts started in reverse order at two minute intervals, with the 29.3m Altair leading the fleet across the line on her start at 1105. It would be a further 24 minutes before the last yacht, Indio, crossed the line on her start. As the yachts headed past Necker on starboard tack, the fleet had already started to compress, with Jim Clark’s J Class Hanuman taking the early advantage by cutting close to Necker and taking the lead on the water as the yachts tacked onto port for the windward turning mark.

By the time the yachts had turned downwind at Pajaros Point – the most easterly point of Virgin Gorda – the fleet had compressed creating an exciting spectacle for those watching and some thrilling on-water battles for position. Hanuman stretched her legs as the kites popped on a run with a true wind angle of 145 degrees, while the 49.7m Zefira, 45m Salperton, 36.6m Bliss, 39m Ganesha, and the 44.5m Lady B – who was racing without spinnaker – stood line abreast. Meanwhile, the later starters – including the 54.6m ketch Marie, 35.1m ketch Sojana, 35.2m F-Class Firefly, 38.1m P2 and 30.1m Indio gradually hauled in the fleet as the yachts passed Fallen Jerusalem, Broken Jerusalem, and Round Rock.

Click here to see Superyacht Media’s video highlights of Race Day 1

By the time the fleet headed passed Ginger Island to drop the kites for the last windward leg to the finish up by Necker, it was obvious that sail handling would be critical. Hanuman led the yachts through, shooting for line honours, with Salperton – helmed by double Olympic medallist Shirley Robertson – and Indio in hot pursuit. A slow drop on Zefira put her out of touch with the lead group and threw her into the path of the rapidly advancing P2, Sojana, Firefly and Marie.

The last beat proved a test for the tacticians with gusty winds through Spanish Town and several slight shifts. Salperton stood off to the left in the hope of more breeze which didn’t materialise, and at around 1400 it was Hanuman that took line honours, closely followed by Indio three minutes later. Salperton, P2 and Sojana crossed the line shortly after separated by just 54 seconds after nearly three hours of racing.

When the results on corrected time were announced, it was obvious that Indio’s charge from the back had paid off, taking first place on Race One. Last year’s overall winner, the J Hanuman, was second with the Philippe Briand-designed Perini Navi P2 coming in third.

CLICK HERE TO SEE TODAY’S RESULTS

No matter where the yachts finished, though, it was evident that all had enjoyed the outstanding conditions out on the water. ‘I think it went pretty well today,’ said Mark van Gelderen, captain of the F-Class Firefly. ‘It was nice with all the boats together downwind, and in such great surroundings. The owner really enjoyed it, and this was a beautiful wind for a sail.’

‘I go to the YCCS in Porto Cervo which sets a very high standard, and I judge it will be the same here. The event is attracting a lot of big boats and I think this will become one of the fixtures of the West Indian regatta season,’ enthused Peter Harrison, owner of Sojana.

‘We’ve got a couple of new boats in the fleet this year so the competition will be a little stiffer but we’re looking forward to the challenge,’ said Kevin Burnham, tactician on Hanuman. ‘There’s a big buffer zone between start times so tactically it will be very interesting.’

As the sailing yachts enjoyed a spectacular first race day, motor yacht owners cruised in company to Peter Island for a lunch sponsored by BVI Tourism, held at a private villa with panoramic views of the Virgin Islands. Tonight sees the owners enjoy a Louis XIII cognac tasting on board host yacht Icon and the hospitality of Loro Piana at the Loro Piana Owner’s Dinner, while the crews will enjoy a party over in Leverick Bay sponsored by Mount Gay, Parts & Power and Northern Lights.

Day Two of the racing will start at 11:00 AST tomorrow, March 16.

For media enquiries and further information about the Loro Piana Caribbean Superyacht Regatta & Rendezvous, please contact:

Holly Lunn | Events & Marketing Executive
Boat International Media
Tel: +44 (0) 208 545 9336 | Cell: +44 (0) 7432 082 933
Email: holly.lunn@boatinternationalmedia.com

Follow us on Twitter @bim_events
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The second edition of this event organised by Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and Boat International Media has attracted some of the most powerful and iconic sailing yachts on the water for three days of racing, expertly organised by the YCCS Race Committee under the leadership of Principal Race Officer Peter Craig.

Jim Clark is back to defend his title with the 138’ J-Class Hanuman built by Royal Huisman, competing against Vitters’ 145’ sloop Lady B and the 115’ fast ketch Sojana which return as challengers in 2012.

Racing alongside Lady B will be four other Dubois designed yachts: the 147’ fast cruiser Salperton, 128’ Ganesha and 163’ Zefira – all built by Fitzroy Yachts – and the 120’ Bliss from Yachting Developments.

Bob Eichler, owner of the 96’ Altair – participating in his first superyacht regatta – is thrilled to be in the BVI for this exclusive event: “It’s absolutely amazing. The YCCS is fabulous and beyond my expectations,” he said. The owners of the Zefira, meanwhile, wished fair winds for all and declared: “May the best man win!”

New entries completing the fleet are the 101’ Wally Indio, the Philippe Briand designed 125’ sloop P2, Huisman’s 114’ Billy Budd, the 179’ Marie built by Vitters and Classen Shipyard’s 115’ new F-class Firefly.

Click here to see photographs from today at YCCS Virgin Gorda

As the sailing yachts prepare for three days of racing around the stunning archipelago, an impressive display of motor yachts will be turning out to follow the fleet and enjoy the spectacle of the regatta, as well as enjoying their own social programme alongside the sailing during the day.

The event begins this evening with motor and sailing yacht owners coming together at the YCCS clubhouse for welcome cocktails and a BBQ on the lawn, with crew participating in the Mount Gay Cocktail Competition on the dock. Racing is scheduled to begin at 1100 AST tomorrow, with the current forecast suggesting a perfect day for racing with winds averaging 15 knots.

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Keep informed by following @bim_events which will be streaming all the event news direct from YCCS Marina, including live updates from the race committee and race commentary from America’s Cup sailor and Olympic silver medallist, Annie Gardner.

Like us on Facebook!
The new Boat International Media Events Facebook page can be found at facebook.com/bimevents. Like us on Facebook to keep up with the action on the water and view images and video highlights of the day’s racing by Superyacht Media.

For media enquiries and further information about the Loro Piana Caribbean Superyacht Regatta & Rendezvous, please contact:

Holly Lunn | Events & Marketing Executive
Boat International Media
Tel: +44 (0) 208 545 9336 | Cell: +44 (0) 7432 082 933
Email: holly.lunn@boatinternationalmedia.com

We have launched a dedicated Twitter account and Facebook page to make it easier for you to receive the latest news from the BVI.

Follow us on Twitter!
Keep informed by following @bim_events which will be streaming all the event news direct from YCCS Marina, including live updates from the race committee and race commentary from America’s Cup sailor and Olympic silver medallist, Annie Gardner.

Boat International Media’s team of senior editors will be reporting from on board the sailing superyachts, bringing up to the minute racing developments to our followers. Live-tweeting from the BVI will be ShowBoats International’s Marilyn Mower and Kate Lardy, Tim Thomas of Boat International and Lauren Beck, Editor of Dockwalk.

Share your pics with our followers!
The world’s leading superyacht photographers Superyacht Media and Carlo Borlenghi will be sharing their spectacular images of the racing and regatta participants are encouraged to post their snaps on Twitter using the event hashtag #superyachtregatta. Our favourite images will also be posted on the event website.

Like us on Facebook!
The new Boat International Media Events Facebook page can be found at facebook.com/bimevents. Like us on Facebook to keep up with the action on the water and view images and video highlights of the day’s racing by Superyacht Media.

For media enquiries and further information about the Loro Piana Caribbean Superyacht Regatta & Rendezvous, please contact:

Holly Lunn | Events & Marketing Executive
Boat International Media
Tel: +44 (0) 208 545 9336 | Cell: +44 (0) 7432 082 933
Email: holly.lunn@boatinternationalmedia.com

The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda’s new Caribbean Clubhouse in the British Virgin Islands officially opened earlier this month and the Marina in Virgin Gorda’s North Sound is now fully ready to welcome the fleet of superyachts that will attend the second edition of the Caribbean Superyacht Regatta and Rendezvous in March.

A spectacular fleet of yachts will be taking part including sailing yachts Bliss, Firefly, Ganesha, Hanuman, Indio, Lady B, Marie, P2, Salperton, Sojana, Zefira and Zefiro as well as motor yachts Bartender (ex Nomade), Chanticleer, Migration, Resolute, Satori, Stellar and Victory.

Any yachts intending to participate who have not yet registered should do so online before January 30 to secure their place in the fleet. The event is open to sailing and motor yachts with a LOA over 80 feet and the Notice of Race is now available to download online.

Sailing yachts will race around the stunning archipelago, with motor yachts following the fleet so that guests may enjoy the spectacle and take in the beautiful surroundings. Motor and sailing yacht owners will come together each evening with their families and guests for fun activities, parties and dinners hosted at the wonderful new YCCS Clubhouse and at Oil Nut Bay luxury resort.

Special offer from SkyNet Aviation Group
All guests of the Caribbean Superyacht Regatta and Rendezvous are entitled to special prices for private aircraft charters to/from the Virgin Islands with our sponsors SkyNet Aviation Group. For professional assistance with your flight arrangements please email Christian David

For further information on the Caribbean Superyacht Regatta & Rendezvous 2012, visit the event website or contact:

Alexis Davis | Events Executive
Boat International Media
Tel: +44 (0) 208 545 9334 | Cell: +44 (0) 7971 438 671
Email: alexis.davis@boatinternationalmedia.com
________________________________________

The racing will be divided into three classes: performance, cruising and catamaran, with the fleet competing to win the perpetual silver cup made by Garrard of London – the Boat International Media Trophy.

Sail and motor yachts with an LOA of over 80ft and catamarans of over 60ft LOA are invited to participate in the event, hosted exclusively for the enjoyment of superyacht owners and their personal guests.

Organized by Boat International Media and Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS), the Caribbean Superyacht Regatta & Rendezvous will once again bring together sail and motor yachts owners for four days of racing, fun activities and glittering social events in the idyllic surroundings of Virgin Gorda and her neighbouring islands.

‘What a fantastic time at the Caribbean Superyacht Regatta and Rendezvous – gorgeous location, amazing weather, beautiful yachts, great racing and fun catching up with friends – can’t ask for much more than that.’ – Kevin and Teresa Jaffe, owners of Marama

REGISTER NOW FOR 2012

Developed by Victor International, the new YCCS on the northeastern tip of Virgin Gorda boasts a state-of-the-art marina with total dockage of 762 meters (2,500 ft) accommodating yachts up to 100 meters (328 ft) in length, as well as a variety of convenient services designed specifically to serve the yachting community. The club and marina will be linked to the Oil Nut Bay Resort Community and Beach Club as well as Biras Creek Resort, a Relais and Châteaux property.

Transatlantic Superyacht Regatta confirmed for November 2011
YCCS and Boat International Media continue to expand our portfolio of sailing events for superyacht owners in the new Virgin Gorda location, partnering for the inaugural Transatlantic Superyacht Regatta. A diverse fleet of sailing yachts over 80ft in length will set off from the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Canary Islands on November 21, 2011 and navigate approximately 2,600 nautical miles of the North Atlantic Ocean to the finish line off Virgin Gorda. A warm welcome will be waiting for all participants with the official opening of the new YCCS Virgin Gorda Clubhouse which offers spectacular views over North Sound.

Entries for the Transatlantic Superyacht Regatta must be received by September 30, 2011. Please see www.yccs.it for further information and to download the Notice of Race.

For further information, please contact:

Alexis Naylor | Events Executive
Tel: +44 (0) 208 545 9334
alexis.naylor@boatinternationalmedia.com

On another beautiful day on Virgin Gorda, the owners of the sail and motor boats participating in the event and their personal guests gathered at this stunning location to say their goodbyes, at the conclusion of four days of fun and friendship on and off the water.

Nicole Wertheim, yacht owner, commented that the event’s structure suited her perfectly. ‘My husband wanted to go out and race with the boys while I wanted to spend time with my lady friends. That’s the beauty of this event, people can do exactly what they want.’

‘I’ve loved the experience. The BVI is a great place to have this kind of event. I think I will bring Invader, my Jack Hargrave yacht next year’, commented World Superyacht Awards Judge Kevin Jaffé.

The Caribbean Superyacht Regatta and Rendezvous has brought superyacht owners together in a way that has never before been achieved in the Caribbean. The natural beauty of the BVI, ideal sailing conditions and development of the new YCCS Marina and yacht club make Virgin Gorda the perfect location for this inaugural superyacht event which looks set to become an annual fixture on the yachting calendar.

A final comment from the owners of Twizzle: ‘It’s just been fabulous…all the boats around us, the islands, the courses…. we could not have asked for anymore.’

For further information please contact:

Alexis Naylor
Events Executive
Boat International Media
T: +44 (0) 7971 438671
E: alexis.naylor@boatinternationalmedia.com

A fantastic camaraderie has developed between the yachts, egged on today by the presence of a stunning fleet of motor yachts which came to watch the start. This created a real carnival atmosphere on the water, but the yachts had a serious mission – ­to win. The predators circled each other closer today than on previous starts, eyes were glued to competitors and the estimates to the start line were precision timed.

Course 1 consisted of a 1.5 mile beat to windward, a long spinnaker run which would take the fleet around the Dog Islands, opposite to the Day 1 course, and a beat to the finish.

It was truly an amazing sight to see the motor yachts join in the fun, giving the sailing yachts an audience to show off in front of and, perhaps, a jolt to work that little bit harder! A sense of occasion rippled through the fleet on another glorious day with light winds to start at 8-10 knots.

Zefira, Twizzle and Lady B seemingly set off in a trio heading to the first mark, with the excitement building as Lady B does a stunning round of the mark taking Zefira.

Behind Zefira is Twizzle, with the big boys Hanuman and Sojana screaming up to the first mark. As Twizzle hoists her missen staysail, Zefiro nips inside with Hanuman seemingly attached to her stern. Unable to clear Zefiro, Hanuman surprisingly becomes the meat in the sandwich with Twizzle upwind and Zefiro downwind as they go round the mark. Zefiro holds the might of Hanuman at bay until they have enough room to duck her stern as Zefiro leaves a gap when putting up her spinnaker for the downwind leg.

Hanuman takes full advantage and its not long before she hoists with professional ease and takes flight. With Hanuman gone, Twizzle is determined to roll over Zefiro on the spinnaker hoist and all the hard work comes good.

As the fleet splits, some gybe to look for wind closer to shore while others stay out. As the angle closes and we head for the Dog Islands the fleet closes up bringing Zefira, Hanuman, Sojana and Twizzle closer together, with Aiyana and Zefiro closing in from the port side. What a spectacular scene as the kites come down ready to do a racing gybe round West Dog island, which is less than a boat length away. The motor yachts Grand Finale, Blind Date, Go and Chanticleer were all treated to a close encounter as they enjoyed lunch at anchor. The owners of Blind Date were so taken with the racing they got into their tender to come and see the fleet at close quarters.

As the yachts race to the finish line, Twizzle marks the occasion by blasting the committee boat with a blast from her cannon.

Prize Giving
Owners and their crews were thanked by Tony Harris, CEO of Boat International Media, Commodore Riccardo Bonadeo of YCCS and David V. Johnson of Victor International for making the first event in the BVI such a fantastic occasion.

First prize for the Mount Gay Cocktail and Canapé Competition goes to Zefira’s Kerie Land. The Judges commented: ‘It felt like a real effort to make an original cocktail, in the spirit of the forties and fifties. They were brave enough to try something different and we could really see the effort behind it.’ A special prize for Best Canapé also went to Gran Finale chef, Ashley Cole.

The second prize for the Motor Yacht Spirit of the Regatta goes to the yacht Constellation, with first prize going to Chanticleer for participating in every aspect of the Regatta.

Overall winner of the Boat International Media Trophy for the Caribbean Superyacht Regatta goes to Jim Clark for Hanuman. Mr Clark was delighted to be presented with the perpetual cup commenting: ‘First of all, I want to keep this trophy and I will pay for a replacement…’

After a thrilling final race day, guests now look forward to a fantastic evening of entertainment at Oil Nut Bay for the much anticipated Full Moon Party. Guests are requested to wear white for this glamorous occasion with music and dancing on the beach into the early hours. With all of the hard work now out of the way, it really is time to kick back and party!