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Sailing
Storm Leads 37th BVI Spring Regatta
By Dean Greenaway
Apr 5, 2008, 07:37

Bareboat B division starts on the Crusing Course in their first race of the 37th BVI Spring Regatta. Photo>Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

TORTOLA—Bob Swann’s Yanni—who won the BVI Sailing Festival and Bill Alcott’s Equation that snatched Thursday’s Nanny Cay Cup—were the favorites to win the 37^th BVI Spring Regatta.

After the first two races in windy conditions, with white caps and big waves on a sunny opening Friday of the three day event, Peter Peake’s Storm, sits aboard the leader board with Richard Matthew’s Oystercather XXVI, in second. Equation and Yanni had two did not starts and two did not finishes respectively.

“I’m not sure what the issue was with Equation. I think that because of how hard it was blowing and we didn’t have any other boats their size, had they sailed they might have damaged something and that was something that may have been in the back of their minds,” BVI Spring Regatta Chairman Bob Phillips offered. “They are racing in Antigua Race Week in three weeks and they may have been doing a bit of protection. I hope we get them out for the races on Saturday because we will be stretching the legs. It will be out in the conditions they want and have always asked for.

Overall, Phillips said it was fabulous opening day sailing and it separated the men from the boys. “It was blowing hard and the water was blue,” he noted. “You knew when you survived that you were good.”

BVI Tourist Board's Team BVI-Puerto Rico, on their upwind leg. They were in third place after day 1. Photo>Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

The conditions were challenging to every level of sailor on all three courses. On the racing course, two boats masts were broken, a steering system went out and there was also a medical emergency. Phillips said given the number of boats and the conditions, those things are fairly common. There were less incidences on the Bareboat course said Phillips who was on the racing course. He said from what he heard on the Bareboat course, it opened the eyes of several people to what racing is all about. He said he hope to see them in the racing class later in life. “Today was a classic day of who worked hard came out ahead,” he said. “Everybody rose to the occasion, it was great racing today and the race officers did a wonderful job."

Racing continues at 10 a.m. today, followed by a 5:30 p.m. HIHO fashion show and entertainment by Extreme Band, beginning at 8 p.m. The regatta wraps up tomorrow with races at 10 a.m. The awards ceremony is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

BVI Spring Regatta Day 1 Results:

Spinnaker A (4 Boats): 1. Storm, Peter Peake, 2 points. 2. Oystercather XXVI, Richard Matthews, 4. =3. Equation, Bill Alcott, 10. Bob Swann, Yanni, 10.

Spinnaker B (6 Boats): 1. bMobile Enzyme, Paul Solomon, 7. 2. Caccia Alla Volpe,

Carlo Francone, 10. 3. Minnie The Moocher, Tim Ionides, 5.

Spinnaker C (6 Boats): 1. Global Yacht Racing EHO1, 2.Mad IV, 7. 3. Three Harkoms, Chris Lloyd, 21.

The IC-24s compete just off Nanny Cay. Photo>Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

Spinnaker D (5 Boats): 1.Silver, Morgan Dale, 7. 2. Devil, Chris Stanton, 17. 3. Bad Girl, Robert Armstrong, 17.

Spinnaker E (8 Boats): 1. J Walker, Chris Thompson, 3. 2. Kosa Loka, Kike Gonzales, 6. 3. Magnificent 6, Paul Davis, 10.  

 Spinnaker F Racer/Cruiser (9 Boats): 1. El Ocaso, Rick Wesslund, 4. 2. Lazy Dog, Sergio Sagarasmo, 11. 3. Kick ‘em Jenny, Ian Ross, 14.

Performance Cruising A (8 Boats): 1. Bad Wine, P. Snol, 1. 2. Northern Child, Julian Sincock, 2. 3. Coyote, Franco Manni, 3.

Performance Cruising B (8 Boats): 1. Augustine, Tony Syer, 1. 2. Xpresso, Marc Noordhoek, 2. 3. Gryphon, Jeff Williams, 3.

Jib and Main (14 Boats): 1. David Heuter, 1. 2. Hotel California, Steve Schmidt, 2. 3. Clover III, Neal Finnegan, 3.

Bareboat A (22 Boats): 1. Boatshedbvi.com, Mark Crompton, 1. 2. Joyce Smith, Anthony Mack, 2. 3. Team BVI-Puerto Rico, Lynette Harrigan.

Bareboat B (20 Boats): 1. Chess, Jan Soderberg, 1. 2. Acadia Southern Comfort,

Burt Keenan, 2. 3. Rudy, Mark Thompson, 3.

Multihull (1 Boat): Blew Bayou, Charles McCormick, 2.

IC-24: (12 Boats): 1. Orion, Fraito Lugo, 14. 2. Mio Braodband, Robbie Hirst, 17. 3. bMobile, Colin Rathbun, 19.

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