St. Thomes International Rolex Cup Regatta - Day One

21st - 23rd April

"72ft Maxi Donnybrook takes line honours despite rusty start"

The Twenty-Seventh Annual International Rolex Cup Regatta, one of the Caribbean's most important yachting events, got underway today as the first day's racing commenced with light winds of 8 to 10 knots, Caribbean sunshine and clear blue skies. Contrary to the usual trade winds of 20-25 knots, the wind was blowing from the South East but was shifty and half way through the starting procedures the St Thomas Yacht Club Race Commitee had to reset the start line, which delayed subsequent starts by 20 minutes. Ten classes got away with a wide ranging fleet which spanned 19ft beach cats, Melges and J24's, to large 72ft Maxis.

The reset start did not stop an eventual biase to the line and many of the yachts spent most of the first windward leg on starboard tack. The rolling seas from yesterday's strong winds making helming and sail trimming very demanding in the fickle breeze.

The two 72ft sleds, Equation (owned by Bill Alcott with America's Cup sailor Peter Holmberg aboard) and Donnybrook (owned by James Muldoon, President of US Sailing) quickly caught up the smaller boats and pulled into the lead, the breeze just strong enough to make their longer waterline length pay dividends on elapsed time. The two powerful boats challenged each other continually over the 19 mile Olympic Triangle course.

Whilst Donnybrook led Equation and the fleet over the finish line, their 3 minute lead was not enough to beat their main opposition on CSA handicap.

Jim Muldoon, owner and skipper of Donnybrook, commented, "Racing is always good in St Thomas, but onboard today, the crew have not raced together for over 4 months, so were a little rusty. By the end of the race we felt more confident as a team to lead us into the remaining 2-3 races over the next 2 days of the regatta. Equation sailed a better race than us today and are very fast in light air. We hope for more wind over the next few days and with a practiced crew, we'll challenge Equation."

Meanwhile on Grins from Atlanta, a brightly coloured Corel 45 which finished close behind, owner/skipper Rick Orchard commented: "The racing was real close today with the fleet tight together for most of the course. We lost out a little on the last beat to 'Who's Yo Daddy', a Nelson Marek 45, so I think we will be lucky to do well. Even though the two Maxi sleds got away, in the light breeze I don't think they were far enough ahead to hurt us on handicap".

The Caribbean atmosphere amongst the fleet here in St Thomas is unique to this colourful Easter weekend event. Typically racing finishes mid-afternoon when the beach party starts outside the Yacht Club, with local reggae and steel bands entertaining the sailors from Porto Rico, the Caribbean Islands, the United States and European countries such as Italy and the UK. As the results are published, the rum punch party continues....

Results, St. Thomes International Rolex Cup Regatta - Day One:

Class A:

1. 3:41:51  Crash Test Dummies      
2. 3:44:29  Mermaid II                     
3. 3:59:20  Sheerness
4. 3:50:45  Twister
5. 3:42:19  Who's Yo Daddy?
6. 3:44:32  Harrier
7. 3:46:52  Grins
8. 3:50:21  Equation
9. 4:05:18  Donnybrook

Winners in Classes:
B.  Runaway
C.  Bank Trust
D.  Cape Air
E.  Sorceress
F.  Ocean Spray
G.  Orion Pavia 
H.  Princess del Sol
I.  Harmony
J.  Catemoa