ACYR Thursday 19 4 18: The energy in Falmouth Harbour spiked as each entry sailed in for the start of the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta. 70’ Vendia and 42’ Free in St. Barth from Grenada; 86’ Ticonderoga from St. Barths; 100’ Ruth from Barbados; and the 141’ Schooner Columbia, made a last minute, ten-day dash from the States.
Spontaneous celebrations clogged docks as old friends reunited and new ones joined up like links on a chain. By the time the ACYR officially got underway at Wednesday’s Kick off Party, camaraderie was flowing into a sea of Mount Gay Rum and Wadadli beer. Dark and Stormy cocktails toasted Neptune and good fortune for bringing an amazing fleet together for our thirty-first year.
The Single-Handed Race took place on Thursday afternoon in 20 knots of shifting trades with gusts topping 25 knots. Steep seas washed decks and everyone on them. The course sent vessels upwind and down causing every skipper to run in order to keep up. Aboard the 115’ Schooner Aschanti, Captain Kark Ebner ran a marathon jogging between the helm, the fore and headsails. It was an exhausting performance for the onboard observer but not for Ebner, whose smile was as wide as the finish line. Winners of the Single-Handed Race, over 45’ is Aschanti and under 45’ is the 44’ Luders Yawl, Frolic. Full race results can be seen on the website at www.antiguaclassics.com.