Never let it be said that the West End Yacht Club sailors don’t like their wind. The 13th Annual Gustav regatta was held during two days of really negative weather forecasts during the first weekend of December. This was the 1st tropical storm ever to form in our region during the month of December only four days after the official end of the 2003 hurricane season. However, the forecast did not deter hard, hearted sailors who turned out eagerly to participate in the two-day event.

The WEYC scored once again when storms did not appear and racers were treated to some great 15-20 knot winds out of the south.

The fun started on Friday, December 4th when some 13 skippers gathered for registration at the Jolly Roger Restaurant & Bar in West End, BVI. “Focus” played while everyone discussed the weekend weather forecast. Race Captain, Neil Bailes, led the Skippers Meeting at 0900 the next morning where pursuit handicap sheets were handed out for the 10.30 starts in Sopers Hole.

The Race Committee (Martin Van Houten, Sara Sommers, Geoff Brooks & Madison Bailes) gathered on Vice Commodore Robin Pinfolds Prout 49, Kuralu, for the starts and finishes. Racing on Saturday took sailors to The Bight at Norman Island where the finish was held for the first day.

MJ Blues, one of the most talented musicians ever to grace our islands, performed big-time for the Pirates Costume Ball held at Pirate’s Bight Restaurant on the beach at Norman Island. This portion of the regatta was sponsored by Heineken & Mt. Gay with Sam Tucker, from Road Town Wholesale, partying away like the rest of us.

The costumes were great and manager, Alvett Meyers a 2 time former BVI Olympic sailor, put on one of the best buffet suppers we have tasted in a long time. There were easily several hundred sailors in attendance with cruisers, who happened to be moored at the Bight, joining in the fun as the sounds of a major party circled through the harbour.

A Bloody Mary Breakfast was held at Pirates Bight on Sunday morning before the 1100 start to race back to the Jolly Roger for the final finish and the Awards Ceremony.

Winds were not as gusty as the day before but the racing was equally as good. Bermudian Guy Eldridge stole the 1st place on this day in his fast-flyin’ Melges-24, Mistress Quickly, giving him the overall 1st place and coveted Gustav Wilmerding Annual Trophy Award – a “Ding-Dong” Bell mounted on a gorgeous teak plaque fashioned especially for the event by Yacht Restoration Ltd at Nanny Cay Marina. Eldridge won a haul out and launch at Nanny Cay Marina. Guy tells the Race Committee, " The boat held together for two days of windy racing, nothing broke and nobody fell off so we won for a change. The first day was not ideal conditions for MQ - we hugged the St John shore to avoid the worst of the wind and waves and had our work cut out to pass Pat Nolan's SeaBiscuit and Marty Halpern's Ruffian. Sunday we crossed the start with spinnaker flying and had a screamingplaning reach to Flanagan. The leg along the north side of Peter was the hardest of the regatta mentally, the whole crew did a great job of staying focussed in ever-changing conditions - Bryshaun Scatliffe on the bow, Mikhail Shamkin on spinnaker, Godfrey Gumbs trimming the jib and Kay Reddy calling wind and waves.”

The award plaque is named after Gustav Wilmerding, the most famous pirate of West End. Captured by pirates when only a lad of 12, Wilmerding was taken to Little Thatch, BVI, where he had a reputation of ringing bells whenever his ships returned home with stolen bounty. He soon became known as the “ding-dong” pirate. His spirit is recaptured each year in this sailing regatta that bears his name.

Lou Schwartz, owner of the JR, home of the WEYC, and sponsor Bud Lite, put on quite a show following the Awards Ceremony with David Thrasher’s new band belting out great blues & rock & roll. Everyone had a great time, finally leaving tired and sated at the end of the evening. As with all WEYC events – this regatta was definitely a success.

Now get ready for the Sweethearts of the Caribbean & Classic Yacht Regatta to be held on February 6th – 8th at the Jolly Roger.

Top Finishes are – skipper type of boat Saturday Sunday Pts

1st Mistress Quickly G. Eldridge Melges- 24 14:09:31 12:41:49 4

2nd Picaroon K. Rowlette Oyster 47 14:03:10 12:53:29 4

3rd Rendezvous Cay T. Stonich Moyette 50 13:52:13 13:01:58 5

4th Ruffian M. Halpern Pipedream 37 14:12:13 13:0316 10

5th Zafu M. Scott J-44 14:17:10 12:59:58 10

Best Start – Spirit of Ecstasy -

Best Finish – Sea Biscuit -

Boat 2 Big for 2 – Moab –

Best Looking Boat – Zafu –

First to Leave the Bar – Ruffian –

Better Late than Never – Tikitas-