Read more of the Cat Fight, the skin show at the costune party and the disappearing mark.
COMMODOR van HOUTEN GOT OUT OF HIS HAMMOCK LONG ENOUGH TO DELIVER THE CASE OF RUM FOR THE BADDEST CAT AWARD AS THE PARTY GOT UNDER WAY.
Stiff 15 to 20 knot winds allowed a close rated group of cruising Cats to complete two races in the 10th Anniversary Foxy’s Cat Fight. The “non competitive” regatta conceived by Catamaran Company and Foxy allows cats of any size to try their paces around courses designed with good reaching legs suitable for this growing charter class. Boats are flagged over a long starting line at one minute intervals with the added freedom of running engines up to the start time for safety and maneuverability. (In lighter winds participants have been known to cross the line several times forward and backwards before getting their “bateaus” in gear so to speak.)
Mike Fallis sailing with his motley crew from Tortola’s West End showed up to defend his "Baddest Cat" title. This award given to a Charter boat with unusual initiative is a case of Pussers rum. Despite the now traditional red inflatable arm chair on the trampoline Mike was not nearly bad enough this year—in fact he was marginally good coming in 1st in the over 40ft class.
On the penultimate leg of the long distance race around Sandy Cay and Great Thatch, West End Yacht Club race officer and Commodore Martin van Houten became concerned as the boats began radioing for directions to the turning mark (a large yellow buoy set earlier in the day which admittedly had not been seen for some time from the committee boat). After a series of navigational encouragements to the lead “dog” Rainbow Rider sited the mark and the following fleet converged on Rainbow Rider’s location. A chase boat was quickly dispatched to check on the disappearing mark to find a very waterlogged West Marine buoy slowing sinking into oblivion under the swelly waves. Moral: duct tape on vinyl lasts approximately 4 hours.
Overall in the under 40ft class Joe Mellen in Scubadu took line honors in both events. Mike Kneafsey’s Aristocat II came 2nd closely followed by Joe Pruden in Tabascocat and Jason Gras in Sanctuary. Boats were closely grouped with only 14 seconds between 1st and 2nd in the short morning course. At the prize giving Foxy had a veritable cornucopia of prizes waiting for the participants donated by many businesses around the BVI. Visiting folks form Montana in Sanctuary who had never been in a regatta event before, took the “Baddest Cat” award for spirit and enthusiasm.
The costume party on Saturday night produced an unusual amount of skin this year – creatively colored in spray paint in most cases. The nearly naked but bright red “devil” was overheard singing the praises of his pharmacist. Reportedly he had obtained a little red pill which caused his skin to turn bright red –all over as he was quick to show doubting voyeurs. (He did not say if it came with directions to seek medical advice should it not go down in four hours.)
Results were:
1st Over 40ft Class: Rainbow Rider – Mike Fallis
1st Under 40ft Class: Scubadu – Joe Mellen
2nd Under 40ft Class: Aristocat II – Mike Kneafsey
3rd Under 40 ft Class: Tabascocat – Jon Pruden
4th Under 40ft Class: Sanctuary – Jason Gras
Baddest Cat: Sanctuary
West End Yacht Club
http://www.weyc.net/article.php?story=20061030113621624