On February 17th, The Loyal West End Yacht Club hosted The 29th Annual “Sweethearts of the Caribbean”, Schooner Race setting a new standard for classic yacht regattas. Nine schooners ranging in size from forty to over a hundred feet entered the competition. It was a beautiful sight to see these gorgeous schooners race through Soper’s Hole carrying full sail. The classic single handed event consisted of 12 yachts in a 16 mile pursuit race..
The winds were light, the currents were strong and it took unbelievable seamanship to get the schooners and the single handed sailboats out of a wind hole coming around Sandy Spit. It was like someone put the breaks on. The 2 fleets joined each other and appeared anchored under full sail. Steel Point to the finish line proved another tough task. Lots of current and fluky winds tested sailing skills as the schooners fought their way to the finish line.
Sunday races are for the Classic sailboats (design of thirty years or older) and the Wanabees (design point of twenty to twenty five years). It was a gorgeous day, with winds at the start of the race at about 12 knots. There were 18 classics and 8 Wanabees in the competition.
Of special interest racing both days was Phillip Walwyn’s sloop Kate. This boat is a precise replica of a 1908, 12 meter America’s Cup racing yacht. She was built in Saint Kitts and launched in December 2006. The Sweethearts was a perfect setting to show her classic lines and she was a beauty.
Loyal West End Yacht Club - Results :
Saturday: Schooners
35-45ft 1st Seafari
46-80ft. 1st Heron
81-110ft. 1st Teaoo
Single Handers
1st - Diva
2nd- Tiger Maru
3rd - Lydia
Sunday
Classics
26-34ft.
1st - Windshift
2nd- Lydia
3rd-Yankee
35-45ft.
1st-Osprey
2nd-Tiger Maru
3rd- Diva
46-60ft.
1st - Kate
2nd - Snap
3rd- Adella
61-100ft.
1st Heron
2nd - Liberty
Wanabees
1st-Cayenne III
2nd -Zing
3rd -SloopduJour
Island sloops
1st- Youth Instructor
West End Yacht Club
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