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.

This premier event occurred on what is known as Labour Day Weekend in the U.S. Although the winds were extremely light, we had a terriffic time and were most impressed by the 43 wooden boat entries. Then to add to the gaiety, many friends of Foxy and participants of Foxy’s Wooden Boat Regatta (FWBR) – Caribbean decided to visit also. The camaraderie between the two clubs, competing sailors and visiting guests was unbelievable as displayed by the reception awarded to Foxy during the Wooden Boat Parade on Sunday, August 31st.

It all began several years ago when CYC House Committee Chairman, Roger Wise, was cruising the BVI and stopped to chat with Foxy. During the conversation Foxy mentioned to Roger, a well-known U.S. dentist, that he need some dental work. Foxy accepted Roger’s invitation to come to Marblehead and have the dental work done. While there he sang his famous calypso in a much-appreciated program for CYC club. members who enjoyed his performance so much that they asked him back this year – deciding to honour him even further by instituting the 1st Foxy’s Wooden Boat Regatta – North.

See all the photos here!

Sara Sommers, Race Assistant for the Firecracker Regatta, has some great pictures of the event. Check them out at http://www.weyc.net/gallery/

And while you're there check out her weather page - we think that it's the best in the Caribbean.

I've put the pictures from Foxy's 29th Wooden Boat Regatta on a page on my webserver.

      Regatta Pics

How about some captions here. Everyone is welcome to contribute whatever they feel is appropriate. Thanks, Sara

Weekends like the 6th annual celebration of the Dark & Stormy Regatta are what living in the Caribbean is all about. First of all, the weather was great once we got past the start. Windy, with gusts past 20 and an appropriate squall (for the second year in a row), signalled the beginning of the race with 20 boats vying for top positions. This is amazing in itself considering that there were so many other activites planned on the island for the same weekend. The weather was 12 to 20 knots for the entire weekend so another 20 or so yachts joined in for the fun and sailed to Anegada independently. This year?s winning yacht is a classic and an old favorite of mine that I crewed on in the early 90?s. Charlie Haines, of West End, was the 1st place winner on Lydia, a gorgeous Rhodes design if I ever saw one. Paul Bates was his only crew. Congratulations you two on a race very well done.

The West End Yacht Club has had a very busy racing season this year. We started our yearly regattas with the silver anniversary of the Sweethearts of the Caribbean & 21st Annual Classic Yacht Regatta, held from February 8th to 10th in West End Tortola. With an encouraging 41 entries the weekend brought out the most beautiful classic yachts we have seen in a long time. The weather was made for racing with winds out of the east at 15+ knots, with gusts up to 25, amid sunshine and showers.