MISTRESS QUICKLY WINS BEST OVERALL IN THE 15TH GUSTAV WILMERDING REGATTA

Talk about a fun weekend – the West End Yacht Club successfully pulled off another winner in changing this annual event with a Pirate’s Costume Conflux and Cotillion proceeding the day of racing. Always held on the first weekend in December, gaily dressed pirates and mates met for a fun night of costuming, dancing and mild partying at the Jolly Roger Restaurant and Bar in West End, Tortola. Attendance was large and almost everyone was dressed in costume for the event. Race Captain, Paul Watson, handed out prizes for the highly competitive event while new commodore, Martin van Houten, solicited entries. Not even the rain dampened spirits as captains and crews danced to the sounds of rhythm and blues by Cruise Control.

In 1970, I was a 15-year-old summer deckhand aboard the ketch "Lore II" out of Northport (Long Island), New York. It was a terrific summer for me, cruising New England waters.

She was originally built in Thomaston, Maine, in 1958. Around 1975, she was sold and renamed "Johanna." I am searching the internet to see if I can learn what has become of her.

On the Caribbeanracing.com website is a report for Foxy's 28th Wooden Boat Regatta (in May 2002):
www.caribbeanracing.com/artman/publish/article_105.shtml

The report has a photo caption for a 1958 70-foot ketch "Johanna" owned by Jack Simmons. Unfortunately, the photo itself is no longer posted, and the website editor does not have a copy of it. He suggested that I contact the WEYC. I see that she is mentioned twice on this website.

So, can anyone help me? If she is the former "Lore" it would be a wonderful surprise to learn that she is still afloat and doing well!

Thanks,
Tom Jordan
Derwood, MD
tjordan@comdt.uscg.mil

CATAMARAN CHARTERS SPONSORS FOXY'S CAT FIGHT

Mike and Sydney Fallis, owners and operators of BareCat Charters, West End, Tortola, won 1st in Cruising Division, Class A on a Venezia 42, CHAT DU SOLEIL, with a great West End Yacht Club crew and fast times of 1:08:41 & 2:10:08. They also won the “Baddest Cat Award” for having the fastest bareboat entered in the regatta. Congratulations!

CATAMARAN CHARTERS SPONSORS 9TH ANNUAL FOXY'S CAT FIGHT

COME ONE - COME ALL - LOTS OF FUN

October 28th – 30th 2005

9th Annual “FOXY'S CAT FIGHT” - - - THE ONLY ALL MULTI-HULL REGATTA IN THE CARIBBEAN

Friday Evening Registration Foxy's Tamarind Bar - Jost Van Dyke

SEE SCHEDULE BELOW

Sunday Chill out day

Cruisers & charterers on Cats & Trimarans are encouraged to participate

e-mail - mvh@surfbvi.com or call Martin at 284-496-8685

FOR MORE IMAGES PLEASE GO TO www.yachtshotsbvi.com

Dragon – a full keeled 22’ Island Sloop with an 8’ beam and a modern Marconi Rig won the best in it’s class, the Single Handed Race and the “Fastest Boat Award.” Built in 1990 in Fajardo Puerto Rico, it was raced by owner Edwin Cruz.

BVI Governor Tom Macan helmed the only BVI entry, Moonbeam, an Island Sloop owned by the H. Lavity Stoutt College – he came in 2nd in Class A Island Sloops. Moonbeam is one of the historical sloops that is sponsored by the college and maintained by HLSCC staff Geoff Brooks & Al Fraiser, also on the WEYC Race Committee. Nanny Cay Marina hauls the BVI Island Sloops free before Foxy’s each year and also provides free dockage for the boats so that they can be viewed from the dock while visiting the marina. Island Sloop building is a historical part of BVI tradition. It is hopeful that the two other BVI Sloops, Youth Instructor and Vigillant (the oldest sloop in the Caribbean built in East End in 1882), can be restored and sailing up for Foxy’s 32nd regatta in 2006.

Report from Martin Van Houten - Race Officer

We had a great day of racing, the wind was light in the morning but filled in quite nicely by the start of the race. The course was 18.4 miles, and involved some loop-d-loo's around the islands. The winning boat was Mistress Quickly, owned by Guy Eldridge, won by 33 seconds to just beat out Crew Clothing, helmed by Andrew Thompson. In third place was Shamrock V helmed by Pat Nolan.

This is the first year that we have had an IC24 class, which had a separate course with a total of 5 races run. We had both KATS boats racing which enabled them to hone their tactical skills in preparation of next weekends Chief Ministers Cup.

The highly successful 8th Anegada Race "Dark & Stormy" was held March 11 - 14th. This year 28 competitive cruiser/racers competed in one of the most fun races of the year. Sponsored by Mt. Gay Rum & RTW the weekend regatta is hosted by Neptune's Treasure (Anegada), The Loose Mongoose (East End, Tortola) and The Jolly Roger (West End, Tortola). Smith’s Ferry and a St Thomas ferry brought up people swelling the attendance to 400 + visiting the lovely island during the weekend.

With Mt Gay and RTW as their sponsors (giving all entries the coveted MT Gay Red Racing Hat) The West End Yacht Club successfully held their 27th Sweethearts of the Caribbean (Schooners) and 23rd Classics of the Caribbean (designs over 30 years) at Sopers Hole, West End, Tortola on 12th and 13th. Hosted by the Jolly Roger Restaurant, home of the WEYC, there were some 27 entries in the four race event. Winds on Saturday were about 12 knots while on Sunday they easily reached 25 knots with some gusts even highter. Race Chairmen Dave Cooper and Martin Van Houten, ran the registration on Friday night in addition to the races. END OF THE DAY, owned by Al Sousa & Mitzi McLean, was the Committee Boat out of Nanny Cay with Neil Bails, Mike & Di Kirk and Robin Pinfold being on the Race Committee.