Mariquita Book - mk2.5

WESTWARD CUP
14 – 16 JUNE 2015, COWES
“She’s a wonder”. So declared Captain Charlie Barr at the
launch of the 160ft schooner Westward in March 1910.
The inaugural Westward Cup was inspired by
Zbynek Zak, the owner of Eleonora, which is
an exact replica of the Westward, in its day one
of the most famous racing schooners in the
world. In association
with the RYS the
new regatta, named
after the Westward,
is now in its third
year. Since 2010 the
event has attracted
many of the original
Big Boat Class
including Mariette,
Tuiga, Mariquita as
well as Eleonora herself. 2015 promised some
excellent racing for Mariquita’s new crew
who were beginning to find their feet. With
the experience of Chris Tibbs on navigation
and David Bedford on tactics, both steeped
in Solent racing, Mariquita fancied her
chances of winning one of the few cups that
had alluded her since her return in 2004. The
anticipation was tangible, particularly the
contest with the American boat Sumurun,
as Matty Oates describes, “Then there was
Sumurun, a weapon
in her own right and
looking immaculate
after a refit back in
the United States.
The crew on this boat
are just as brilliant
and they display this
continual elation
being over here in a
completely different
racing scene. The classic scene in the States is
a much smaller affair than it is on this side of
the pond, and though there’s no loss of spirit
or competition, the simple fact is that there
aren’t as many Big Boats. And as we all know,
it’s the presence of a comparative subject that
helps to elevate any discipline.”
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