Mariquita Book - mk2.5

RÉGATES ROYALES CANNES
24 – 28 SEPTEMBER 2013
The name Régates Royales dates back to 1929 and recalls the
yacht racing between European royalty on the Côte d’Azur.
The 2013 event was certainly a throw back
to those sepia times with a remarkable 12
classic yachts on the Big Boat start line. With
skipper George Newman flying to England
on the eve of the regatta
to be at the birth of his
first child the crew of
Mariquita had it all to
do on one of the most
competitive weeks of
the year. The pressure
was on, as John Caulcutt
recalled. “George wasn’t
with us. He was busy at
home with Suzy having
babies. I was on the boat having kittens, so
to speak!”
With the seasons beginning to change, the
racing was tough day after day. Despite a
creditable start to the regatta, with a fourth
and a fifth on the first two days, Mariquita
was disqualified from Race 3 after an
incident with the 15-Metre Mariska and any
thoughts of winning the regatta were over.
The sense of frustration was compounded on
the final day when an incident on the start
line shocked all the crew. Navigator Chris
Tibbs explains, “We were barrelling down
the line on starboard
tack with Moonbeam
IV heading up the other
way with a small boat
called Nin sandwiched
between us. Nin was
like a startled rabbit
in the headlights and
our mainsail brushed
down their masthead
and unfortunately their
mast came down.” Billy Butler climbed
the mast and checked for any damage but
thankfully Mariquita’s sail was unblemished.
More importantly, no one was hurt and any
disappointment soon disappeared with the
announcement of Jessica Lark Newman’s
birth and George’s return for the final regatta
of the season. On the passage down to Saint-
Tropez Mariquita was joined by two young
crew members from Nin.
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