Caribbean Compass Yachting Magazine - October 2018

— Continued from previous page
There have always been two races for the open boats on the Sunday, unless bad
weather intervened. But the weather was beautiful and there should have been a
timely start. But, as usual, the start was late, partly because the race charts were
not ready and were being drawn as we waited, and partly because the sailors expected
a late start so didn’t turn up until nearly lunchtime. So a decision was made to
went on into the night. I’m only sorry that there were no trophies on offer to the winning
boats. Cash prizes are much appreciated, but trophies look good on your livingroom
shelf! Time to get ready for home, though, so the teenage crews weren’t allowed
to stay out past bedtime!
Tuesday saw us returning to Bequia. Just as we went down, so we came back:
White Caps sailed while Y Knot was towed. That is one slow yacht and one long ride
— it took about seven hours to get home. But when we arrived in Port Elizabeth, we
found one reason why the journey had been longer than expected. The towline was
coated with pounds of sargassum weed, which was surely holding us back. No wonder
we took so long!
Thanks to Leo and family and to Busta for their great hospitality in Carriacou. And
thanks to Andy for the ride!
Winners, Double-Ender Division, Carriacou 2018
have lunch first and fit the two races into the afternoon. In the first race, the young
crew of White Caps came over the finish line first but a huge argument ensued as
the other boats came in. There are no judges watching the races so, when there was
an incident at one of the marks, every sailor had his own tale to tell about who was
to blame and who should be disqualified. Never mind; they calmed down enough to
begin the second race.
During the second race, the wind dropped. While we watched all participants
struggle to complete even one lap down to a mark off Cistern Point and back, the
wind dropped even more. A decision was taken to finish after one lap, so Andy went
out in his speedboat and informed all the skippers. Some of the boat crews were not
happy, wanting a chance to catch up on the second lap. But when it was later
explained that the course was going to take too long and we had visions of being on
the beach until dark as the boats finished, everyone accepted the results. White Caps
managed some remarkable sailing to finish first.
Monday came round, one race left. Air temperature was boiling hot. Ace+ broke
down and her only competition, Eclipse, decided then to finish after one lap. “It’s
torture out there,” said captain Allick. Once again, White Caps came first in the
28-foot class. The small double-enders had also finished their courses with only one
major mishap: Lightning capsized in the second race.
Carriacou has a reputation for offering plenty of shore-based activities on Monday
afternoon: the donkey race, greasy pole, weight-lifting competition and much more
provided entertainment for the crowd gathered outside the Jupa bar. Prizegiving
Class 1
1) Bad Feelings, Samuel Forde, Mayreau
2) D Shark, Hudson Williams, Canouan
3) God’s Angel, Adolphus Forde, Mayreau
4) Ringo, Cuthbert Williams, Canouan
Class 2
1) Y Knot, Orion Ollivierre, Bequia
2) Ark Royal, Reon Ollivierre, Bequia
3) Lightning (of Mayreau), Sheldon Morgan, Bequia
Class 3
1) Camille, Jojo Adams, Bequia
2) Galaxy, Elmore Snagg, Canouan
Class 4
1) Eclipse, Allick Daniel/Javed Morgan, Bequia
2) Ace+, Hope Deroche, Carriacou
Class 5
1) White Caps, Drew Mitchell, Bequia
2) Elusive, Keith Anderson, Tobago
The proud crew of
Bequia’s Camille,
winner of Class 3
OCTOBER 2018 CARIBBEAN COMPASS PAGE 17