Sailing Blog
Rolex Wrap-Up »
March 29, 2011
It has been a few days since the Rolex Regatta ended, and I will chalk this up to getting swept up in post regatta celebrations after Team INTAC took the win in our division, and just general poor internet while Anthony Kotoun and I have been cruising the BVI’s on our Mancation prior to the next event starting on Thursday.
The Rolex Regatta ended with 2 races on the final day, which was one more than our Caribbean-frames of mind could handle. I’m not quite sure what is was, but the races were exhausting, and whether it was due to the heat and humidity, funky courses of racing around islands and reefs, or off-water activities, but our team had the look of spent marathoners at the end of each race. The RC decided to not only add another race to the day, but also to give us courses that were over 2 hrs in length with long upwinds, a few reaches switching to an outboard jib sheet, and very lengthy downwinds, sometimes with dog-legs that required flogging the main and jib with the spinnaker up just to keep the boat upright.
The day started with a 2 point lead over a well sailed Melges 24 team on Budget Marine, and with another Melges 32 on Jurakan. The goal of the day was to keep things consistent and sail clean, and while a few of our starts were dodgy, we managed to win the last 2 races and seal the regatta victory, and a nice new Rolex watch for our owner Mark Plaxton who dedicated his performance to the Legion of WWII Canadian Military Veterans.
The Melges 32 was delivered back to Tortola, and Anthony and I have been cruising on Mark’s 55 ft Jeneau to kill time before the BVI Spring Regatta which starts on Friday. Our first night was spent on Norman Island after a memorable meal at the floating mecca known as Willy T, and we are now anchored at the Bitter End which I have never visited before. The anchorage here is an idyllic Caribbean setting, and other than looking at Anthony in his swimsuit and wishing I could swap him for Jenny, we are making the most of our down time. Tomorrow at 930 am, we will be setting off in a few of the Bitter End Hobie Wave’s for some match racing put on by the Bitter End. For most normal people, this would be a relaxing activity and a memorable moment on their vacation, but whoever loses between Anthony and I may have to tell the other one the friendship is over.
Stay tuned for reports from the BVI Spring Regatta.
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