After Hours sails to victory

PETER KNOX and his crew aboard After Hours were a jubilant bunch after their yacht won the Cruising Class category at the Budget Marine Chandlery and Rigging Race Day at Harts Cut Bay, Chaguaramas. The event was part of the Trinidad and Tobago Sailing Association (TTSA) 2004 season sailed on Sunday last. With six boats competing in the category, After Hours defeated Ace Of Harts skippered by Calder Hart, and third-placed Nirvana, under captain Lloyd De Roche.

Five of the country’s leading yachts — Legacy, Enzyme, Petite Careme, Super Goose and Wayward — were absent due to mechanical trouble, as was the case with Wayward. Most of the yachts are participating at the four-day Grenada Sailing Festival, which was expected to end on Wednesday. The tandem of Peter Knox and Tim Kimpton powered Guardian Star to victory in the Racing Class, ahead of Glen Gastagen’s Brut Force and Michael Rostant’s Tenshun while Jo Brown led Mayumi to glory in the Racer-Cruiser Class, with Marsha Farfan’s Business Machine and James Arindell’s Jahaji Bhai trailing.

Twenty-two boats competed in the day’s event, including S/Y Rogue, who saw a crew member fall over-board during a tricky jibe (a manouver where the sails are being changed from one side to the other). Luckily, the member was pulled back on board and suffered no serious injuries. The vessels will return to the waters of Chaguaramas from noon on February 15 to participate in the Black Label Rum-sponsored race.