Storm wrecks Angostura Sail Week at Store Bay

NEEDING to finish in the top four after yesterday’s Angostura-sponsored Race Four on the final day, the Reichel Pugh 44-vessel Storm did just that, and claimed the Racing Class title at the 22nd annual Angostura Tobago Sail Week at Store Bay. Expertly led by American Les Crouch from the start on Monday, Storm, who never relinquished its top spot, finished yesterday’s race in third position, for a grand total of 13 points. Its nearest rival Guardian Star was second yesterday behind fellow TT yacht Slippery When Wet, and the Beneteau 10M-boat, owned by Tim Kimpton, Peter Knox and Paul Amon, was second overall with 16 points. A distant third was Legacy, another top local competitor navigated by Douglas Myers, on 28 points while Stag Brut Force (owned by Justin Castagne) fourth on 29 points.

Completing the top ten were Pressure, with 31 points, Slippery When Wet 32, Enzyme and Bacchanal Woman with 41 each, Blazin 45 and Alliance 58. In an overnight development, the TIDCO-sponsored Race Three of the Charter Class was abandoned by the judges for an undisclosed reason. But the British vessel Annie T, owned by Robin Toozs-Hobson romped home to victory with four points, after picking up two more yesterday. Fellow United Kingdom (UK) boats Team McFly, navigated by Anthony Mack was second with eight points and final stage winner Saga Boy, led by David Downie, came third with 14. They were followed by Long Gone and Team Bolero with 16 apiece, Girls For Sail (18), Ambition Sailing (19), Spit Fire (20), T-6 (27) and Callisto (30).

Petit Careme, which may describe the current weather pattern, won yesterday’s stage and, with it, the Cruiser Racer category with six points. Local boats finished in the top three overall, with Careme (owned by Rawle Barrow) followed by 2003 winner Wayward (with Jerome McQuilkin aboard) on nine points and Titan M (led by Reginald Williams) 15 points. Rapajam, with 18 points, Carnival (25), C-Mos (27), Fenix (28), Sea Wyf (28) and Joia (30) took up the other places. After their sensational ride on Thursday, Mayumi claimed a one-point victory in the Cruisers division with 12 points. The locally-owned yacht, with Joe Brown as skipper, was fourth in yesterday’s race, but they got the better of overnight co-leader Business Machine (led by Marsha Farfan), who finished fifth yesterday and joint-second with Nirvana (guided by Lloyd de Roche) on 13 points.

Other finishers in the category were dethroned champs Sunbeat III with 15 points, Hotel California Too 20, After Hours (yesterday’s stage winner) 23, Blurred Vision 24, Les Remous 25 and Jump Up 34. A La Mor, the TT boat owned by Les Thomson, captured the overall Comfort Cruising class after finishing second in yesterday’s race, for a total of seven points. Winner of the final stage was dethroned champs Udjat, owned by Boris D’Juran, but they ended second overall on eight points while Scot Free, led by Barbadian Clive Langdon-Wilkins, was third. Next year’s contest will take place from May 8 to 13.