Storm hold five-point lead in Sail Week

STORM, who created shock waves on Monday, continued to blow away the field yesterday, in the Racing Class, as the 22nd annual Angostura Tobago Sail Week continued at Store Bay. Yesterday’s action was marred by a number of protests, nine in all, which led to one retirement (for the day) of Slippery When Wet in the Racing Class and a disqualifacation of Saga Boy in the Charter category. But there was no stopping the Reichel Pugh 44-vessel, which was built in Trinidad but owned by American Les Crouch.

Storm once again won yesterday’s Race Two with five points, for a two-day score of eight. Last year’s winners Guardian Star stayed in second spot with 13 points followed by fellow TT vessels Brut Force (16) and Pressure and Legacy (19 apiece). Slippery When Wet, who entered today in third spot, dropped down the pack after they were given 11 points for their infringement, and ended the day with 25 points. Annie T continues to hold the upper hand in the Charter Class with two points, followed by fellow UK boats Team McFly (five), Long Gone (seven), Switzerland’s Team Bolero and TT’s Spit Fire (10 apiece).

Defending champ Wayward displaced fellow TT vessel Petit Careme for the lead in the Cruiser Racer category. After accumulating two points on Monday, the Jerome McQuilkin-led Wayward, got one point after winning Race Two for a tally of three points, one more than Petit Careme, who got three points yesterday. Another local boat Titan M, owned by Reginald Williams, remains in third spot with five points, ahead of the Philipe Agostini/Hidde Hylkema-owned Carnival (10) and Fenix (11), owned by Britian’s Richard Balding.

Business Machine, with their all-female crew led by TT’s Marsha Farfan, still remain in front of their eight challengers in the Cruising division with three points, followed by Mayumi (five), Sunbeat III from Britain (six)  and Nirvana (eight). And, in the three-team Comfort Cruising class, Ala Mor is still in front with three points, one ahead of defending champs Udjat and three more than Scot Free. Today is the scheduled Pepsi Lay Day at the Crown Point Beach Hotel with racing resuming tomorrow.