Eight different classes of 24-80ft boats enjoyed the second day’s racing the St Thomas International Rolex Regatta in the US Virgin Islands yesterday. The 15-20 knot easterly winds made for a good sleigh ride offwind but a big swell made conditions taxing for the race to the finish.

With finishes of 4-1, Martin Jacobson’s Swan 44 Crescendo maintained its lead from Saturday in Spinnaker Racing Cruising class. “It was definitely interesting today,” said crew member Tom Castiglione noting that his team didn’t need a specified navigator on yesterday’s two distance races, which were 10 miles and 15 miles respectively. “We navigated by committee; you could just look around and see most everything you needed to.”

The Beneteau 40.7 Lazy Dog, skippered by Sergio Sagramoso, gave Crescendo a run for its money with a 2-2 in that class, but his team sits six points behind the leader in second place. “We like the round-the-buoys racing of the previous day better, because it gives more chances for things to happen,” said Sagramoso, who hopes today’s planned long distance race in Pillsbury Sound will have enough upwind and downwind legs on its course to increase his chances of catching the leader.

Sagramoso’s sentiment was somewhat shared by Jens Hookansen aboard Robert Armstrong’s J/100 Expensive Habit. Although the boat holds onto its lead from yesterday, Hookansen maintained that it is faster upwind than downwind. “The boats with asymmetrical spinnakers just killed us on the downwind legs,” said Hookansen. “Tomorrow’s race will be good for us only if we have some good upwind legs.” A testament to Hookansen’s theory was Expensive Habit’s fifth-place finish in yesterday’s first race, followed by a victory in the second.

Results

CSA 24 Spinnaker (CSA – 8 Boats)

1. Urayo, J24 24, Gilberto Rivera, San Juan, P.R., P.R. – 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 1, 1; 8
2. KQ-LO, J24 24, Carlos Sierra, San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA – 3, 3, 3, 4, 1, 3, 3; 20
3. Saudades Cemex Pr, J24 24, Leopoldo Loria, San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA – 4, 6, 2, 3, 3, 2, 2; 22

IC 24 One Design (One Design – 19 Boats)

1. Bambooshay, IC24 24, Christian F. Rosenberg, St.Thomas, USVI, USA – 3/RDG, 5, 3, 1, 1, 1, 1; 15
2. Stinger, IC24 24, John Holmberg, St. Thomas, VI, USVI – 9, 3, 7, 4, 7, 3, 4; 37
3. Sea Hawk, IC24 24, Robby Hirst, Road Town, Tortola, BVI – 2, 16, 1, 5, 3, 2, 8; 37

Spinnaker Racing 1 (CSA – 7 Boats)

1. Dsk Comifin, Frers 45, Danilo Salsi, Milano, ITA – 1, 1, 1, 2, 1; 6
2. Privateer, Swan 48 Cr 48, Ron O’Hanley, Ipswitch, MA, USA – 4, 3, 3, 1, 2; 13
3. Chippewa, Farr395 40, Dave West, Bayfield, WI, USA – 2, 5, 4, 6, 3; 20

Spinnaker Racing 2 (CSA – 15 Boats)

1. Expensive Habit, J100 33, Robert Armstrong, Gallos Bay, St. Croix, BVI – 1, 1, 1, 5, 1; 9
2. Lost Horizon II, Olson 30 30, James Dobbs, Antigua, Antigua – 2, 2, 4, 3, 3; 14
3. The Good, The Bad And The Ugly, Kirby 25 25, John/Bill Foster/McConnell, St. Thomas, VI, USA – 4, 5, 5, 6, 4; 24

Non-Spinnaker Racing 1 (CSA – 12 Boats)

1. Three Harkoms, Beneteau 44, Christopher Lloyd, Road Town, Tortola, BVI – 1, 1, 1; 3
2. Wildflower, Sabre 402 40, Ron Noonan, St.Thomas, USVI, USA – 2, 3, 2; 7
3. Acadia, Cat Ketch 48, Burt Keenan, New Orleans, LA, USA – 3, 2, 5; 10

Non-Spinnaker Racing 2 (CSA – 6 Boats)

1. Cayennita, Soverel 27, Elle & Tony Sanpere, Christiansted, USVI, USA – 1, 1, 2; 4
2. ATN, J27 27, Marcus Compton, St.Thomas, VI, USA – 3, 2, 3; 8
3. Poco A Poco – Preferred Health, Pearson Flyer 30 30, Agustin A. Rodrigues, Fajardo, Puerto Rico, USA – 8/DSQ, 3, 1; 12

Spinnaker Racing Cruising (CSA – 15 Boats)

1. Crescendo, Swan 44 44, Martin Jacobson, Greenwich, CT, USA – 1, 1, 1, 4, 1; 8
2. Lazy Dog, Beneteau 40.7 40, Sergio Sagramoso, San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA – 4, 3, 3, 2, 2; 14
3. Pipedream, Sirena 38, Peter Haycraft, Road Town, Tortola, BVI – 3, 2, 5, 1, 3; 14

Beach Cats (Portsmouth – 10 Boats)

1. Suzuki / Red Bull, Hobie Cat 16 16, Enrique Figueroa, San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA – 1, 2, 1, 1, 1; 6
2. Heineken, Hobie Cat 16 16, Francisco Figeroa, San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA – 3, 6, 2, 2, 2; 15
3. Exodus, Hobie Cat 16 16, Keki Figueroa, San Juan, P.R., USA – 2, 1, 7, 3, 4; 17