Race Report: Saturday 25 April 2015

With clear blue skies and tropical heat, the Pearns Point Round Antigua Race was a gentle introduction for close to 40 international teams, racing 52 nautical miles around Antigua. The relatively light wind of 12-15 knots conspired to create a slow race, but the glorious mild weather did not stop Lloyd Thornburg’s MOD70, Phaedo^3 setting a new record for the Pearns Point Round Antigua Race of 3hr, 26mins, 09 secs, beating the previous record of Mari-Cha IV by 51 minutes. The green trimaran continues on its record-breaking season, having set new times at the RORC Caribbean 600, Les Voiles de St Barth’s, Guadeloupe to Antigua Race and Round Redonda.

Jean-Paul Riviere’s Dolphin 100, Nomad IV with a Russian/French crew was the first monohull to complete the course and was declared the winner of the Yachting World Trophy (Editor Elaine hopped onboard ‘the world’s fastest cruiser’ last year- read her full report here)

Phaedo^3’s tactician, Brian Thompson puts into basic terms the reason for Phaedo^3’s phenomenal speed, even in light winds: “The simple fact is that Phaedo^3 has a very high power to weight ratio. The boat only weighs seven tonnes and the hulls have very low drag, plus only two of them are in the water at any time. Sojana, which held the previous record, probably weighs more than 60 tonnes and the hull shape has a lot more drag. Phaedo^3 can harness whatever wind there is and turn it into boat speed which is nearly twice as fast as the wind.”

CSA Racing 1
On corrected time, Daniel Figueirido’s Argentinian team racing Soto 53 Humilidad Zero won the class for the best corrected time under CSA. Jonathan Bamberger’s Canadian J/145, Spitfire was second. Antigua’s Bernie Evan-Wong, racing RP37, TAZ was third.

“We raced here last year on another boat and decided to return, but with Humilidad Zero,” commented  Daniel Figueirido. “We have come all the way from Buenos Aires and this is a great start, but we have a regatta to win!”

CSA Racing 2
Andy Middleton’s First 47.7, Global Yacht Racing,/EH01 chartered by Bill Blain on behalf of the Royal Southern Yacht Club, took line honours and the win after time correction. Plymouth, UK skipper, Nigel Passmore’s J/133, Apollo 7 was second. Texan Jim Hightower’s racing King 40, Hot Ticket was third.

“None of us sailed perfectly today but we had a great battle,” beamed Bill Blain at the prizegiving.  “We had a spinnaker wrap which cost us, but we got ourselves back with some good positioning. We know all about Apollo 7 and know how well that team sails and it was great to mix it with the Texan team on Hot Ticket. We had a good laugh with them afterwards and they know exactly what they are doing on the water.”

CSA Racing 3
First 40.7 Profile Logic, from the Sailing Logic race training school in Hamble UK scored a memorable victory, beating Carlo Falcone’s Caccia alla Volpe to the line and also took the win on corrected time. It was a family affair on Caccia alla Volpe as Carlo was racing with his wife Paolo and their 14 year old son, Rocco. Peter Hopps Sigma 38, Sam of Hamble was third. In the Bareboat Class, Mario Bacchelli’s Argentinian team racing Sapphire Dancer was the winner, whilst in the Multihull Fun Class, the winner was Canter de Jager’s Trimaran, Contour 34, Rebel.

Antigua Sailing Week runs from Sunday 26th April to May 1st. For more information visit www.sailingweek.com.