Not a pretty sight. Local boat Caccia Alla Volpe was dismasted yesterday during the first real blow of this year’s Stanford Antigua Sailing Week. The 44ft yacht lost its mast during the first race yesterday while on the first beat on the a windward/leeward course off Willoughby Bay.

Caccia crewmember Tommy Paterson, who is also the chairman of the Sailing Week race committee, said: “It wasn’t the rigging, it just crumbled. There was a whale out on the course so we’re trying to blame him, but I don’t think we’ll get too far.”