37th Oyster Regatta Antigua - Day 3
by Louay Habib 9 Apr 2016 18:39 UTC
4-9 April 2016
Race Three - Five Islands Harbour and the South Coast of Antigua, sponsored by Dolphin Sails
Race Day Three of the Oyster Regatta Antigua was truly magnificent, with the Oyster fleet enjoying exhilarating racing with solid Trade Winds piping up to 20 knots in brilliant sunshine and a turquoise Caribbean sea. The race area for the third race of the series was the west and south west coast and with an easterly air flow, there were several big wind shifts in the transition zone south west of Antigua.
Principle Race Officer and Oyster Group CEO, David Tydeman sent the fleet out on a reaching start from the picturesque Five Island Harbour to Sandy Island. Then a deep-water downwind leg to a laid mark, Albatros, west of Antigua. Followed by what proved to be a fickle upwind leg, skirting Cades Reef down to Curtains Mark for the smaller yachts and Legacy for the larger. A long downwind leg back to Albatros was followed by a beat back to Sandy and a fetch to the finish at Irish, just outside Jolly Harbour Marina.
Race Three was probably the most tactical race so far, with several downwind and upwind legs. Judging lay lines and playing the shifts were key areas and there were several gentlemanly duels on the water, adding to the thrill. At the Prize Giving David Tydeman summed up the action across the three classes racing at the Oyster Regatta.
"With the wind back in the east, the laid marks would have just provided reaching courses, so we laid a mark three miles offshore due west and with the wind out of the south east, the fleet enjoyed long and testing beat after the reaching start. With the wind bending around the north and south of the island, the East coast created a tactical environment with gains and errors far outweighing any handicap variations. Those teams that got their strategy spot on reaped the benefits and with a long race the times were relatively close – all within a few percent in each class. Once again we had some incredibly close finishes after time correction the best being just 6 seconds between the two 575s in Class 2. Tomorrow will be the last race and taking into account the discard, there is everything to play for across all three Oyster Classes."
Class 1 was set a 29 mile course and halfway into the race there was barely a minute separating the fleet of five boats on corrected time. In the second half of the race, the wind shifts and the long downwind leg stretched out the fleet. Terry Snow's Oyster 72, Magrathea corrected out to win the Class just holding off Oyster 82, Starry Night of the Caribbean which finished second.
Oyster 885, Lush, sailed by Eddie Jordan was close behind in third – they sailed their best tactical race so far in the regatta and finished on the water ahead of Guardian Angel – a great duel between these powerful yachts.
In Class 2, two Oyster 575s had a fantastic race. David & Leslie Joyce's Ayesha II had a cracking start, just three seconds shy of the line at the gun. Dick Hammill's Spirit had chosen to race with downwind sails and by the second leg had caught up with Ayesha II. However, Ayesha II had a lower rating as the team were racing with just white sails and Spirit needed to put distance on, to save their time. Spirit crossed the finish line first and after time correction, won the race by just six seconds on corrected time. Henrik Nyman's Oyster 625, Delicia, who has won the previous two races, was third.
In Class 3, Sully O'Sullivan's Oyster 53, Crackerjack nailed the start but Simon Brown's Oyster 56, Britican, showed their experience, especially in tactics, to take their second win of the regatta. Ian Galbraith's Oyster 53, Jig Saw was second, despite tearing a headsail and Phil Scourfield's Oyster 545, Shelena was third."
The Oyster Regatta Party was held at The Akropolis Greek Restaurant in Jolly Harbour Marina in full view of the Oyster fleet. Delicious Greek tapas and a full bar for the Oyster Family was a fine way to end the evening.
The final race of the Oyster Regatta Antigua will take place on Saturday 9th April, with a race from Jolly Harbour to English Harbour, along the south coast. There is all to play for across all three classes with the best three out of four races to count for the regatta.
Full regatta report including results here.