35th Annual Pusser's Round Tortola Race

Melges 24 Mistress Quickly topped the 35th annual Pusser's Round Tortola Race held on Saturday, November 27. The conditions, although perfect for much of the race, proved trying as the fleet attempted to cross the finish line in Soper's Hole on the west end of Tortola.

The non-spinnaker and spinnaker classes started in Sir Francis Drake Channel off Nanny Cay and then headed anti-clockwise around Tortola taking a navigation mark off Beef Island Bluff, Scrub Island, Great Camanoe, Guana Island, Steele Point in West End, to port. The finish was in Soper's Hole, West End, off the Jolly Roger Restaurant.

After the initial beat up the Sir Francis Drake Channel, it was all down hill once the fleet rounded Great Camanoe and ideal conditions for the light Melges 24.

"Excellent day, perfect weather," said Guy Eldridge, owner and skipper of Mistress Quickly. "Wind being from the north east really helped us because we were able to use light air, light winds all the way up on the beat. On run there was just enough breeze for us to surf. We had to work it, pump it the whole way down and had to switch through three different trimmers to keep them going. We managed to survive the light air at Steele Point and that was that. We made it round."

The day started briskly with winds reaching 20 knots but diminished as the day wore on. While local knowledge generally dictates that you hug the south coast of Tortola as you head upwind, some boats, particularly those that were sailing short-handed, opted to head further out and minimize the tacking.

Triple Jack, the trimaran Transat veteran, took line honours with a time of three hours, fifty-two minutes and 52 seconds (3.52.52). She was first to experience the aptly named Soper's Hole where the wind disappeared, shifted wildly and caused no end of headaches for Triple Jack and subsequent yachts attempting to finish.

Mistress Quickly, Olson 30 Willy-T and J/33 Boomerang tussled their way around the course only to enter Soper's Hole where tactics gave way to a lottery as they attempted to reach the finish. Mistress Quickly finally crossed the line four hours, twenty-six minutes and 21 seconds later (4.26.21) - far enough ahead to beat Willy-T by over six minutes on corrected time.

Pipe Dream won the Racer-Cruiser class. Cacafuego topped the Cruising class while Tikitas, despite crossing the start line thirty-five minutes late, was second.

Traditional Island Sloop Moonbeam skippered by the governor of the British Virgin Islands, His Excellency Tom "the sailing governor" Macan, joined the fray on a shortened course but did not complete the race. An honourable mention went to Angel Ayala and his Sun Bum II crew who came from Puerto Rico for the race.

The prize giving was held at Pusser's Landing, Soper's Hole, where Pusser's Rum ships decanters, flagons and hip flasks were awarded. Guy Eldridge was presented with the Pusser's Round Tortola Race perpetual trophy.