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Published On: Sat, Mar 2nd, 2019

Balance records fastest time around the island

Regatta Sailing - 1 Mar 2019 (5)

Great Bay — With two days to go before the conclusion of the 39th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, a few boats have placed themselves in a commanding position after securing podium places for the second straight day and it will not come as a surprise if they maintain their winning ways.

An American John Murphy was able to defy all odds with the assistance from his crew aboard an Oyster 54 to navigate the course in 02:33:03. The 2nd fastest time was recorded by Avocation, with Hank Schmidt, also from the USA in 02:35:13 while the 3rd fastest time was recorded by Cloe Dos, with Viktor Fetisov from Russia in 02:37:31. Capturing the fastest time in the Island Time inshore event was the Anguilla Youth Sailing Team (Miss Petrified).

Compared to previous years when the number of entries exceeded the 200 mark, this year just over 100 boats participated. However the number of entries is not as important as the quality of the racing. That fact has already been exemplified after two days of racing.

The around the island race has always been a challenging event and what makes the racing in the various classes more exciting is the gusting wind factor. On day one of the regatta, the wind was between 15 and 20 knots.

But it all went down to team effort among the 1st three finishers categories in what was later described as near perfect conditions on both days. Considering the fact that over 20 countries was being represented.

It meant that tactics and the level of experience varied and while the less choppy sailing conditions was literally a walk in the park for a few. It might have been challenging for those competing here for the very first time.

Regatta Sailing - 1 Mar 2019 (8)

Results after two days

In the Maxi 1 class, Selene, a Swan 80 with a crew under the leadership of Wendy Schmidt from the USA picked up a 2nd place on day one and a 1st on day two. Occupying the 2nd spot was Fling 16, a Botin 888, with Irvine Laidlaw who had a 1st on day one and a 2nd on day 2. In third was Umiko, a 80003 X Nautor Swan Frers 80, with Bill Titus with a 4th on day one and a 3rd on day 2.

The Maxi 2 class seems to be one of the more competitive categories this year and despite the fact that it was a four boat affair, the positions among the top three remains the same. Eliza Vastgoed, with Nico Cortlever from St. Maarten has back to back wins. The Spirit of Juno, a GBR 8653 R Farr 65 with Arran Chapman has two second places and Zampano, a FRA 53043, with Jean Paul Laval, from Saint Martin has two 3rd places.

Regatta Sailing - 1 Mar 2019 (7)

In the Ocean racing class, I Love Poland, a Volvo Open 70 with Jaro Kaczorowski and an experienced crew has made a bold statement after picking up their second win in the regatta. Sailing Pond, a V065, with Maciej Marczewski, also from Poland who finished in the number 3 spot on day one has moved up one place. In third is Ambersail 2, a Volvo 65, with Linas Ivanauskas from Lithuania, with a 2nd and a 4th.

In the ocean racing 2 class, Made in Midi, a class 40 with Guillaume Verdier Kito de Pavant from France also has back to back victories. In the number two slot is EH0 1- Performance Yacht racing, a First 47.7cr, with Gareth Glover from Great Britain with a 3rd and a 2nd followed by Avanti, a Hanse 430, skippered by Jeremi Jablonski from the USA, with a 2ndf and a 3rd place.

In the ORC performance class, Lady Mariposa Racing, a Ker 40, with Daniel Hardy was able to secure two 1st places on day one and a third on day two. In the 2nd spot is Aquis Granus, a Lutra 52 with Gerhard Henssen had a 2nd and 3rd on day one and finished day two with another 2nd place. Godspeed Sail Racing Academy, a Farr 520 with Peter Steinkogler had a 3rd and 2nd on day one and another 3rd on day two.

In the CSA 1 class, after winning both of his races on day one. Lazy Dog, a Melges 32 with Sergio Sagramoso from Puerto Rico finished in the 2nd place on day two. Kick em Jenny 2, a Melges 32, with Ian Hope Ross, from St Maarten has moved up a notch after securing two 2nd places on day one to end day two at the top of the podium. In the number three spot is Taz, a RP37, with Bernard Evan-Wong from Antigua who now has three 3rd places.

CSA 2, Dauntless, a Beneteau First 47.7 with Don Terwilliger from the USA has three first places from three races. Sonrisa, a XP 44 with Greg Kelly and Marcus Cholerton from the USA are holding steady with two second places on day one and a 3rd on day two. In the number three spot is Katara, a J145 with Roger Gatewood who managed to secure a podium place in his first event of the regatta had to settle for two 4th places.

In the CSA 3 (P40) class, Scarlet Oyster, a Lightwave 48, with Ross Applebey from Great Britain has a 3rd and two 1st places. In the second place is Touch2Play Racing, a Reflex 38 with Robert Butler from Canada with three 2nd finishes followed by Liquid, a J/22 with Pamela Baldwin from Antigua on a 1st , a 4th and a 3rd place.

In the CSA 4 class, Whistler, a J/105 with Peter Lewis from Barbados started out with a 3rd place and followed up with two victories. In second is the Caribbean Alliance Insurance, a J/30 with Tanner & Shari from Antigua with two 2nd places and a 4th followed by Maelia CEPAC Antilles with a 1st a 4th and a 5th.

Regatta Sailing - 1 Mar 2019 (4)

In the CSA 5 class, Team Island Water World, a Melges 24 is certainly among the front runners of the regatta with two victories and a 2nd place under the captaincy of Dr Frits Bus. Andrea Scarabelli and Christopher Marshall are certainly doing what it takes to secure a podium place with F.K.G, Gill Racing Team, also Melges 24 with two 2nd places and a 1st. In the 3rd place is Island Waterworld Too, another Melges 24 with Arthur Banting who has three 3rd places.

In the Bareboat 1 class, Semper Pro Grediens, a Jeanneau SO 509 with Arwin Karssemeijer from the Netherlands has two 1st places and a 2nd. He is followed by Marinero Sailing School Ukraine, a Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 509 DK, with Dmytro Po has two 2nd places and a 3rd followed by Sea Otter 2, a Jeanneau SO 509 with John Worwag from Poland with a 5th and two 4th places.

Regatta Sailing - 1 Mar 2019 (6)

Leading in the Bareboat 2 class with three wins is none other than KHS&S Contractors, a Dufour 455, with Mike Cannon & Neil Harvey from the USA. Breeze Club, a Beneteau Oceanis 45 with Brunov Aleksel from Russia has a 2nd, a 3rd and a 2nd followed by Nauti Canucks, a Jenneau SO  479 with Ian Wightman from Canada on a 4th, a 2nd and a 3rd place.

Leading in the Offshore Multi Hull class is Team Brasil, Island Waterworld, a Jobert-Nivalt 52, with Higinio Marinsalta who now has two wins. In second with two second finishes is Ineffable, a Rapido 60 with Stephen Glyn Bourne from Hongkong and R-six Team with Robert Szustkowski from Poland with two 3rd finishes.

Regatta Sailing - 1 Mar 2019 (2)

With a 1st and 2nd place, Tryst, a local boat with Bernard ‘Apple’ Stoutenbeek leads the way in the Multi Hull 1 category followed by Enola, a KL 28 with Sylvano and Mitch from Saint Martin with a 3rd and a 1st place.

Spellbound, a Leopard 45 with Ian Martin from St Maarten has made light work of the competition after picking up back to back wins in the MH2 class. In the number two slot so far is Arbuzov-VPM, a Lagoon 380 with Andrey Arbuzov from Russia with a 3rd and 2nd place and in the number three spot is Sweet Pot, with George Coutu from the USA with a 2nd and 3rd place.

Regatta Sailing - 1 Mar 2019 (3)

Photo captions: Photos by Robin Pieters.

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