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by pltm
The Royal BVI Yacht Club retained the Statue of Liberty Trophy for another year after competing in the Manhattan Yacht Club event.
A total of 16 boats, eight boats fielded by the Manhattan Yacht Club (MYC) and four each by the Royal BVI (RBVIYC) and West End Yacht Clubs (WEYC), participated in the event that took place on Saturday, February 4.
The race started off at Nanny Cay around 9:00 am, with the course taking the fleet up to Deadchest, leaving Peter Island and Flannigan to starboard, and continuing on before returning to the finish line at Nanny Cay.
A sparkling day on the water with a steady breeze made for some exciting racing with the first boat taking three and a half hours to complete the course.
First overall was the RBVIYC IC24 Black Pearl, followed by Girasoli just 4 minutes behind in second place.
Next up was Nanny Cay KATS, skippered by the Commodore of the Manhattan Yacht Club, Michael Fortenbaugh.
Pulling together a scratch crew, including KATS sailor De’Sani Thomas, they put in an impressive performance to hold off the rapidly approaching J111, Spike which had started almost an hour behind them.
First home for the West End Yacht Club was The Black Pig, sneaking just over a minute ahead of teammate Wicked Winch.
Seventh across the line was RBVIYC Commodore, followed by Dances with Whales, who also acted as the official photo boat.
Five of the MYC boats sailed an impromptu shortened course with Flag Shipping XV crossing the line first.
Back at the RBVIYC clubhouse, Governor John Duncan was on hand to present the prizes and the MYC presented medals of appreciation, including a personal thank you from Commodore Fortenbaugh to all the skippers who finished behind him.
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