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On the other end of the size scale, the Spinnaker Racing ("Over 50 ft.") Class relished the go-fast conditions and waited patiently at times for wind to arise--in particular, during the two-hour interlude between today's two races. Tactician Peter Holmberg (brother of John) positioned Tom Hill's (Puerto Rico) Titan XII perfectly for two good starts and as many wins. In race one, the boat hit all the correct shifts and stretched a lead at the first windward mark before the wind died and left much of the back of the fleet in dire straights. Titan, at 75 feet, is the largest boat in the seven-boat fleet. "Yes we owe the others time, but we did get pretty far ahead," said Holmberg.
"Every time a squall came through, the wind shifted 40 degrees," said Principal Race Officer Peter Reggio. "Thankfully, winds in the second race were more reliable."
Tony Bessinger (Newport, R.I.), sailing to two victories aboard Bill Dockser's (Bethesda, Md.) Farr 65 Team Atlantic in Spinnaker Racer/Cruiser Class 1, wasn't bothered at all by the rain that accompanied the winds. "It's so warm, it's heaven. But the best part is that no bad stuff happened. We've been practicing for three days, and everything came together beautifully. In the second race, we were going 13 1/2 knots in 26-30 knots of breeze!"
Racing continues through Sunday when Rolex watches will be awarded to the winners in each class.
Reporting: Big weather at the Rolex
ST. THOMAS, USVI (March 26, 2004)-- Rain squalls seemingly disrupted paradise today as hundreds of sailors on 91 boats started their three-day competition at the International Rolex Regatta 2004. In actuality, however, the dramatic changes in weather merely tested the preparedness of participants and race committee members, and both groups were pleased with results at the end of the day. Hosted by the St. Thomas Yacht Club in the U.S. Virgin Islands, the International Rolex Regatta is celebrating its 31st consecutive year and is one of the islands' oldest and most popular regattas, attracting sailors from the Caribbean, the United States and Europe.
Clearly the boat to beat in the Beach Cat class, Enrique Figueroa's MoviStar/Suzuki/Red Bull blasted to the lead in today's first race and finished second in race two despite capsizing--an unusual mishap to have befallen this 2004 Puerto Rican Olympic Sailing Team member. "You had to make a decision whether to follow the rain. That was where the wind was, but I paid the price when I flipped."
"We went through all four seasons today," said local sailor Jennifer Firestone, who skippered Viola through five races on the IC-24 course. "It was hot, it was cold, it was windy, it was dead." After all was said and done, Viola wound up at the back of the 14-boat fleet in overall standings, while Robert and Michael Hirst of Roadtown, Tortola, BVI, co-skippered Seahawk for the best scoreline to lead. Two perennial local favorites--Chris Rosenberg and John Holmberg, both of whom have won this regatta several times in other classes before switching to the IC-24, sit in third and fourth, respectively. "The Race Committee did a great job," said Holmberg. "I loved the conditions.. These boats are underpowered so they are a blast in 20 knots, and in light air you really have to work to keep them moving, but they are very evenly matched." Clearly the boat to beat in the Beach Cat class, Enrique Figueroa's MoviStar/Suzuki/Red Bull blasted to the lead in today's first race and finished second in race two despite capsizing--an unusual mishap to have befallen this 2004 Puerto Rican Olympic Sailing Team member. "You had to make a decision whether to follow the rain. That was where the wind was, but I paid the price when I flipped."
On the other end of the size scale, the Spinnaker Racing ("Over 50 ft.") Class relished the go-fast conditions and waited patiently at times for wind to arise--in particular, during the two-hour interlude between today's two races. Tactician Peter Holmberg (brother of John) positioned Tom Hill's (Puerto Rico) Titan XII perfectly for two good starts and as many wins. In race one, the boat hit all the correct shifts and stretched a lead at the first windward mark before the wind died and left much of the back of the fleet in dire straights. Titan, at 75 feet, is the largest boat in the seven-boat fleet. "Yes we owe the others time, but we did get pretty far ahead," said Holmberg.
"Every time a squall came through, the wind shifted 40 degrees," said Principal Race Officer Peter Reggio. "Thankfully, winds in the second race were more reliable."
Tony Bessinger (Newport, R.I.), sailing to two victories aboard Bill Dockser's (Bethesda, Md.) Farr 65 Team Atlantic in Spinnaker Racer/Cruiser Class 1, wasn't bothered at all by the rain that accompanied the winds. "It's so warm, it's heaven. But the best part is that no bad stuff happened. We've been practicing for three days, and everything came together beautifully. In the second race, we were going 13 1/2 knots in 26-30 knots of breeze!"
Racing continues through Sunday when Rolex watches will be awarded to the winners in each class.
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