Nearly perfect conditions set the scene for superb racing at the annual St. Croix Yacht Club Hospice Regatta – the kick-off event for the 2010 Cape Air Caribbean Ocean Racing Triangle (C.O.R.T.) series. In Spinnaker Racing A, St. Croix’s Robert Armstrong’s J/100, Bad Girl, handily won the overall prize – the skipper, Jens Hookansen, weight in Cruzan Rum – as well as first place in this class for the series. Hookansen and his all Crucian crew scored with four bullets in six races. The BVI’s Kevin Rowlette, aboard his Olsen 30, Rushin Rowlette, finished second in the C.O.R.T. standings for this class, and in third place was Puerto Rico’s Luis Juarbe’s Henderson 30, Soca.
Perennial favorite, St. Thomas’ John Foster aboard his Kirby 25, The Good Bad & Ugly, topped the Spinnaker Racing B class in the series standings. St. Thomas’ Paul Davis driving his J/27, Mag 7, followed Foster in class. The Performance Cruiser class saw Puerto Rico’s Bernardo Gonzalez’s Beneteau 35s5, Bonne Chance, take the lead with St. Croix’s Tony Sanpere in second aboard his J/36, Cayennita Grande. The two traded bullets throughout the racing.
In the Cape Air C.O.R.T. Series’ Racer Cruiser class, the BVI’s Peter Haycraft’s Sirena 38, Pipedream, finished first. New Hampshire’s Thomas Mullen, aboard his J/95, Shamrock VII, placed second. And finally, in the series Jib & Main class, St. Croix’s Howard Silverman is in first place aboard his Jeanneau 54, Mary Ellen.
The big attraction of the 2010 Cape Air C.O.R.T. Series is the opportunity to win round-trip tickets for two to anywhere in the Caribbean Cape Air flies in a drawing for Cape Air C.O.R.T. entrants at the awards ceremony held at the conclusion of each leg of the series. In addition, at the series conclusion at the BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival, March 29 to April 4, two round-trip tickets on Cape Air will be awarded to the first-place finisher in each of the Cape Air C.O.R.T. Series classes. First place boats in each of the classes will also received foul weather gear, and second and third-place boats will receive $75 and $50 gift certificates from West Marine.
The BVI’s Peter Haycraft was the lucky winner of the Cape Air ticket drawing at the St. Croix Yacht Club Hospice Regatta. Those who missed the sign-up on St. Croix can register for the 2010 series at the second leg, the Puerto Rico Heineken International Regatta, which will be held March 19-21 at the Palmas del Mar Yacht Club Marina in Humacao, Puerto Rico. Registration for the series is $60.
Cape Air offers convenient and reliable hourly flights that make travel between Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, St. Croix, Tortola and Vieques easier than ever.The airline also offers special joint fares and convenient connections with major airlines, making it easier for sailors anywhere in the world to get to their favorite Caribbean destination.For more information about other services, or to book online, visit www.capeair.com. For more information about the Cape Air C.O.R.T. Series, visit www.sailcort.com.
2010 Cape Air C.O.R.T. Results at a Glance — as of Leg 1/St. Croix Yacht Club Hospice Regatta
Spinnaker Racing A
1. Bad Girl – Robert W. Armstrong
2. Rushin Rowlette – Kevin Rowlette
3. Soca – Luis Juarbe
Spinnaker Racing B
1. Good Bad & Ugly – John Foster
2. Mag 7 – Paul Davis
3. Sun Bum II – Angel Ayala
Performance Cruiser
1. Bonne Chance – Bernardo Gonzalez
2. Cayennita Grande – Antonio Sanpere
Racer Cruiser
1. Pipedream – Peter Haycraft
2. Shamrock – Thomas Mullen
Jib & Main
1. Mary Ellen – Howard Silverman
