A fisherman’s net kept Tortola’s Kevin Rowlette and crew aboard Rushin’ Rowlette from winning the last race of the St. Croix International Regatta on Sunday and the regatta overall.
While Rushin’ Rowlette did take the top spot in Class A Spinnaker racing, its counterpart from the British Virgin Islands, Mermaid II, topped the fleet overall. That meant skipper William Berardelli – a big bloke – headed back to Tortola on his Custom 40 with his weight – eight cases worth – of Cruzan Rum to fill the winner’s big silver cup.
On Sunday, the final race of the three-day, five-race regatta, Rushin’ Rowlette, an Olson 30, was ahead of Mermaid II and St. Croix’s Sorceress. But a poorly flagged fish net on a long line at the windward mark layline forced Rushin’ Rowlette off course and into fifth place for the day and second place for the regatta overall.
Mermaid II finished first on Sunday along with two second and two third place finishes. Rushin’ Rowlette had three firsts, a fifth – in which skipper Rowlette was denied a redress for time because of the net – and a seventh. Rowlette, however, did take home the Commodore’s Cup for sportsmanship.
"He lost the whole regatta because of that fisherman’s net," said John Foster, skipper of St. Thomas’ Magnificent 7.
Despite losing time because of the net on Sunday, Rowlette took the mishap in stride. "It was a great regatta," he said
That feeling was echoed throughout the day Sunday, especially after heavy winds just prior to the regatta threatened the arrival of many boats. Although the regatta saw 31 boats in competition, the winds did keep some racers away, said Chuck Baxter, regatta co-chairman.
"We didn’t get as many of our Puerto Rican friends as we had hoped," Baxter said.
St. Croix Yacht Club board members want to build on this year’s format, the fist time the regatta has been held in February. The move was done to avoid hurricane season – past races were held in November – and place the regatta at the beginning of the popular Caribbean Ocean Racing Triangle series when more boats are in the region.
"It’s as good as could be," Baxter said at the conclusion of the regatta on Sunday. "It’s found a home. It’s been a experiment, but it has found a home. Next year we’ll try to bump up the advertising and double the number of boats."
Class A Spinnaker Fleet:
1. Rushin Rowlette, Rowlette, Olson 30, Tortola
2. Mermaid II, Beradelli, Custom 40, Tortola
3. Fastidiots, Brockbank, Olson 30, Tortola
Class B Spinnaker,
1. Jersey Devil, Stanton, J24, St. Croix
2. El Shaddai II, Fangmann, J24, St. Croix
3. Cruzan Confusion, Castruccio, J24, St. Croix
Class C, Melges 24:
1. Contact Carib, Bus, Melges 24, St. Maarten
2. Airgasm, Crook, Melges, Tortola
Class D, Cruiser/Racers:
1. Pipe Dream, Haycraft, Sirena 38, Tortola
2. Mirage, Brugger, Custom, St. John
3. Annick II, Castruccio, J30, St. Croix.
Class F, Jib and Main:
1. Harmony, Leider, Venus 28, St. Croix
2. Chelone, Murphy, Columbia, St. Croix
3. Windflower, Joines, Alberg 35, St. Croix
Class G, Beach Cat Non-spinnakers:
1. Rush, Merced, Prindle 19, St. Thomas
2. Double Exposure, Hasson, Nacra 5.8, St. Croix
3. Tom Aigner, Nacra 5.8, St. Croix
Class H, Beach Cat Spinnakers:
1. Claims Paid, J. Holmberg, Inter 20, St. Thomas
2. Village Ram, Jackson, I-20, St. Thomas
3. War, Pitt, I-20, St. Thomas
