Dec. 7, 2008 — Three days of racing on the St. Thomas waterfront made fans out of people who never cared about sailboat racing before.
"I was fascinated," said Joe Chada of St. Thomas who, as a live-aboard yachtsman, had not held racing sailors in the highest regard. "I have a totally different opinion now. I was absolutely amazed at [the crews'] tremendous endurance."
Spectators were treated by Trident Jewels and Time and Ulysse Nardin watch manufacturers to a sailing spectacular featuring the best in local male sailors and the best women's match-racing teams in the country.
The event was elegant from the very beginning. It exemplified the best of the sport of sailing and the best of what St. Thomas can offer, from the beautiful waterfront and harbor to the caliber of the competition, the support by the race committee, the social events and, finally, to the exquisite watches the winners received.
The Carlos Aguilar Match Race is named after a passionate sailor from El Salvador, who many years ago came to St. Thomas and made it his home. He was killed in 2007 while pursuing a burglar.
Sponsor Satish Alwani was one of those who came to the competition knowing little more about sailing then that the Ulysse Nardin watches that he sells were created for mariners to keep track of time to locate their position on the sea.
He came to the waterfront to get a firsthand look at the event and left a fan.
"I was there for 20 minutes this morning watching the semi-finals," Alwani said. "It was exhilarating watching the competition and teamwork."
Aguilar worked as an architect, but sailing was his love. He taught scads of young sailors to love the sport like he did, and two of them — 19-year-old Taylor Canfield and 15-year-old William Bailey — finished in the top two positions in this weekend's racing.
"Carlos would have been so honored and so excited to see these kids out there," said Carlos' widow, Verian Aguilar. "He used to race against Taylor, and when he won Rolex in 2003, he beat Taylor in the last race of the day. Then Taylor started racing with us, and that is why I gave Taylor Carlos' watch."
Aguilar's friends and relatives came from as far away as El Salvador for the event.
"They needed to come here and feel the love," Verian said. "Now they know why he lived here."
Verian spent all three day's watching the event commemorating her husband, and by the end of the weekend knew all the competitors on a first-name basis. She also has an expert's knowledge of the sport and could call the races as well as the official announcer.
Prevailing over women's teams from all over the nation were Genny Tulloch (driving), Sandy Barlow (main and tactics), Jen Glass (trimmer) and and Liz Hall (bow).
The harbor's shifty winds were a drawback at first, Tulloch said, but the crew resolved to make sailing the shifts the first priority and worry about their opponent second.
"When it is this shifty, it lets the boat behind catch up," Tulloch said. "Our scorecard doesn't give [the crews' performance]. Every race was fighting till the end."
The winning crew had never sailed the IC-24s before, and found them super roomy and really maneuverable.
The team also liked the physical features of the venue, especially the bulkhead, which the controlling boats used to hold their opponents, forcing them to tack again and again and again as they moved windward.
Lee Icyda, who was one of the beneficiaries of Carlos Aguilar's passion for sailing, finished in fourth place with Team ISV. Ironically, the crew drew Aguilar's old boat, Mean Green, for the first flights today.
"How fortuitous for us," Icyda said. "We were focusing all of our energy on our intention of being here for Carlos. The result isn't as important as the intention."
The men's competition finished with St. Thomian Taylor Canfield on top. Canfield credited John Holmberg, Tyler Rice and Max Nickbarg with the win.
"It’s the crew," Canfield said. "I could not have done it without them."
Canfield had nothing but praise for his competition, William Bailey, who finished second in the event.
"William definitely put up a good fight," Canfield said. "As young as he is, he's got a good future."
Sage talk from Canfield, who at the ripe old age of 19 may also have a few good years of match racing left in him.
Official results of the Carlos Aguilar Match Race:
Men's Division
1. Taylor Canfield, St. Thomas
2. William Bailey, St. Thomas
3. Chris Haycraft, Tortola, British Virgin Islands
4. Alec Anderson, Tortola, British Virgin Islands
5. Peter Stanton, St. Croix
6. Fraito Lugo, Puerto Rico
7. Chris Curreri, St. Thomas/El Salvador
8. Frits Bus, St. Maarten
Women's Division
1. Genny Tulloch, California
2. Liz Baylis, California
3. Anna Tunnicliffe, Florida
4. Lee Icyda, Rhode Island/St. Thomas
5. Sandy Hayes, Mass.
6. Louise Bienvenue, New Orleans
Editor's note: The author of this story would like to thank Augusto Tromben for his generous assistance with on-the-water coverage of the races and Denise Holmberg for her explanation of the sport.
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