Jan. 27, 2009 – A fleet of seven heavy cruisers, two racer-cruisers and one trimaran completed the annual two-day Race Around St. Croix on Sunday, Jan. 25, which was organized by the St. Croix Yacht Club. For most of the two days, conditions were a racer's dream: 12-16 knots out of the ENE, with an occasional gust to 18 knots, just to keep it interesting, according to Ellen Sanpere.
As in previous years, the race started on Saturday from Pull Point on the north shore, and ran clockwise around the island, including an overnight stop in Frederiksted, where Coconuts hosted a celebration for the visiting fleet. A new feature this year was a just-for-fun power boat rally; two showed up to brave the rugged east end and the reef enshrouded south shore. Sightings of rainbows, whales and leatherback turtles were reported during the two-day race.
All navigational marks were to be kept on the starboard hand, but honoring a 3-mile security exclusion zone around the Hovensa refinery on the south shore was left up to the individual skipper’s discretion. In the end, it made little difference in Saturday's racer-cruiser results. Sadly, Bob Ferris's Guneagal lost her headstay in the choppy seas on Sunday. No injuries were reported, but the boat had to retire from the race.
Caribbean Sailing Association correction factors were applied to total elapsed times, and the final results of two days of racing are as follows.
1. Cayennita Grande, J-36, Tony and Ellen Sanpere
2. El Presidente, Thomas 35, Jeff Fangmann
3. Barbaric Yawp, Tartan 30, Taylor Babb
4. Piglet, Newick 23 Teegull, Joe and Julie San Martin
5. Serenity, Morgan 45, Dave and Shannon Altom
6. Endymion, Petersen 44, Jim and Gail Nealon
7. August Moon, Endeavor 40, Matt and Rachel Fenske
8. Aurora Starlight, Beneteau First 310, Mark Eckerd
9. Tikitas, Swan 43, Jack Gray
10. Guneagal, Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 37, Bob Ferris
