Racing In Paradise

Hirst brothers demolish the competition at the 2006 Nanny Cay Nations Cup

Having teamed up with last years' second placed helm Colin Rathbun the Hirst brothers counted nothing worse than a third place in their 10 races.

The perpetual trophy stays in the BVI for another year and the question is will anyone be able to dethrone these guys next year?

The winds were a little light but on Sunday a steady SE'ly set in with glorious sunshine and perfect racing conditions. The fight for second place was intense, at the close of play on Saturday it was team Holland who looked favourites with a 6 point cushion over the USVI. However Simon Manly and his St. Martin team came out blazing on Sunday morning scoring two bullets. It all came down to the last flight with St. Martin scoring two second places which knocked the USVI into third place.

Haycraft Takes Top Honours in the Bitter End Drake's IC24 Challenge but Named "Second Man" at the Close of the Weekend

In near perfect conditions, ten IC skippers and crews raced their boats in the first Bitter End Drake's IC24 Challenge. Sailing a total of nine races in two days with winds ranging from 6 – 15 knots, shifting both left and right, competition was fierce but in the end, it was the battle of the sailmakers for first and second place.

Conch Charters, owned by Andrew Waters and whose crew included Kevin Wrigley of Quantum and Chris Haycraft in Latitude 19, sailing with Doyle's Bob Phillips, dominated the event. Racing finished on Saturday with Haycraft leading the event by three points and, although Waters tried desperately to dethrone him, it was Chris, Bob and Linda Phillips, Clair Burke and Richard Wooldridge who stood on the stage to collect the first place prize, leaving Andrew and his crew firmly in second place and Mark Plaxton with the third place honours. Special mention should go to Simon Manly from St.Martin who finished fourth overall but included three bullets in his tally.