The IC24 racing season kicks off in earnest this weekend with the BEYC's 'Drake's Challenge'.
On Friday, 11 BVI based IC24s will be towed 20 miles East to North Sound, Virgin Gorda...one of the finest racing locations on the planet!
The competition will be hot.
Last year's winner Chris Haycraft (Lattitude 19) and his crew have already been tuning up against last year's second man Andrew Waters (Conchquerer). These two are certainly ahead of the game with their boats 99% sorted and regular crew in place. They have to be considered the top two seeds going into the event.
Last year Robbie and Mike Hirst didn't sail the event. This year poor Mike will be in Canada 'under the knife' having his knee rebuilt but Robbie is putting together a last minute crew. This will match his last minute anti-fouling job...as I write this, his boat is in the TYS yard with the mast down looking rather forlorn.
But he's not alone. Colin Ratbun is still keenly sanding bMobile's bottom finishing off what he swears will be the last IC24 bottom job he ever puts his hand up for!
Then there's Dave West, new owner of 'the Black Pearl' He's at it too, sanding away on a Sunday morning. He hasn't got crew in place yet and is concentrating on getting her launched for the moment.
You think these guys are leaving it late? They have got nothing on Steve Roose. He got 'a little carried away' scraping off the 1970s filler off his keel. When I looked at it last Thursday it was bare lead. BVI Painters are working overtime to get some shape back into it, more power to their elbows!
Frits Bus from St. Maarten is flying in to sail 'Desperado'. He's no stranger to IC24 racing but will his last minute crew be up to speed?
Chris Currerri will be blasting up to the BEYC aboard his fathers' Sea Ray without 'Brand New Secondhand' in tow. He will be racing the Tortolan original IC24#1 'Racing in Paradise'. With his regular crew in place he should be a force to be reckoned with.
Other hopefuls are Emma Paull and her all woman crew on FirstCaribbean KATS. They have sailed together plenty, Clair Burke and Linda Phillips crewed for last years winner Chris Haycraft. They need to be watched.
Young Alec Anderson is another one to watch. This young gun shocked more than a few seasoned helms by placing second at the recent Pete Sheals memorial match race. He'll be helming 'INTAC' with James Woods and Mark Plaxton in the crew.
All boats will be racing with identical 'racing in paradise' event sails. Spinnakers will be used.
We'll have results here on Saturday evening and a full blow by blow account on Sunday.
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