Racing In Paradise

The 2007 BEYC 'Drakes Challenge' report...

11 IC24s rigged up on a very grey and gusty Saturday morning to do battle. With tropical storm Noel winding up off to the east, bands of squalls were going to make things interesting.

'The Drake's Challenge' only 5 days away...

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!

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.