Nov. 24, 2001 – Good crew work was the key to Online Vacations' win in Saturday's race of the 20th annual Coral Bay Thanksgiving Regatta, according to skipper Gary Wright. "Old reliable," he called his mates.
He credited them with great spinnaker sets, and he had a little luck to help his Cal 2-27 finish at the top of the fleet and first in his PHRF 1 class.
Wright, a St. John resident, said the light wind was perfect for his boat. In fact, most of the class winners pointed out that that their boats do well in light air. While most of the week had been nearly windless, the breeze picked up to 10 to 15 knots as the boats set sail on both Friday and Saturday.
"The wind Gods favored us," said Luis Ojeda, a Puerto Rico resident who for 12 years running has taken his boat, Casi Casi, to St. John so the Coral Bay Yacht Club could use it to keep tabs on the starts and finishes. Ojeda also officiated at the awards ceremony held Saturday at Skinny Legs Bar and Restaurant.
On Friday, a total of 15 boats competed in the gaffer and two single-handed classes. Saturday saw 28 crewed boats in five classes take to the waters outside the Coral Bay harbor. Most hailed from St. John, but the regatta also drew a smattering of boats from St. Thomas.
Liberty cleaned up, finishing first in the gaffer class on Friday and at the top of the over-40-foot traditional class in Saturday's race. Skipper Fletcher Pitts, a perennial winner, gave all the credit to his wife, Robin Clair, for making the Alden 52 a winner. "She hikes hard and looks for shifts," Pitts said, also praised the rest of his crew for their efforts.
Ted Haler, who skippered his Buchanan 38, Ocean Wave, to a first in the cruising 2 class on Saturday, said he caught all the wind shifts. "And she points highest to the wind," added his wife, Nina Haler.
St. Thomas resident Robert Danet, who sailed over on his Custom 18, Seanonda Rose U, for the event, said "a couple of guys from St. John" who crewed for him, Rafe Boulon and Bucky Buchalter, helped him to victory in the under-40-foot traditional class.
Steven Bond, who skippered his Southern Cross 28, Southern Breeze, to a first in the cruising 1 class on Saturday, said he stayed close to shore rather than taking an outside course. He said this gave him an edge.
David Brown, whose Little Harbor 53, Robin, won the PHRF 2 class, said his strategy was to "sail our own race — and to have fun." That pretty much summed up the overall objective of this very laid-back annual race sponsored by the Coral Bay Yacht Club.
Regatta results
Saturday's race (corrected times)
Traditional Class over 40 feet
1. Liberty, Alden 52, Fletcher Pitts, St. John, 2:42:20
2. Flying Circus, Alberg 45, Joe Camuso/Lon Munsey, St. John, 5:38:03
3. Silver Cloud, Custom 90, Elliot Hooper, St. John, 6:09:22
Traditional Class under 40 feet
1. Seanonda Rose U, Custom 18, Robert Danet, St. Thomas, 3:21:14
2. Calabreeze, Cowhorn 32, John Costanzo, St. John, 3:45:46
Cruising 1 Class
1. Southern Breeze, Southern Cross 28, Steven Bond, Lovango, 2:52:12
2. Frodo, S-2 29, Dan Davis, St. John, 3:02:203. Tuaq, Alberg 22, Andy Hunt, St. John, 3:22:56
Cruising 2 Class
1. Ocean Wave, Buchanan 38, Ted Hahler, St. John, 2:17:00
2. Paper Tiger, Custom Morgan 38, Phil Strenger, St. John, 2:33:38
3. Crosstown Traffic, Alberg 35, Willis Owner, St. John, 2:59:10
PHRF 1 Class
1. Online Vacations, Cal 2-27, Gary Wright, St. John, 2:52:10
2. Windshift, Van DeStat 30, Ralph Fette, St. John, 3:02:26
3. Willful, Bristol 27, David Geiger, St. John, 3:28:03
PHRF 2 Class
1. Robin, Little Harbor 53, David Brown, Lovango, 2:59:47
2. Tempest, Beneteau 38, John Haracivet, St. Thomas, 3:07:50
3. Janet Lynn, Hunter 39, W.L. Morris, St. John, 3:23:52
Friday's race (elapsed time)
Gaffers.
1. Liberty, Alden 52, Fletcher Pitts, St. John, 1:08:47
2. Calabreeze, Cowhorn 32, John Costanzo, St. John, 2:24:11
Single-handed under 35 feet
1. Windshift, Van DeStat 30, Ralph Fette, St. John, 1:05:15
2. Online Vacations, Cal 2-27, Gary Wright, St. John, 1:08:24
3. Southern Breeze, Southern Cross 28, Steven Bond, Lovango, 1:26:48
Single-handed over 35 feet
1. Robin, Little Harbor 53, David Brown, Lovango, 1:02:44
2. Ocean Wave, Buchanan 38, Ted Hahler, St. John, 1:20:20
3. Paper Tiger, Custom Morgan 38, Phil Strenger, St. John, 1:29:15
