The new Palmas del Mar Yacht Club & Marina was a perfect venue for the second leg of the 2010 Cape Air Caribbean Ocean Racing Triangle (C.O.R.T.) Series, the Puerto Rico Heineken International Regatta. Mother Nature cooperated too with sunny skies, near ideal breezes and a moderate chop on the seas.
In Spinnaker Racing A, St. Croix’s Robert Armstrong’s J/100, Bad Girl, maintained its first place ranking in the Cape Air C.O.R.T. Series. Meanwhile, Puerto Rico’s Luis Juarbe’s Henderson 30, Soca, moved up to second place by competing in this event, while the BVI’s Kevin Rowlette, aboard his Olsen 30, Rushin Rowlette, fell to third by not entering. Sailors are required to sail two out of three legs of the Series and they take penalty points for those legs they don’t race.
The competition was hot in Spinnaker Racing B, yet St. Thomas’ John Foster aboard his Kirby 25, The Good Bad & Ugly, won and leads this class in the Cape Air C.O.R.T. Series standings. St. Thomas’ Paul Davis driving his J/27, Magnificent 7 isn’t far behind, only two points, which will make for a thrilling showdown at the Series’ finale at the BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival.
Like Spinnaker Racing A, there was a flip-flop of leaders in the Performance Cruiser class. Puerto Rico’s Bernardo Gonzalez, aboard his Beneteau 35s5, Bonne Chance, didn’t participate and St. Croix’s Tony Sanpere aboard his J/36, Cayennita Grande, did. Cayennita Grande now leads this class in the Cape Air C.O.R.T. Series’ standings by four points over Bonne Chance.
New Hampshire’s Thomas Mullen, aboard his J/95, Shamrock VII, jumped into first place in the Racer-Cruiser Class in the Cape Air C.O.R.T. Series’ standings. In second is the BVI’s Peter Haycraft’s Sirena 38, Pipedream, which didn’t compete in this leg. With only two points separating, the race for the lead will definitely be on in the BVI – Pipedream’s home waters.
In the Cape Air C.O.R.T Series Jib & Main class, St. John’s Steve Schmidt’s Santa Cruz 70, Hotel California, is tied with St. Thomas’ Howard Silverman’s Jeanneau 54, Mary Ellen, for first place.
The big attraction of the 2010 Cape Air C.O.R.T. Series is the opportunity to win round-trip tickets for two to anywhere in the Caribbean Cape Air flies in a drawing for Cape Air C.O.R.T. entrants at the Awards Ceremony held at the conclusion of each leg of the Series. In addition, at the Series conclusion at the BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival, March 29 to April 4, two round-trip tickets on Cape Air will be awarded to the first place finisher in each of the Cape Air C.O.R.T. Series classes. First place boats in each of the classes will also received foul weather gear and second and third place boats will receive $75 and $50 gift certificates, respectively, from West Marine.
The third and final leg of the 2010 Cape Air C.O.R.T. Series is the BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival, March 29 to April 4, held out of Nanny Cay Marina in Tortola.
Cape Air offers convenient and reliable hourly flights that make travel between Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, St. Croix, Tortola and Vieques easier than ever.
The airline also offers special joint fares and convenient connections with major airlines, making it easier for sailors anywhere in the world to get to their favorite Caribbean destination.
For more information about other services, or to book on-line, visit www.capeair.com
For more information about the Cape Air C.O.R.T. Series, visit www.sailcort.com
2010 Cape Air C.O.R.T. Results at a Glance – as of Leg 2/Puerto Rico Heineken International Regatta.
Spinnaker Racing A
1. Bad Girl – Robert W. Armstrong (2)
2. Soca – Luis Juarbe (5)
3. Rushin Rowlette – Kevin Rowlette (7)
Spinnaker Racing B
1. Good Bad & Ugly – John Foster (2)
2. Magnificent 7 – Paul Davis (4)
Performance Cruiser
1. Cayennita Grande – Antonio Sanpere (3)
2. Bonne Chance – Bernardo Gonzalez (7)
Racer Cruiser
1. Shamrock – Thomas Mullen (6)
2. Pipedream – Peter Haycraft (8)
Jib & Main
1. Hotel California – Steve Schmidt (3)
1. Mary Ellen – Howard Silverman (3)
IC-24
1. Lime – Colin Rathbun (1)
