Superyacht Cup at Antigua - Day 2
by Kate Branagh 15 Dec 2007 07:52 GMT
Timoneer takes second race
Fantastic sailing conditions in Antigua for the second day of The Superyacht Cup; clear blue skies, a steady 22 knot breeze and a big swell still running providing exciting action around the 20 mile course off English Harbour.
The race committe chose to postpone the start by half an hour as Tenacious suffered some technical problems. The other yachts waited patiently in the relative shelter under the cliffs known as the 'Pillars of Hercules' but unfortunately the solution could not be found in time and the race started without them.
The 44m Dubois designed ketch Timoneer just loved the conditions and took an early lead, overtaking yesterday's winner Yanneke Too on the first leg. Timoneer flew full mainsail and mizzen staysail and with the advantage of longer waterline length overtook the smaller Patient Falcon on the reach down to Curtain Bluff.
On the beat back up to the finish Patient Falcon fought hard to catch her rival as they tacked up the coast. The wind was shifting around 20 degrees close to the shore giving Patient Falcon an advantage, being able to sail higher and tack quicker. Longer through the tacks and slower to accelerate, the heavier displacement Timoneer could not make so much of the inshore conditions and the gap between the two yachts closed once again. With decades of racing experience, America's Cup and Whitbread sailors onboard the crew on Timoneer made a good judgement for the last tack and Timoneer laid the finish line to cross in first place. The glory of the moment somewhat suprised Whitbread verteran Roger Nilson as he commented, "I am not sure I understand the rating system used here but I think we did OK today"
Day 2 Results:
1st Timoneer
2nd Patient Falcon
3rd Virago
For full results go to www.thesuperyachtcup.com