Timoneer wins Superyacht Cup Antigua

by Event media on 15 Dec 2008
After a very close day of racing in what had to be one of the most nail biting finishes to The Superyacht Cup Antigua ever, Timoneer claimed a worthy victory.

With winds ranging from 14 to 27 knots on the Abu Dhabi race, all of the boats left the dock with everything to sail for. The competition for first place overall was between the Dubois designed 44m ketch Timoneer and the Bruce King 35m ketch Signe. Signe had to put at least one other boat between them to take the title and sailed hard around the course keeping the other boats behind them.

As the fleet closed up together and within a mile of the finish it still looked like it could be Signe's day for glory. Everyone was on tender hooks as yet another powerful rain squall approached shifting the breeze by 20 to 30 degrees. Signe slightly understood their lay-line to the finish and just brushed the mark and had to accept the points penalty given to them by the race committee. Timoneer, who finished second, claimed the overall title for The Superyacht Cup Antigua.

Following after Timoneer, Kalikobass II who had taken the more inshore course up the beat, sailed across the line just 45 seconds later. The first three yachts finished within 2 minutes. Credit must be given to Jim Teeters who’s Bucket Rating System had all of the yachts finishing within five minutes of each other.

The prize giving for 160 people was held at the Copper and Lumber Hotel in Nelson's Dockyard. With a theme of loud Caribbean shirts for everyone and rum punch cocktails there was no doubting where you were.

Each of the boats collected a trophy for at least one race, kindly presented by the sponsors, but the loudest cheers went to the owners of Timoneer Mr and Mrs Gosnell as they received the overall trophy, an Arawak Indian boat building tool mounted on a teak base. The Timoneer crew, including Mr Gosnell's great friend at the grand age of 94, had raced well and thoroughly enjoyed the three days sailing.

A group of local Antiguan dancing girls laid on an energetic and colourful performance, pulling up suprised guests to join in the dancing. As the evening drew to a close everyone claimed the regatta a huge success and hope to return next year.

Overall results

1st Timoneer – 2,1,1,1
2nd Signe – 1,2,3,4
3rd Kalikobass II – 4,3,2,2