Richard Oland wins a Rolex in St. Thomas

by Guy Perrin on 1 Apr 2010 Richard Oland was pretty excited on Sunday night; he showed up at the Rolex Cup Regatta awards ceremony at the St. Thomas Yacht Club not wearing a watch on his wrist... He picked up a new Rolex for his win in the IRC division.

His Southern Cross 52, Vela Veloce, with Brian Ledbetter driving, posted a final score of 13 points to beat out Austin and Gwen Fragomen's (New York, N.Y.) TP 52 Interlodge. The two 52-footers fought a tight battle throughout the 3-day 6-races event.

'It's pleasing to come from Canada to the Islands and be up against these world players,' said Oland about his first-ever experience racing at the International Rolex Regatta. 'I already have a Rolex watch, but this one is better,' he added with a grin, after the awards presentation. Ledbetter, who won an Olympic silver medal in the Finn class at the 1992 Olympics, called the three days of racing 'magical' compared to the windward/leeward racing he is used to doing.

IRC Results (IRC - 8 Boats)

1. Vela Veloce, Southern Cross 52 52', Richard Oland, Rothesay, NB, CAN - 3, 1, 2, 2, 1, 4, ; 13
2. Interlodge, JV 52 52, Austin and Gwen Fragomen, Newport, RI, USA - 1, 2, 1, 4, 4, 3, ; 15
3. White Heat, Summit 40 39.72 ft, Michael Williamson, London, London, UK - 2, 5, 5, 3, 2, 2, ; 19
4. Equation, Andrews 68 68, Bill Alcott, St. Clair Shores, MI, USA - 6, 4, 4, 1, 7, 1, ; 23
5. Otra Vez, J 122 40, William Coates, Bellaire, TX, USA - 4, 3, 3, 6, 3, 8, ; 27
6. Oystercatcher XXVI, Humphreys 42 12.78, Richard Matthews, Ipswich, Suffolk, GBR - 5, 6, 6, 5, 5, 5, ; 32
7. Long Echo, NYYC Swan 42 42, Barry Sampson, W. Sussex, England, England - 7, 8, 7, 8, 6, 6, ; 42
8. Donnybrook, Custom Sloop 72 72, James P. Muldoon, Washington, DC, USA - 8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 7, ; 45