PegLegs Round Tortola Race victory for Jurakan

by Alastair Abrehart on 23 Nov 2011 Just a couple of weeks after the passing of Dave West, his crew provided a fitting tribute when they sailed his Melges 32 Jurakan to a stunning victory in the PegLegs Round Tortola Race. The race this year was dedicated to the memory of Dave West in recognition of is huge contribution to sailing in the British Virgin Islands.

Jurakan, skippered by Andrew Waters, won Racing Class in a corrected time of four hours, 39 minutes and 58 seconds – just five seconds ahead of second-place Pipe Dream, skippered by Peter Haycraft. Third place went to Kevin Rowlette's Rushin' Rowlette.

Fittingly, the monohull record set by Dave West sailing Jurakan in 2009 still stands at four hours, 15 minutes and five seconds. Winner for the previous two years and Round Tortola Race record holder Triple Jack, skippered by Richard Wooldridge, won the multi-hull class, but wind conditions were not favourable for this old girl to pick up her skirt and fly this year. Bill Bailey's Second Nature was victorious in Cruising Class once again.

There were sixteen yacht entries this year, an increase on 2010. Skippers and crew flew in from as far afield as Connecticut and Puerto Rico, underlining the increasing prestige with which this event is regarded. The wind was relatively light at around twelve knots, so the Round Tortola records were not in danger of being surpassed.

Nonetheless benign sea conditions ensured the yachts were able to complete their circumnavigation in respectable times.

Prize-giving was held at the beach bar at Nanny Cay. Prizes were provided by Nanny Cay and Peg Legs as race sponsors, and general manager Miles Sutherland-Pilch presented them to the top three yachts in each class. Before the results were announced the assembled sailors and crowd at Nanny Cay held a one-minute round of applause in Mr West's memory.

Jurakan's crew assembled on stage to receive their first prize and the Peg Leg's Round Tortola Trophy. Mr. Waters made a short speech, which all the crew had agreed in advance would be the most fitting way to commemorate Mr. West. It ended with the crowd raising their glasses to the words 'Cheers Dave'.

The next Royal BVI Yacht Club will be the Commodore's Cup on 17th December 2011.

Full results of the 2011 Peg Legs Round Tortola Race:

Racing Class:

1 Jurakan - Andrew Waters
2 Pipe Dream - Peter Haycraft
3 Rushin Rowlette - Kevin Rowlette
4 Boomerang - Pat Nolan
5 Bonne Chance - Jose Sanchez
6 Reba/Team Red Stripe - Jon Charlton
7 Intac - Mark Plaxton
8 Luxury Girl - Guy Phoenix

Multihull Class:

1 Triple Jack - Richard Wooldridge
2 Wildfire - John Hayes
3 Machete - Brian Duff

Cruising Class:

1 Second Nature - Bill Bailey
2 Jack Dusty III - Bill Hirst
3 Ginger - Bruce Fletcher
4 Girasoli - Keith LiGreci
5 Veritas - Kara Phillips

Following the same format as the last two years, classes started in the Sir Francis Drake Channel off Nanny Cay and then head anti-clockwise around Tortola. After the beat up the Sir Francis Drake Channel, the fleet turned the corner at Great Camanoe and headed on a downward run to West End where, after a quick wiggle through Soper’s Hole, it was a beat back to the finish line off Nanny Cay.

While Triple Jack still holds the record for fastest circumnavigation of Tortola in the Round Tortola Race, the outright and multihull record is now held by Soma, a Formula 40. Soma, a St John-based catamaran and frequent BVI visitor, smashed the Round Tortola record on April 15th 2010 in the first, and so far only, attempt on the Nanny Cay Challenge. Soma circumnavigated Tortola and outer islands in two hours, 50 minutes and 15 seconds destroying Triple Jack’s record set in the 2009 PegLegs Round Tortola Race.

Nanny Cay Resort, Boatyard and Marina is located between Road Town and West End on Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. Its fully equipped marina and boat repair facility has berths for 180 motor cruisers and yachts and two boat lifts of 50 and 70 tons capacity. Nanny Cay also includes a 40-room hotel and new waterfront townhouses for purchase and rental, two restaurants, a chandlery, a small supermarket, shops and boutiques, a dive shop, a water sports center, free WiFi service, and a gym and spa.

For further information visit www.nannycay.com