A Game of Two Halves
Valentine Regatta 2026
Against the mainly absent wind, the Yacht Club put on well-attended and competitive
sailing over the weekend of 14th February. JHYC’s Valentine Regatta is wonderfully
supported by Jolly Harbour Marina Boatyard which has it all, including catamaran lifter,
Budget Marine which has everything a yachts’ person might need, Dream Yacht’s for
chartering and Absolute Properties Antigua for the best Caribbean properties
North Sails powered the event through kind sponsorship and Andrew’s magic which makes
boats go faster, that is, repairing or supplying everyone’s sails over the years.
Participants could benefit from free and discounted dockage, and Race Officer Chris
Mansfield and his team from a free and luxurious Committee Boat.
Use of a chase boat and – my guess – at least twenty helping hands were volunteered and
were thanked profusely by Commodore Rob XXXXX for laying marks, setting courses,
timekeeping, flags, VHF work, registering participants, and on and on.
Fifteen boats came out and four classes were excellently well set by our esteemed Sailing
Captain, Jim. No disrespectful, unseemly arguing. Well, almost. It was great to see local
crews intertwined, if that’s the word, with the usual suspects from Jolly and Falmouth.
So, the first half on Saturday called for great skill and sailing intellect to catch the faintest
of breezes from the North. Or South. Or possibly West? Sunday provided more customary,
for Antigua, winds – mainly Easterly, and even above ten knots on occasion.
Depending on which class, Saturday saw just one or two races completed, after
postponements due to flat calms, and time lapses, particularly around the Oceanic Estates
mark due to almost motionless racers, “painted boats upon a painted ocean”.
Surya North won racing class first race. However over the two days and seven races for
this class Bernie Wong and crew emerged on top in the Mum 36 S/Y High Tension. That
name gives a good idea for us lower orders of what it’s like in racing class. Terrifying. It’s
the RORC now so good luck Bernie.
PIMS won Performance Cruiser first race, but Blue Peter took the prize again. Three of the
four boats in this class are old, dry sailed boats manned by street-fighting sailors. One
proof, a skipper who shall be nameless was heard to say “I didn’t buy a boat. I bought a
handicap”. S/Y Volare, the fourth boat in this class is a newer Grand Soleil. Beautiful, but
tough to sail above her handicap – particularly in the light winds of Saturday. Indeed,
Volare, hit – or more accurately, drifted into – that infamous Oceanic Estates mark, and
executed a fast 360* when she got a little speed further up the course.
Now. S/Y Circus. What can I say? She’s crewed by half the Committee and won five of the
six races sailed in Cruiser Class. Easily. True, you don’t get to be Sailing Captain and
Commodore if don’t win races. And the teamwork and quiet strategy on board was a joy to
see. And again, Circus is a fully laden floating home and cruiser. Perhaps the overall
winner trophy is happy on Rob’s bookshelf?
It’s very cheering to see four local RS Elites battling it out in the fourth class of this
successful regatta. S/Y Boom had very experienced – one mught say, elite – crew and
eventually eclipsed Zan – an older boat which I think (correct me if I am wrong) came up to
Jolly Harbour from the Antigua Sailing Academy?
So, thanks again. Keep on sailing. And keep the brain in gear. See you next year. I hope.
Cap. Rick GORMLEY
