Braving six-foot waves and 25-knot winds, intrepid sailors took to the high seas on Good Friday to battle the elements and each other in the Round the Island Race.
The 43-mile race started in North Sound, with yachts exiting via the main channel and heading around East End, and finishing off at Sunset House. The regatta was a pursuit race, with the slowest yacht starting at 7am and the quickest about an hour-and-a-half later, explained Mark Macfee, cruising representative of the Cayman Islands Sailing Club.
Sailors had to deal with some harsh conditions this year, including 20-to-25-knot winds coming straight from the east, meaning the yachts had to fight their way into the wind. They also had to endure six-foot seas for several hours as they navigated the rough seas off East End, “before eventually being rewarded with the sleigh ride down the south coast under spinnaker,” Macfee said.
The first yacht home was Mirikama, a J30 sailed by Mike Farrington and Rick Caley and their top crew, which beat Blue Runner (J37), skippered by Bruce Johnson, by just over six minutes.
Third, but also the first multihull home, was the brand new Seawind 1190, Powerplay, recently bought by Peter and Pat Cunningham and sailed with an experienced crew.
This was the second winning year in row for Mirikama, which is also enjoying a successful season in local monthly races.
“The weather conditions were such that a few yachts opted for a safer and more comfortable sail via Northwest Point to meet the fleet at Sunset House and join in the after-party and prize giving,” Macfee said.
The Cayman Islands Coast Guard were on hand to monitor the race.
Thirteen yachts, with 89 crew members, registered for the race, and eight completed it.
Macfee said, despite equipment failures causing a couple of retirements, “all competitors agreed it was a great day’s sailing, with the added joy of seeing a whale off East End”.
The following day, on Easter Saturday, competitors then took part in a Back to the Sound race, returning back to the North Sound, via Northwest Point.
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