NEWS
SOJANA CHASES THE FLEET BUT KALIKOBASS WINS DAY 2
December 15th 2006, English Harbour, Antigua
The second day´s rally of the Superyacht Cup Antigua was sponsored by Camper & Nicholson´s International. The start times for each boat were re-calculated based on the yachts´ elapsed times from day 1, which produced a close race and a good chase around the course. Once again perfect Caribbean conditions with 18 –20 knot winds out of the east, bright sunshine and a big swell gave the five superyachts some excellent sailing.
First to start was the smallest boat in the fleet, Velacarina (25.4m) and close on her heels Maltese Falcon (88m) powered across the line with good speed. Kalikobass II (32m) and Patient Falcon (29m) followed, and finally yesterday´s winner, Sojana, started almost one hour after the first boat.
Maltese Falcon overtook Velacarina on the way to the first mark and took off down the broad reach to Curtain Bluff. Maltese Falcon was carrying less sail area than on the same leg yesterday, with the top sections of her three sails furled away, but she still reached speeds of almost 20 knots. The chase between the largest and the smallest, reminiscent of the tortoise and the hare story, continued as the two sailed up the beat. Maltese Falcon took off well out to sea while the smaller boat tacked up the shore. As the two boats closed on the top mark a shift under the Pillars of Hercules headed both boats, forcing them to put in an extra couple of tacks. Maltese Falcon took her time to make the wide turns, losing her momentum, and Velacarina sneaked around the mark on the inside.
Kalikobass II the Faroux designed sloop sailed well up the beat overtaking both the other yachts to round the top mark first. Making the most of her position Kalikobass, driven by her American Owner, Glen Hickerson managed to hold off the challenge from Sojana (35m) who was chasing from behind all the way round the course. Kalikobass crossed the line first to win the Camper & Nicholson´s International Day with Sojana a close second, just 1minute 15 seconds behind. Maltese Falcon once again overtook Velacarina to take third place.
The final race takes place tomorrow, Saturday 16th December which will be followed by the Prize-giving gala dinner at the Copper & Lumber Store Hotel in English Harbour.
Day 2 Results:
1st Kalikobass II
4th Patient Falcon
2nd Sojana
5th Velacarina
3rd Maltese Falcon