There’s a bunch of strong sailing women (some might say scary Alpha women) from around the world whom I met when I participated in my first Caribbean regatta at Antigua race week with On Deck in 2009.
Every year since Antigua we’ve tried to meet up at a different Caribbean regatta. We haven’t all been able to make each year as our various lives have intruded, but it’s something we all look forward to when we can.
This year we’ve agreed to meet for the British Virgin Island Spring Regatta and anticipation is high as we’ll have a mostly all women-crew with a male skipper. There’s a couple of new women joining us on The Spirit of Venus, including Imogen, Harry the skipper’s girlfriend, who we soon nickname “Honey” as that’s what he calls her as he gives instructions forward from the helm.
We’ve booked a fabulous villa at the Nanny Cay resort on Tortola Island, where all the BVI races start. It is ideally located close to the yacht club and party venues. I elect to sleep in the divan bed downstairs where I have my own small bathroom and the use of the private outdoor shower.
We celebrate our arrival with a swim in the pool that overlooks Nanny Cay Bay, and sip creamy Piña Coladas. This is the start of a quest that continues over race week: looking for the biggest, fattest Piñas possible.
Our first race is around the Island of Tortola and a few other islands that hug its edges. We’re in a Division with mostly smaller boats to us, but they’re very competitive. Many of the crews have raced Caribbean regattas together for some time, and we’re just getting to know each other and the boat – a 40.7 beneteau.
So the first day is not so successful. But we have a lovely time, and the weather is fabulous and the views gorgeous with many castle-like mansions displaying the wealth of others perched on sharp craggy headlands and impossible cliffs.
The second day is a handicapped start, where the boats start at different times and the first boat over the line at Norman Island wins. This is my favourite kind of race, as you always know how you’re going!
And our team is working very well together on the second day. Lucy is on foredeck backed by Imogen (aka “Honey”) at the mast. Honey’s a tiny compact little thing but she can pull those sails up faster than many men. Lucy is a genius with the kites, even though she only been racing for a week. Harry says they’re “the best foredeck team in the Caribbean”.
In the pit Jules works the strings and helps me and Gerry with trim. Kay, the pocket rocket, also helps with trim but is everywhere there needs to be hand! The “dream team”, I say. Jane is on the main, Harry on the helm and James helps with tactics and some of the heavier work.
It all seems to work… and while trimming the kite I note that we keep passing boats. As we get closer to the finish line, there doesn’t seem to be any boats out front. Surely, this can’t be right?
Then we see a large classic boat cross the line ahead of us, and another boat creeps up behind us. We tack over the line and it seems the other boat may have beaten us by a nose… but we’re wrapt with third place.
Tying up to a buoy off Norman Island, we all dive in for a celebratory swim. Jules teaches some synchronised moves and then Harry swims out vodkas and orange for us all (no Piña machines on the boat).
Later we join the other crews on the beach and order Piña Coladas, of course! We’re all mostly in having a swim when Harry comes and tells us some great news… we actually won the race!! The classic boat was not in our race and we beat the other boat by a nose, not the other way around. We all line up to receive our prize and make the loudest cheers. And then it’s time for another big fat Piña.
The next day is the start of the three day regatta, and for various reasons our numbers dwindle. But unfortunately, the weather gets windier and wetter, just when we need more crew, and again we don’t do so well.
On the last day we are down to five women and Harry with all of us doing multiple jobs and the wind gusting 30 knots. Despite this, we’re really working well as a team and we start to pass boats as we go around Peter Island. As we turn the corner and hoist the spinnaker, we’re well out in front of many of the other boats in our Division as we move toward the finish line when disaster strikes and a rogue wave meets a high gust of wind and the boat does a Chinese jibe.
Suddenly, the boat is on its side, I’m up to my thighs in water still clutching the sheet, and the spinnaker is dragging over the side full of water. But thanks to Harry’s cool and everyone’s clear thinking, we all do what we have to do and right the boat, pull in the spinnaker and hoist the headsail. We’ve lost our lead but we still beat one boat over the line and we feel proud of how we dealt with the situation. As Lucy says to me, “I’m glad that the Chinese jibe happened, as I know now how to deal with it and not be scared. That was better than winning.”
And despite our exhaustion, it doesn’t stop us partying that night or taking over the stage dancing, singing and yes sipping those Piña Coladas.
Roll on next year!
For more information about Caribbean sailing opportunities: www.ondecksailing.com
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