After a year’s hiatus courtesy covid – the delayed Annual Round the Island Seagull Race finally took place.
With no other sport going on this event that has been going on for years will make headlines in other media.
Organizers were hoping for the same weather conditions as the original date June 19th with no wind – it was not to be with winds from the SW at 12-18 knots. So an inshore course was set going from Spanish Point Boat Club – to Two Rock – around the Hinson Island group – down to 5 Star – then through Watford Bridge – back in to the sound through Grays Bridge – then up North Shore to Tynes Bay – back to SPBC. Two laps. The course was just under 32 nautical miles –close to the original race course but about 4 miles shorter.
60 boats preregistered over the June/July period. By race day just over 50 boats who wanted to race. Partly due to weather and partly due to race course change – we finally had a total of 33 boats sign in over a range of 10 classes.
A total of 17 out of the 30 boats that started their class completed the course. Well done!
The first Bermuda wooden dinghy to finish was “If you see Kay” captained by Chris Kulmala in 6:04 but this was a close finish with a challenge by Memory captained by Bill Tatem who crossed the line one minute later.
The largest fleet was the non-wood dinghies – of which 8 started – and 6 finished. The class was won by #38 captained by Rosalind Wingate and crewed by 2 of their children – completed in 4:41:00.
Seaglassie captained by Nigel Pollard was the first Huckleberry to finish within the non-wood dinghy class
The fastest elapsed time was 2:23:00 in the Racing Sports engine class – Boat # 20 captained by Leon Simmons.
The youngest participant was Aaron Lee 11 years old – who raced in Class H with his father. They managed one lap before catching some fishing line off SPBC which in turn caused overheating issues with their engine so they retired gracefully after 1 lap. Young Aaron said he would do it again!!!
Desperate Housewives of DeepBay (aka In De Red) won the best-dressed captain and crew award – they traveled with “Camille” who was dressed to match them – but was a silent member of the crew – being a mannequin – and only a half one at that – she was left to dangle over the edge appearing at times as if she was not feeling well – in fact Martin Dixon’s crashboat occupants apparently looked worried because of the lack of concern being exhibited by the captain and crew member for this rather ill looking person. Little did they know that it was “Camille”!!!
