All of the racing boats are making their final preparations for the August season in Anguilla. These boats will be racing for five consecutive days starting Sunday until Friday and then followed by the Champion of Champions Race on the upcoming Sunday.

One of the favorites this season is De Tree who is in the process of acquiring a jib from Guadeloupe. Captain Errol seems to be all geared up. Seems like everyone is trying to get a jib like the Superstar. The Superstar is sailing indeed. But since sinking, her captain seems to be a bit shaken up. I hope he now realizes the danger of crashing into other people’s property and the high premium one should place on life especially on the high seas. Sinking and swimming is a far stretch of the imagination from sailing. While sinking is a possibility, everyone should avoid collisions and mishaps due to stupidity, negligence, poor judgements when avoiding hard lees, or outright disregard for life and property.

The Stinger has finally gotten her new mast, sails, and jib. Earl and his captain Tates are hoping for the best this season. The Warrior also has a new mast. Captain Eddie is already bragging as to the outcome of the sailing season. All the boats have purchased new sails, mast, jibs, or improved on their riggings or hulls. If you see a boat you like, do feel free to approach the owners or captains about sponsorship.

One major change perhaps next year could be the return of the Wizard. Seemingly some guys are attempting to restore the Wizard but that is yet to be fully seen. However, she was removed from the burial ground and taken further West on the island to a place some hope she will be resurrected from. Whenever the sailors start to lose, they abandon ship without regret or thinking about the expense the owners incurred while trying to make a boat better for them. Some owners better start thinking about finding loyal crews for their boats. Otherwise boats will be lying on their sides on beaches and in yards all over this island. These boats are expensive to build but more so to maintain.

One of the most disturbing things to see is a local racing boat that has been abandoned because the crew gave up on her. Sometimes these boats are poorly designed and need to be abandoned but other times diligence and some thought could be the answer to changing a drift box into a champion. We have got to change our funny mentality about boat racing that as soon as we lose a few times it is time to redesign the hull. Another consideration is that the rigging on these boats needs to be seriously and thoughtfully done so as to ensure the best possible sailing of the vessel. Some crewmen want to get a new sail or some other new apparatus to be current and bragging but they do not foot the bills. While everyone would like to be competitive and in front with technology and design, some of us have to remember that in Anguilla money is hard to come by. Some say if you can not stand the heat come out of the kitchen. Others simply say,” If you can not stand the heat get out of sailing.” I say this August it will be manifested that a little diligence and perseverance can transform a drift-box into a champion. There is going to be a lot of upsets and surprises.

Crew of the Superstar

Superstar leaves all contenders behind to claim victory in Monday's race

| Printer-friendly page | Send this article to a friend |

World News