Source: www.guardian.co.tt
Written by: Andrew Gioannetti
Skippers Paul Solomon (Blackberry Enzyme) and Lloyd de Roche (Nirvana) along with their crews were almost faultless when they took first place in the Racing class and the Racer/ Cruiser class respectively in the Trinidad and Tobago Sailing Association’s (T&TSA) Carnival regatta over the weekend. The event which returned to the Port of Spain harbour and into the Gulf of Paria for the first time in over a decade, concluded on Sunday night after three full days of action with four local captains taking first place honours in four different classes. The Carnival regatta began on Friday with The J24 and Melges24 classes racing three times on the day. The Racer/ Cruiser and Racing classes contested one less race on the opening day. Every boat that won their first race went on to finish the weekend victorious.
Paul Solomon (Blackberry Enzyme) was victorious in the Racing class, leading every race but one in which he and his crew placed second. Their total of seven points was half that of the second placed captain Donald Stollmeyer (Bachannal Woman) on 14 points. Skipper Tony Mc Bride (Novus Arca) and crew, the lone participants from the UK sailed into third on 20 points. Lloyd de Roche (Nirvana) and troops were triumphant in the Racer/Cruiser class superbly winning five of six races, also finishing on seven points. Mark Chapman (Dingolay) cruised into second place with 13 points and Michael Lewis’ (Les Ramous) came in third. In the J24, skipper Stephen Bushe (Ambushe) won convincingly, finishing day three with only nine points while snubbing brother-in-law, captain James Arrindell (Jahai Bhai) and a familiar face in Grenadian, Robbie Yearwood (Die Hard) coming third on 18 points.
The Melges24 category was tight between the top two competitors with Paul Amon (Drunken Monkey) captaining his crew to ten points, just two under second placed debutant Aaron Alkins (Vertical Smile) who lead his team to a very impressive 12 points, winning their last three races. Marc de Verteuil finished third with double the second place total on 24 points. On Saturday night, the various crews and spectators were further entertained at the bMobile regatta fete when Soca star, Sherwyn Winchester and Maximus Dan as well as a group of Shiv Shakti dancers put on a lively show. The weekend of waves and competition was viewed largely as a success but for a collision with another boat that saw vessel Joia lose her mast.