Superyacht race weekend (yachts are 50m+ and have 24 race crew) so well worth taking a look. (Tashi Delek is 13m). Several of the yachts we had seen in Porto Cervo, Sardinia, are here so it was fun to see them again and more fun to have great views of the races both from the harbour wall and the cliff top.
English Harbour is quite small so this was an impressive ‘handbrake turn’ under sail…..
The yachts are just fabulous to watch and the photographs don’t really do justice but they will give you the idea. Carol went a bit retro for some pictures and tried black and white. |
Note the chap standing out on the bowsprit….
Below is Marie who had had to retire due to hydraulic problems. We had heard her on the radio just before the start warning the other yachts that she had no steerage so they would have to keep out of her way. Crikey. She too had been in Porto Cervo where we had watched her owner roll out her cannons! Yes really; she has two and they are used to start races. Looking at her website she is very new and made of aluminium although she looks very traditional.
The race was handicapped which made for an interesting start as each yacht was called up for their start time and tried to cross the line as close to that moment as possible without jumping the gun, or in this case hooter.
The yachts got closer together as the race progressed which was great for the spectators. |
Especially when going round the buoys.
Experienced race watchers thought to bring binoculars. We will try and remember next time. |
The handicapping made for an even more interesting finish because it meant that the yachts were all pretty close to each other and it was a downwind dash to the line. Every sail went up, spinnakers flew and it was quite a sight. |
