Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta 2011
April 14-19
Two of the most competitive yachts in the world entered for this year's Caribbean event: JK7 VELSHEDA and J5 RANGER.
Whilst J5 is a little bigger than JK7, both in length and sail area, the two yachts are very evenly matched in the big seas often found around Falmouth Harbour, Antigua.
This year the wind strengths were down on previous years, giving JK7 a little advantage, with her 185 tons over J5's 202 tons. So it was all down to the traditional reaching starts and who was going to round the first mark and probably lead the race from there to the finish.
By the end of the third race of four programmed, JK7 had a 2:1 lead and Ranger had everything to race for. If J5 could win the last race, then she would equal JK7's score, but win overall on the tie break. Nothing could be more clusely fought, and all the crew of both yachts knews what was needed to suceed as they headed out to final start. Both yachts manoeuvred carefully for a difficult start in the fickle wind. But JK7 managed to creep ahead by the first mark.
J5 would not be shaken off however and hung on, ready to pounce. In near drifting conditions JK7 sailed offshore towards the next mark, but J5 chose to lay along the coastline, picking up the last of the land breeze.
The yachts were about level when the final race was abandoned, leaving JK7 iverall winner of the class, with J5 second overall. It could not have been closer!
Whilst J5 is a little bigger than JK7, both in length and sail area, the two yachts are very evenly matched in the big seas often found around Falmouth Harbour, Antigua.
This year the wind strengths were down on previous years, giving JK7 a little advantage, with her 185 tons over J5's 202 tons. So it was all down to the traditional reaching starts and who was going to round the first mark and probably lead the race from there to the finish.
By the end of the third race of four programmed, JK7 had a 2:1 lead and Ranger had everything to race for. If J5 could win the last race, then she would equal JK7's score, but win overall on the tie break. Nothing could be more clusely fought, and all the crew of both yachts knews what was needed to suceed as they headed out to final start. Both yachts manoeuvred carefully for a difficult start in the fickle wind. But JK7 managed to creep ahead by the first mark.
J5 would not be shaken off however and hung on, ready to pounce. In near drifting conditions JK7 sailed offshore towards the next mark, but J5 chose to lay along the coastline, picking up the last of the land breeze.
The yachts were about level when the final race was abandoned, leaving JK7 iverall winner of the class, with J5 second overall. It could not have been closer!
EVENT PHOTOS coming soon