October 2006

Foxy's Catfight was a great event this year, with 5 pedigree cats lining up for the 2 race regatta!

Saturday dawned sunny with a good breeze around 15-20 knots, perfect conditions for a Cat Fight!

Race one set off from a startline just outside of Great Harbour, Jost van Dyke. Being a "Cat friendly" race and knowing most of the entries are actually not owned by the crew, the West End Yacht Club set each boat off at 1 minute intervals to avoid start line tustles. Racers are allowed to run their engines right up to the start line for added safety.

The first received entry starts first, on this occassion Tabascocat, a Manta 38. Subsequent starters have their start time subtracted from the elapsed time. Rainbow Rider (Bahia 46) tried it's best to shave the bow of the committee boat, which was the Privilege 495 "Byzance," provided in sponsorship by Catamaran Charters. This led to them getting a great start and into clear wind.

From the start, the first mark was a yellow inflatable mark set over towards Smuggler's Cove, then over to Sandy Cay and then to a downwind finish. First back, not surprisingly, was Rainbow Rider, a Bahia 46 and the biggest cat in the event. Close on it's paws was Tabascocat (Manta 38), Scubabdoo (Norseman 400), Aristocat 2 (Island Spirit 400) and Sanctuary. (Island Spirit 37) After a very short break, race 2 got under way in the same order, but not after the Committee decided to give Sanctuary a break and tie the dinghy they were towing to Byzance.

This time the boats went up to Sandy Cay first, round the yellow inflatable, round Great Thatch, back up to the yellow mark, then to the downwind finish. Again, Rainbow Rider was first back, with Scubadoo, Aristocat 2, Sanctuary and finally Tabascocat following. Tabascocat had some headsail problems at Great Thatch, which dropped her back into last place, but the crew got it together and valiantly started chasing the pack again.

That night saw the awards party at Foxy's famous Halloween Masquerade Ball. Overall, Rainbow Rider won the over 40ft class, not too hard considering she was the only entry! In the under 40ft class Scubadoo was king, Aristocat 2 was 2nd, Tabascocat held onto 3rd, with Sanctuary taking up the rear.

Sanctuary won the "baddest cat" award and took home a case of Pusser's Rum. She won due to the entire crew, who are Paramedics from Big Sky Montana, having never entered a sailing race before. In fact this was only their 2nd charter in the BVI and it also helped that the ladies aboard flashed the Committee as they finished!

A great days racing was had by all and the party afterwards, was as always, legendary.

If you happen to be chartering through Halloween next year, keep the Cat Fight on your calendar and lets boost the numbers. This really was a great event and is classed as F for FUN!