The 15th annual Foxy’s Cat Fight and Halloween Bash attracted 14 catamarans,

one trimaran and one monohull. The record turnout set the stage for a successful event, according to organisers.

“The ‘TravelTalkOnline’ crowd was there in force reinforcing again that the subculture of this gathering of charter cats continues to grow,” according to a statement sent to this newspaper.

Sailors were competing for the Badest Cat award, which comes with a case of Cruzan Rum.

The multihull event is a fun regatta organised by the West End Yacht Club and Foxy’s on Jost Van Dyke. The event lays claim to be the only regatta in the Caribbean for multihulls. However, this year, by special request, the WEYC added “one-legged cats.”

Courses are long which are suitable for the growing charter class. Sailors start in one-minute intervals with the added freedom of running engines up to the start time for safety and maneuverability. Winds were out of the southeast at 13 to 18 knots.

“Nobody was disappointed,” said an organiser.

Commodore Martin van Houten gave the exact position of the windward mark by GPS. A “Magical Mystery Mark” — a specially-designed inflatable — was placed half way between Long Bay and JVD to define the windward leg.

“Unfortunately, a mistrust over the exact position of the MMM has developed, possibly due to the (in)ability of the WEYC to patch it’s aging marks, which has had a tendency to either sink or just drag to unusual places,” said an organiser.

The first race consisted of a 9-mile course, counterclockwise around Sandy Cay.

A mid-day check on the MMM showed this year’s repair had held and the second race was a 14-mile course clockwise around Sandy Cay, Great Thatch and round the MMM to port with a fast spinnaker run to the finish.

The fastest boat around both races was Claims Paid, which set a new (and only) Beach Cat record of 11.3-knots during the first race. Triple Jack was close behind with an average speed of 10.3 knots. Leopard 4600 Natural Mystic took the Badest Cat award with an average speed of 7 knots.

After racing, a party was held with participants dressing as wenches, witches, pirates and hoola girls (interestingly out-fitted with “comfortable” coconut bra cups.)

“One claimed to have run a 5k in the same get up — ouch,” said an organiser. “Dancing continued to the very late hours proving once again that WEYC knows how to put the ‘regge’ into regatta.”

 

Results

1. Over-45ft. Class: Natural Mystic – Leopard 4600
2. Over-45ft Class: Blue Moon – Privilege 45

1. 40ft. to 45ft. Class: Catatonic – Lagoon 440
2. 40ft. to 45ft. Class: Free Will – Voyage 44

1. Under 40ft. Class: Free Spirit – Island Spirit 39
2. Under 40ft. Class: Sanctuary – Island Spirit 36

Day Racing: Happy Hour –
Endeavour 36

Monohull: Far Cry – Mono

Beach Cat: Claims Paid-
Beach Cat

Trimaran: Triple Jack – Kelsall

Badest Cat: Natural Mystic