After 2 days of training (sailing and drinking) in St Barths the Something Hot team returned well prepared to St Maarten. Ready to sail the Heineken regatta!
The team consists of Leen (BEL), Zita, Jacobine, Gaby (all Dutch) and Fee (NZL) who was on St Maarten visiting her dad and very eager to join us.
All ladies work for Heineken and did you know the name Something Hot comes from the fact that the Heineken family used to have a boat called Something Cool?
Everybody onboard had a specific job, 2 ladies on each jib winch and Fie on the main and vang. I loved the fact that they were very eager to learn and as the regatta proceded the boathandling improved immensly. Considering how extremely windy it was this was a great achievement. We nailed every start, but the one that really stood out was the downwind start for the round island. We timed the distance (fixed point on land) and were the only boat to cross the line right on the signal.
We have been battling for 2nd and 3rd place each race but unfortunately there was always something that screwed us up and make us lose 1 or more boats. Some screw-ups were tactically, others on boathandling (did you know sheets and winches sometimes have a life on their own?).
But most of the time the Something Hot sailing team isn’t valued for their sailing abilities: in the end it is all about the bridge act.
… and they came prepared!
Each morning we waited with 30+ boats for the 8.30am bridge opening dancing and singing on “another one bites the dust”. A great way to get pumped up and ready to race.
On Thursday we decided to take it easy on our way in and did the Heineken Bikini act. Friday was matching shorts and shirts day.
Saturday we went in big and did an Aerobics 80s-style act. To top it off we went in reverse through the bridge and that definately gave us some extra cheers. I even saw a couple of 10s from the jury!
Sunday we finished it off with the (by now) famous Baywatch act. I have never had so many (racing) boats circling us just waiting for the bridge to open. All of a sudden everybody needed rescueing.
We were rewarded with a couple of 10s and 9s and after we docked an official came to tell us that Something Hot (again) won the bridge act competition! If you look at the effort, enthousiasm and preparation (all clothes came with Something Hot and Heineken logo!) I believe it was (again) well deserved but I must admit there were some boats right on our heels. It will be tough(er) next year.
After the regatta I sailed back with Spirit of Juno, a Farr 65 from Ondeck Ocean Racing – they still have places for BVI, St Thomas and St Barts.
It was a 15 hours overnight upwind beat with 30+ knots wind and matching waves. Eventhough it was very tiresome, I loved it but going through the bridge was totally the opposite compared to the previous days:
Now I am back in Antigua and it is simply amazing what a 3 to 4 weeks sailing (drinking) rythm does to your condition. It took me 40 minutes to do my (normal) 34 minutes trail run this morning
Focus this week will be on eating healthy, working out, passing my commercial endorsement (PPR), find some delivery jobs and find a (crew) position for the BVI Spring Regatta, St Thomas and St Barths Bucket List.
If you know anything please do not hesitate to contact me. I will be around ..
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