J/22 and J/24 Crews Last Seen Wandering Down Bourbon St
(New Orleans, LA)- In the "how can this possibly be so much fun, it must be illegal" department, a gregarious bunch of J/22 and J/24 crews were determined to make the most of visiting New Orleans during the infamous Mardi Gras celebration. An intrepid group of J/22 and J/24 sailors were apparently wandering down the famous Bourbon Street having an outrageously good time. One crew member happened to be accumulating a LOT of beads to wear around her neck. Now, if you know anything about Mardi Gras, you "qualify" to get those beads by showing off certain "assets" to party-goers dancing in the Congo lines that spontaneously form all night long. Needless to say, just about everyone was having a ball.
As
for the racing, it seems that the Congo line dancing to music was
translating onto the race course with home-boy Benz Faget leading the
J/22s home with nearly all firsts sailing his great yacht called,
appropriately, FATS (a New Orleans famous jazz musician). Second was
Bob Muller with nearly all seconds and third was another local boy,
Dwight LeBlanc III sailing WAVEMAKER well enough to almost spoil the
party for Muller to snag second place. The J/24s had a fun time themselves with Troy Cruthirds sailing JUS MAGIC into first, followed by Peter Fischel racing RUMBLEFISH in second and Kevin McCaffrey aboard SIREN getting third.
For some entertainment, you can see this YouTube Sailing Video of the Mardis Gras Regatta here. For more Mardi Gras Regatta sailing information.