(Key West, FL)- This year’s version of the Conch Republic Cup regatta,
hosted by the Key West Community Sailing Center and the Club Nautico
Internacional Hemingway, was a bit of an anti-climactic event and might
have been termed “the three leg fiasco”. The weather Godz simply would
not cooperate for the fleet of 20+ boats. In fact, the weather was
extreme, with light airs predominating for the first leg across the Gulf
Stream from the start at Key West, FL to Varadero, Cuba along the
northeastern shoreline of the island. Then, the next leg westward down
the Cuban coastline from Varadero to Havana was blown out due to a
massive cold front sweeping across the Gulf Stream. The in-port race in
Havana was also canceled, this time due to no wind. So, the regatta
organizers decided to do a mash-up of trophies and honors using the
final leg from Havana back across the Stream to Key West!!
Despite
the somewhat catastrophic weather forecast, JD Hill’s beautiful navy
blue J/122 SECOND STAR from Dallas, Texas, fresh off a Quantum Key West
Race Week class win, elected to start the regatta. As a result, those
Texas storm troopers took off on Sunday afternoon after Race Week
hangover and headed out across the Gulf Stream in the Key West to
Varadero Race for the Michele Geslin Memorial Cup. In the end, Hill’s
SECOND STAR crushed the 8-boat PHRF fleet to win the trophy, celebrating
their good fortune with loads of delicious Cuban mojito’s and plenty of
awesome Cuban cigars. However, by the next day, it was clear Mother
Nature was not cooperating for the rest of the week, so the Texas crew
elected to head home early.
Sailing photo credits- Alan Clark/ Photoboat.com. For
more Conch Republic Cup sailing information
