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285--Virgin Islands: BVI Spring Regatta 2005 @ CherieSpotting     Apr 09 2005 - 13:31 PST cherie writes: Gentlemen, stop your engines. The results are in and the trophies have been awarded. Newport Beach sailors Phil Otis and Mark Duranty had to lug another first place trophy home from the Caribbean. April 3rd was the final day of the 34th annual BVI Spring Regatta, held in the British Virgin Islands. With more entries than ever before--140 yachts, lasers and windsurfers raced for three days in 10-15 knot winds. The yachts ranged from tiny radial lasers to the massive 75-ft Titan XII. The racers were just as diverse as the yachts and ranged from America's Cup veteran Peter Isler to novice first timers like our own intern Oscar. Our team came in 1st place in the Bareboat B division beating the accomplished “Team Germany” who steered into 2nd place with two-time Star European champion Joerg Moessnang at the helm. Third place went to the Dutch team “Compass Rose”. “Even with four ladies on board, the only cat-fighting on our boat was between the two captains,” co-skipper Duranty joked. “Even though Phil and I may need ‘couples counseling’ to work on our communication, we still prevailed.” Lauri Baldi was excited about her first time racing in the Caribbean with Otis and Duranty. “I had to learn a new language,” said Baldi, who ran the team’s traveler. “I learned that a command like ‘ease the traveler’, when screamed at a pitch only heard on racing boats and horror movies, actually means ‘dump the traveler.’” In the Bareboat A division the California skipper Justin Barton took a 2nd place, giving the win to Gerald Miller and Neil Harvey on Moorings 463 “Platinum Harken”. Barton was still cheerful because after 4 years of losing to Dot.com captain Dunbar, the Barton crew finally beat him. Last year’s champion, Dunbar’s Dot.com, came in 3rd this year. Bareboats may be slower than stripped-down racing sleds like Titan XII—but they certainly have the upper hand in comfort. The sleds may have their advantages slicing through the swells in double digit knots—but the Otis-Duranty crew still prefers to race in the bareboat class. “That way we can eat ice-cream and drink beer on the downward leg,” said Duranty. Novice sailor Oscar Leuvenkamp got his first taste of racing (and seasickness) aboard Otis-Duranty’s “BVI Yacht Charters.” Lucky for Oscar, ice-cream tastes the same going either way. “Too bad we weren’t dragging a line during the race,” joked Duranty. “With all that chum we could have caught the crew a fresh fish dinner.” Click on each picture to see it full size. read comments (0) | write comment| views: 6149    | rated: 0.0    printer-friendly version   Led by skippper Phil Otis, BVI Yacht Charters, wins 1st place in the Bareboat B division in the 2005 BVI Spring Regatta...our secret to success--ice-cream on the downward leg. Cherie...the traveler on the traveler. Els, the whisker pole with no whiskers. 3, 2, 1...hike! Fun in the sun. A smile from Lauri. It's a wrap. Phil likes it when we're in the lead. Els on the main. Over-powered or shrimping? Team UK on our tail. Mark Duranty driving with his extremely talented big toe. A wave from Richard on the foredeck. Real men have pink spinnakers. Jill and Els. Papa Otis is always good for a smile. How did they get ahead of us? Lean into the turn. That doesn't look good. Now that's the way it's supposed to look! Mark at the helm. Are they charging the committee boat? Johnnny grinding. Let's steer clear of those boat-sinking rocks. Shift into high-gear...the fleet is catching up! A smile from Oscar. It's the rescue guys, maybe they can give us a tow? Sail away. A big grin from the helmsman. 1, 2, 3...pull. Full of smiles. Julio looks ahead. Follow that boat! There's Arjan and his crew. The big guys on the stern. Els and Jill. Look at them! Which way should we go? That way! How many people are on that rail? Make the intern do it! Smiles. Ready for lift off? Jill and Oscar. Thar she blows. Award winning smiles. What's that behind us? Now that's what I call a big wheel. Els. Just go around the orange thing. I hope they see us. Bareboats charging the finish line. Mark and Lauri. The ladies on board BVI Yacht Charters. Lauri laughing. Sassy. Sassy. Sassy. The King of sass. Silly. Mark, Richard, Jill and Gerard. The two Phils--father and son. Floating in the pool. Smothered in kisses. It looks like Oscar is going to go in. Have the tables turned? Can Jasper swim? Having fun on shore. Jasper and Arjan. Congrats to "Justice", on stage again. The winners (and still champions) BVI Yacht Charters. Can this crew drink? The crew passes the Willy-T shot-ski test with flying colors! But officer...don't take our skipper away!! Richard will punish Phil later--we'll send copies of the photos to the police station. Now that's a happy crew. Mark and Lauri. Justice on stage.