The Rolex Cup Regatta sailed around St. John on the first day of racing action. The course had not been used in years, but proved to be the right selection on Friday.
The trip around the island placed a premium on tactics, especially choosing a course to take advantage of favorable currents on the south side, or avoid unfavorable currents on the north side. This might seem to give local boats a big edge, but when the fleet results were tallied only one St. Thomas boat was in the top four. The other top boats came from three classes and ranged from 24 to 41 feet in length.
Leading Class A and the regatta is Mermaid II from Tortola, sailed by top racer Mark Ploch.
Second place in fleet and class A is Twister, from the USA. Only nine seconds behind on handicap time is Heineken a J-24 from Puerto Rico, sailed by Mauricio Costanzo of Venezuela sailing in class J. The top four is rounded out by Chris Rosenberg sailing Marriott Frenchman's Reef in class C.
It is difficult to say how the rest of the regatta will go after one of three or four races sailed, but with competitive boats in all these classes, close racing will continue Saturday and Sunday.
For complete results click on here