Eleven of Anguilla’s sleek racing boats, propelled and controlled by the masterly manual handling of their sails, jibs and tillers, took off like rockets to the west.
Their route was around the point at Viceroy, upstream passing Blowing Point Harbour, turning around outside Lockrum Estate and the Solaire tourism project, before returning to Meads Bay. Outside the bay, the frontrunners in the race, except for the UFO, which suffered a breakdown, displayed a grand show of tacking, crossing and other skilful manoeuvrings to the delight of the large crowd on the beach.
The event was the 2015 Solaire Cup Boat Race whose main annual sponsors are Mr. Tom McInerney, owner of the Solaire and Meads Bay Villas; and Ms. Pam Webster, the platinum sponsor. Mr. Yanchie Richardson and Mr. Conrad Rogers were the leading organisers of the race. As indicated above, the UFO, a popular Island Harbour boat, abandoned the race after one of the mast cables snapped. Governor Christina Scott, who was a passenger, suffered what is called a boat race bump, causing some injury to one of her hands, and she was brought back to the shore.
The other ten boats made it back in fine shape. They were the five winners – Sonic, first; Satellite, second; De Tree, third; Real Deal, 4th; and Light & Peace, 5th; and the other five: Bluebird (on which Attorney General, Rupert Jones, was a passenger); Wizard, 4G Eagle, NWO and Viking, as well as the UFO, all received consolation prizes donated mainly by Solaire and in part by Desmond Richardson’s Gas Station (which provided tanks of gas for some boats).
US cash envelopes were distributed in prizes to the captains and crews of the five-winning boats and in consolation awards to the others. The winners also received trophies. Those who received the trophies and main cash prizes were: Darwin Mussington (for Sonic); Mary Steele (Satellite); Ross Romney (De Tree); Frederick (“Wobby”) Richardson (Real Deal); and Steven Hughes (Light & Peace).
There was one special honouree who received a cash award: Hulia Carty Sr. of The Valley. The 83-year-old former boat racer and captain, was selected by raffle from a list of seven boatracers, from throughout Anguilla, whose names were submitted to be honoured for their contribution to boatracing. His cash prize was US$1,000 but he gave US$500 to his grandson, “JJ”, towards the purchase of a drum set for the Boys Brigade at Ebenezer Methodist Church.
During the presentation ceremony, “JJ” gave a rundown of his grandfather’s involvement in boats over the years. He said his grandfather was part of a generation which sailed sloops to Trinidad and Guyana. In Crocus Bay, he captained his own racing boat Flash; De Chan, owned by Harris Richardson; Bee, owned by David Lloyd; and Ship Jack, owned by a national of St. Martin called “Grandfather”.
Mr. Carty’s son, Hulia Jr., thanked Mr. McInerney, the owner of Solaire and Meads Bay Villas, Yanchie Richardson and others, for honouring his father. Speaking on behalf of Mr. McInerney, Mr. Chris Miller, Manager of Meads Bay Villas, who presented the cash awards and trophies, was also grateful to all who contributed to the success of the Solaire Cup Boat Race.
