Sweethearts Regatta

On Valentine's day, the Loyal West End Yacht Club hosted the Sweethearts of the Caribbean Regatta. I had the opportunity to race on a boat named Heron, which is a really awesome 1928 Alden replica, which is a 65 foot schooner. The winds were pretty light, and the current was strong though favourable. The race started in Soper's Hole, headed upwind around Pelican island and the Indians, around Flannigan island, and back into Soper's Hole. We were one of the few boats who played the current properly sticking close to the St. John shore, and getting the wind lift off the land, which made us reach Pelican island a couple miles ahead of the rest of our fleet. We ended up finishing first in our fleet and were welcomed on shore by a Mount Gay Rum bar. Needless to say, I had a victorious Valentine's day, though I really missed my lovely girl back in Canada.

Apparently this boat will be seen in the upcoming Johnny Depp movie, The Rum Diary, which is based on the Hunter S. Thompson novel of the same title.