After finishing off their turkeys and putting away their dishes, St. John sailors awoke on Friday, November 27, and readied their boats for the 29th Annual Thanksgiving Regatta.
With winds at a light but steady seven to 10 knots, about 20 vessels, including single-handed sailors and gaff rigged boats, headed out of the Coral Bay harbor on November 27, the first day of racing.
Jack Spaniard, Windshift and Paradise Found topped their single-handed classes while Sweet Ting and Tamar won their gaff classes.
Although the wind tapered off even more on Saturday, November 28, more than 30 boats took to the seas on the second day of racing. Top finishers included Sweet Ting, Southern Breeze, Southbound and Terra Nova, which just beat out the crew aboard Osprey.
Following a long day on the water, sailors and skippers gathered at Skinny Legs for a post-race party and awards ceremony featuring St. Louis swing band Hudson and Hoodoo Cats.
Hosted by the Coral Bay Yacht Club, the annual Thanksgiving regatta is a major fundraiser for the local youth sailing program Kids And The Sea, St. John.
Long-time local sailor Denise Wright, who skippered her Cal 27 Reality Switch in the race, won the coveted raffle prize — a brand new inflatable dinghy and motor. In addition to the awards for top finishers, the Coral Bay Yacht Club honored John Costanzo with the Peter Muilenberg Spirit of the Regatta Award and Page Clarke for selling the most raffle tickets.
28th Annual Thanksgiving Regatta Results
Friday, November 27
Single Handed 30’ and Under
Jack Spaniard
Zephyr
African Queen
Southern Breeze
Single Handed 30’ and Over
Windshift
Maineiac
Ocean Wave
O’dege
Runaway
Single Handed Over 40’
Paradise Found
Simone’s Voyage
Indigo
Gaffers 35’ and Under
Sweet Ting
Calabreeze
Buxom II
Gaffers Over 35’
Tamar
Breath
Saturday, November 28
Traditional Under 40’
Sweet Ting
Calabreeze
Buxom II
Tamar
Traditional Over 40’
Liberty
Crusing I, 30’ and Under
Southern Breeze
Reality Switch
Jack Spaniard
Thetis
Zephyr
Cruising II, Over 30’ to Under 40’
Southbound
Maineiac
Windshift
Absolute
Cloud Nine
Cruising III, 40’ and Over
Terra Nova
Osprey
Simone’s Voyage
Levana
Paradise Found
Multihull
Wave Goodbye
Elliot Class
Sliver Cloud