Lady Nathalie Fails To Finish
By
NG Sports Reporter

Dahalia@nasguard.com

For the first time in the history of the regatta, the B-class sloop Compari Lady Nathalie was forced to concede defeat sailing against three other A-class sloops in the 21 st St. Valentine's Day Massacre 'Catch Me If You Can' regatta held in honor of legendary Captain Hezron 'White Head' Moxey at Montague Bay.

The Red Stripe skippered by Lundy Robinson, finished first overall on Sunday afternoon.

The Lady Nathalie was given a 15 minute head start on a ten mile course/two laps. She got off to a good start and completed her first upwind leg quickly reaching the marker/buoy before the A-class sloops, Red Stripe, New Courageous and W.G. Thunderbird began sailing.

When it was time for the A-class sloops to begin, the starting cannon seemed to have jammed. As a result the 'Thunderbird' started beforehand. The crew on board the 'Thunderbird' pulled up their anchor 20 seconds before the rest of the fleet and firing of the cannon.

When the cannon finally fired the New Courageous and the favorite to win, the Red Stripe, headed in the same direction as the 'Thunderbird', northeast in 15-20 knot winds.

In less than 15 minutes and midway through the first leg of the first lap the Red Stripe caught the Thunderbird as she took the Bird's wind on the lee-side and pulled ahead to take the lead over the other two A-class sloops. Meanwhile the Nathalie was about to tack at the down wind marker/buoy near the shore to begin the second lap trying to stay in the race after suffering a slight rip in her sail after rounding the upwind marker/buoy.

The Red Stripe steadily gained on the Nathalie, jibbing downwind. Then five minutes away from the upwind buoy the Stripe was spotted near the Bone Yard almost adjacent to the Nathalie that was near Fox Hill Creek.

However several minutes after the Nathalie rounded the upwind buoy heading downwind towards the finish line, her sail was torn to shreds and she was unable complete the race.

Around the same time the Red Stripe that was in striking distance took the lead and was not threatened for the remainder of the race. The New Courageous finished second and the Thunderbird finished third.

One of Hezron Moxey's sons and Commonwealth Sailing Association's Commodore Gerad Moxey said he was grateful for the win.

"I am very happy because this was a race held in honor of my father Hezron Moxey. I will be going home with a trophy that has his name on it so it is a good thing," noted Gerad.