The multihull and monohull records for the Round St. Maarten Race were shattered on the first day of the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta. 193 yachts set off on the 26-mile circumnavigation, with strong Trade Winds from the east, the magnificent fleet enjoyed a spectacular reaching start in Simpson Bay. In one of the fastest races for many years, the huge armada provided a spectacular sight around the rugged coastline of St. Maarten.
Lloyd Thornburg’s Phaedo3 completed the Round St. Maarten Race in an elapsed time of 1 hour 19 minutes and 59 seconds, establishing a new race record. Phaedo3 also beat the course record, which was set by Phaedo3 in a successful attempt outside of the official race last year and won the Multihull 1 Class after time correction.
“We had a fabulous ride, it was wild and right on the limit of holding the J1 and the full main, so we had all the sails in the air. It was pretty exciting finding a lane upwind after rounding Plum Point as we passed a large number of the Bareboats, down the windward side of the island we were doing 30-35 knots and occasionally 37 knots, it was one of the best rides we have ever had on Phaedo3. It was really cool to start last and pass over 190 boats on the way around.
“Everyone look like they were going well and enjoying the spectacle. We did have a couple of the maxis try to come up and defend their windward side but we were going too fast and by the end we were in clear air and able to do the business. As far as a race record goes, it is probably one of our better ones, I doubt if we could have gone much quicker and the weather conditions were close to perfect, so I guess we didn’t leave much on the table out there and we are really pleased with the time. The boat and the crew are all in good shape, but I think the team on the chase boat may have taken a worse beating but fair play to them for staying with us all the way around the island.”
