Local sailor tops international fleet

TORTOLA, BVI - Hampton's Cruising Rally Association released the following information about a local sailor win in the Caribbean 1500 Rally:

Elusion, a Hallberg-Rassy 49, owned by Kirt and Gayle Schuldt from Virginia Beach VA, took Overall Handicap Honors in the 19th Annual Caribbean 1500 Rally. First to finish and winner of the Performance Cruising class was Between the Sheets, a Hallberg-Rassy 62, owned by Tom and Diane Might, Phoenix, AZ, who completed the passage in 6 days 22 hours and 24 minutes.

 

After a week of preparatory briefings, safety inspections, and gala social events in Hampton VA, the Caribbean 1500 Rally fleet left Hampton, VA on November 7 and arrived in Tortola in the British Virgin Islands 6-13 days later.

 

“The heavy weather played to Elusion’s favor,” said winning skipper Kirt Schuldt of his Hallberg-Rassy ketch. On top of that, I had an excellent crew. The winds being at 20 plus most of the time helped greatly. What is really nice to see is even an old Granddame (Elusion, hull #36, was built in 1986) in the hands of good sailors still has a dance or two left in her.”

 

The 2008 Caribbean 1500 fleet included participants from 17 states, four Canadian provinces, Germany, the UK, and Chile. Over 40 percent of the boats were owned by veteran Ralliers. The boats averaged 48.5 feet in length. Two boats joined the Rally in mid ocean after a Charleston, SC departure. Seven multihulls and a schooner joined the fleet of sloops and several ketches in this year’s fleet.

 

“The wind blew 20-25 knots for most of the Rally,” said Steve Black, founder and President of the Cruising Rally Association that manages the event. “In the past several years, Rally participants racked up motoring hours in light air and calm seas. This year, the winds stayed up and the squalls blew through on a regular basis, especially for boats that followed the rhumb line south.”

 

The fleet sailed in two divisions. Owners chose to enter either the Cruising Class to enjoy a cruise in company, or the Rally Class to participate in the fun race. Those in the Cruising Class receive the same safety, weather and communication benefits as the Rally Class. All Cruising Class boats were presented awards in Tortola that recognized their achievement of safely completing an open ocean passage of 1500 miles.

 

The Rally Fleet was divided into three handicap classes: the Performance Cruising Class (Class I), Class II, and Class III. (See Complete Rally Class Results in sidebar).

 

In the Performance Cruising Class, Between the Sheets led the pack, followed by Aquila, a Santa Cruz 52 skippered by Ken and Janet Slagle, and Splendido, Michael Kantrowitz’ Beneteau 57.

 

In Class II, Watercolors, an Outbound 44, owned by John and Susan Bankston from North Carolina, placed first and was also fourth overall handicap winner. Watercolors was followed by Jeff Staley’s Ostinato, a Shannon 52, and Rally veterans Bill and Diana Quinlan on Special Delivery, a Taswell 58.

 

Elusion led Class II. Second place went to Glass Slipper, a Moody 46 owned by John and Cyndi Martin. Glass Slipper was also third overall handicap winner. Following the leaders were Bob and Mary Lu Hodgins on Liebchen, a Gulfstar 41, and Carol and Kent Bradford on Destiny, a Bristol 45.5.