Royal Thames racing in the Caribbean

by Richard Freeborn

Between February and May 2023, Royal Thames members participated in the hot sunshine and gentle trade winds of seven Caribbean sailing events – the Antigua Superyacht Challenge, St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, Les Voiles De St Barth, Barts Bucket Regatta, Antigua Oyster Regatta, Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta and Antigua Sailing Week.

In their first Caribbean race week, Thames members Jacqueline and Iain Kirkpatrick on “Fatjax”, an all-carbon Shipman 63, excelled with three wins and a second in her class in the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, despite only having four crew on board.

Fatjax – owned by Jacqueline and Iain Kirkpatrick

Two Thames yachts entered St Barts Bucket Regatta which was held in very strong winds that proved to be quite a challenge. Matthew Riley entered his stunning “Athos”, the world's largest privately-owned two-masted schooner, which recently emerged from a full-scale refit at Royal Huisman.

Athos – owned by Matthew Riley

In her first ever Caribbean Regatta, Sir Andrew Cook entered at the last minute in his Pendennis Superyacht “Nostromo” with race skipper and former Olympic gold medallist Jesper Bank at the helm. Alas, despite a well-timed start in the first race, the strong wind proved too much for Nostromo’s mainsail, which split full width shortly afterwards. With no spare on board, Nostromo was out of the regatta. Determined to return better prepared next year, Sir Andrew is meanwhile shipping his yacht back to Pendennis for a complete refit.

Nostromo – owned by Sir Andrew Cook

Again, in St Barts, but this time in Les Voiles De St Barth, Sir Richard Matthews ST37 racer/cruiser “Holding Pattern” achieved a hard-won but well deserved second in class overall for the week, which included two wins.

Holding Pattern – owned by Sir Richard Matthews

Richard Smith’s immaculately prepared Oyster 665 “Sotto Vento”, on which he has circumnavigated, took some time to find her form, with Richard having to grapple with an under-performing foredeck crew (mea culpa!) before eventually finding her feet on the last day of the Antigua Oyster Regatta to finish fourth out of sixteen in the overall pursuit race in what had become, by then, a very competitive fleet.

Sotto Vento – owned by Richard Smith - Oyster Regatta Prize Giving

In the big boat battle of the three Royal Thames Oyster 82’s, Sir Richard Matthews “Midnight” fought against John McMonigalls’s “ZigZag” and Alan Parker CBE’s “Dama de Noche” with the knight eventually prevailing. Alan Parker CBE and his crew were awarded the Spirit of the Regatta partly because, due to a breakage, they chose to race with a somewhat less than perfect sail wardrobe but still managed to sail the course.

Dama de Noche – owned by Alan Parker CBE - Oyster Regatta Prize Giving

With two much newer Oyster 885’s in hot pursuit of Sir Richard, Midnight also won the final race of Class 1 at the Oyster Regatta. The Oyster Regatta also celebrated the 50th anniversary of Oyster’s founding. Sir Richard gave an excellent and amusing speech at the Oyster owners dinner, managing to cram Oyster’s many inspiring achievements into just 15 minutes.

Midnight – owned by Sir Richard Matthews – speech at Oyster Owners dinner

However, John McMonigall is still ahead overall in the trophy cupboard this year as ZigZag won four out of their five races in the Grenada Sailing Week and then the Gosnell Trophy in the Antigua Superyacht Challenge. 

ZigZag – owned by John McMonigall – receiving the Gosnell Trophy

Thames member Paul Deeth’s “Petrana”, a stunning 50' John Alden ketch, took a clean sweep of firsts in his class in Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta. For Paul there was further success as this year he headed up the Classics organising team which included presenting the prizes. Under Paul’s stewardship he undoubtedly succeeded in his aim to restore the Classics to its original concept of like-minded people getting together to share their passion in racing stunning yachts in superb sailing conditions.

Petrana - owned by Paul Deeth (centre) presenting a prize to an unusual competitor!

As veteran Mike Rose from the Race Committee said over the radio before the first start in Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta “If you want to barge the line or engage in over-zealous protests or similar behaviour, then Antigua Sailing Week is next week!” A Royal Thames burgee flew over Hawkeye, the Classics committee boat, where Thames members Alexandra Blakeman Early was a spotter, and her husband Richard was a race officer.

Hawkeye - owned by Alexandra Blakeman Early and Richard Freeborn

In what was generally agreed as the most competitive class in Antigua Sailing Week, Sir Richard Matthews in “Holding Pattern” found himself up against twelve well prepared competitors in CSA Class 2 of the regatta. Holding Pattern’s crew, including Sir Richard’s fiancé Sarah Barry and Thames member Harold Cudmore who led Britain’s America’s Cup challenges in 1983 and 1986/7, struggled in the lighter airs of the earlier races but when the breeze eventually freshened she scored two seconds on the penultimate day and two firsts on the final day giving Sir Richard third overall in class.

Holding Pattern – owned by Sir Richard Matthews

Jacqueline and Iain Kirkpatrick on “Fatjax” found themselves as perhaps the only yacht in Antigua Sailing Week that was ready for a circumnavigation, competing against yachts in their class that had had everything from doors to dishwashers removed as well as professional, paid crew. This wasn’t helped by the Race Committee (essentially Richard Freeborn and Alexandra Blakeman Early on committee boat “Hawkeye”) scoring them with a DSQ for a line incident. However, on the penultimate race FatJax finally found her form and romped home by almost one minute clear of all other yachts (except a full-budget TP52) to prove that she is likely to be the fastest family cruising yacht in the Caribbean.

Fatjax – owned by Jacqueline and Iain Kirkpatrick

The Royal Thames Yacht Club undoubtedly fielded far more yachts into more of the Caribbean sailing events than any other yacht club worldwide, and they were well sailed with many choosing Antigua as their Caribbean base.

There are plenty more Thames yachts in the Caribbean that could join in the fun in 2024!