“Cruzan Time” Wins!!!
Cruzan Time victory lap
Superior Sailing Yacht, Cruzan Time, skippered by the brilliant and fastidious Carl Beckstedt, took first place in her class in the 2008 Around St. Croix Sailing Race today. Core crew members, Carsten Breuer, Michael Dance and Terry Chretien were joined by world-renown maritime engineer, drag racer, former sail maker and Land Rover expert, Dave Walworth to carry the classic CAL-27 to a stunning victory.
Unbeknownst to the crew, as they celebrated the end of the grueling two day spectacle back at the mooring, the awards ceremony, originally scheduled to begin at 5 pm, had begun at the club at 4:30. Captain Beckstedt, along with 4th mate Chretien and 1st mate Walworth were still on Cruzan Time while crew members Breuer and Dance carried what remained of supplies and rations back to the vehicles to be transported home.
The only crew member present to receive the coveted First place trophy was Michael Dance, who gracefully bowed to the appreciative audience as he approached the awards podium, preparing his acceptance speech as he went along. His words, which will go down in the history books of the St. Croix Yacht Club were, “You’re kidding, right?”
But they were not kidding. Cruzan Time had demolished her competition, winning the coveted mahogany clock by 1 second (corrected time)!
Even though the two competing boats in her class came in earlier than Cruzan Time, her handicap, coupled with the skill and foresight of the excellent captain and crew brought her into first despite the setbacks they encountered on day one of the race.
Captain Beckstedt rewarded his loyal crew with a couple of beers after the race, since he was out of tee shirts.
Tags: St. Croix
January 20th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Fantastic!
January 20th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
As great as this sounds, it may have blown our chances for that trip-to-Buck-for-the-price-of-beer. Though I facetiously mentioned “whuuuuping” Vice Commodore Mallory in an email missive yesterday, we in fact trounced him today. With tongue in cheek, I thanked him profusely for his offer, but asked if he intended us to head out and return on the same day
He took it well… I think.
January 20th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Screw ‘em…Origami rules!
January 20th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
True true! But Aurora can take all twelve of us at once. And none of us have to drive! (The boat that is… we’ll deal with the car drive back when the time comes
January 31st, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Weelll!; you hot racer types ACTUALLY were in spinnaker class. So that one second can o’whoopass wasn’t in the race with the fine restored 45 year old matron of the seas, overburdened as she was with traditional cruiser safety supply beverages. She holds her bow high still.
February 1st, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Captain Mallory, we salute you, your crew and your fine sea-going vessel!
It was rough out there on the high seas, especially on the 2nd day going windward the whole way!
Our beverage rations had largely been consumed after our close encounter with the tanker on day 1. We were light and caught plenty of lift on the way home to the safety and sanctity of Teague Bay ;)!