This was the first regatta for K8, thirty Oysters in all were competing with great winds andfun sailing. K8 managed a good series of results with 2, 1, 5, 2 to finish 2nd overall, not bad for our first try.
 
Roger, the resident oyster journalist, who sailed with us for the last race wrote:

Having finished in light air the previous day, it was with some surprise the Oyster fleet awoke on Sunday to a fresh breeze. The sou’wester was back, not with the same vengeance that had blown the fleet to Cabrera on Friday, but with a steady 15 plus knots at the start. At the morning roll call, many skippers opted for spinnakers and MPS with obvious relish. Thus far, it had been a white sails regatta.

Alan Brook set up the start under the vertical, 200-foot rise of Cap des Llamp, just east of the entrance to Andraitx. The seas were large enough to wash completely over the saloon windows of the new Oyster 72 I was on – KEALOHA, owned by David Holliday – as we motored around the corner. But this day the sun was bright, the sky clear, and the tossing Mediterranean that eerie electric blue that bears its name.

The course followed the coastline east to Palma, with a finish off the harbour entrance. The first “leg” was a blast reach. Then sheets would be eased twice as the coast bent north toward Palma.

Holliday, who cut his sailing teeth in Mirror dinghies, got a fine start in the middle of the line, a good two boat lengths ahead of his arch rival in this regatta, LUSKENTRE, another 72 owned by Mark Blythe. We liked that, since LUSKENTYRE is faster than KEALOAH by virtue of a carbon spar, a fully battened main, and a few other details. It was good to make them play catch up.

Unlike previous regattas here in Palma, the previous three days had offered wonderful sailing. But this was the best yet. All the boats were flying along with the wind abeam. And the sea state offered a better ride than the reach to Cabrera. This was a day all sailors would cherish.

On KEALOHA the speedo never dropped below nine knots. At the first course change off El Toro light, we eased sheets but opted to wait to set our jenniker until the jibe coming up at Cap de Cala Figuera. And that’s probably where LUSKENTYRE got us. They set their big orange spinnaker and began to pull away. Ours went up within five minutes, and we held our range on them after that, but the damage had been done.

Jibing a light sail on an Oyster 72 in full flight with a friendly crew of six (LUSKENTYRE) or even the ten we had on board KEALOHA, will get your heart started. The forces involved on a boat this large are awesome. The wind was now gusting to 25. One proceeds with caution. LUSKENTYRE jibed before us without incident. After discussion, we decided not to snuff the sail in its sock, but simply jibe it by letting it flow across in front of the boat. It worked well, and soon we were again flying toward the finish line registering speeds over 12 knots. LUSKENTYRE saved her time on us by less than a minute.

At the dock afterwards David Holliday and Mark Blythe were wired with the excitement of the last few hours of exhilarating sailing. Blythe popped champagne. He and David drank several toasts to the Oyster 72, each other, their crews, and to more memorable races of the sort they had just enjoyed.

Gathered stern-to around the docks at Real Club Nautico, the whole fleet was buzzing with the electricity that such sailing can produce. Thanks to a whole lot of wind accompanied by mild temperatures, elegant dinners and parties in unique surroundings – and oh yes, reliable boats that perform – the Montpelier Oyster Regatta, Palma 2006, was one for the books.

The crew for the week excelled themselves, sailing, partying, giving and accepting challenges from other boats.

To view pictures of the Montpelier Oyster Regatta click here