Sailing into the new year

The 30th edition of the New Year's Eve Parade around the island took place on Tuesday, December 30. "It was an exciting and memorable event," said Mark DelGuidice, co-organizer with the Saint Barth Yacht Club.
A total of eight boats made up the fleet. Two F-18s and a 20-foot catamaran took the start alongside the Phaedo (60 feet), Aurelius (120 feet), Symmetry (100 feet), the Swan 100, Hippocampe, and the classic yacht Ticonderoga, the oldest boat in the fleet.
Conditions were difficult, with very light winds, which complicated the rankings throughout the day. Although the catamarans started last, they managed to overtake the entire fleet behind the island, where the breeze stabilized between 8 and 12 knots, sometimes dropping to nearly 8 knots. This meant that the smaller catamarans had the advantage and took the top three places.
"The largest boat in the fleet was the 120-foot Aurelius, which we believe was participating in the regatta for the fifth consecutive year," notes Mr. DelGiudice. "We saw a particularly exciting start with Aurelius, Symmetry, and Hippocampe. Ticonderoga was actually the first to start. Due to the very light breeze, it took him nearly four hours to complete the course around the island. Ticonderoga has been participating in this event intermittently for about 25 years, which makes his presence particularly significant. "
After a wonderful day on the water, everyone gathered at the Public sailing club for the awards ceremony and champagne, bringing the event to a close in style. Holding the race on December 30 (rather than the 31st) proved popular once again, allowing participants to enjoy the 31st with friends and family while preparing for New Year's celebrations.