L to R: Angel Ayala (director, Cape Air CORT Series), Chris Thompson (winner of Spinnaker B), and Katya Ruiz (regional marketing manager for Cape Air), at the Cape Air CORT Series prize-giving at the BVI Spring Regatta.

The 2009 Cape Air CORT (Caribbean Ocean Racing Triangle) Series kicked-off with the St. Croix International Regatta in February, included the Culebra Heineken International Regatta in March, and concluded with the BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival, held April 3 to 5, out of Nanny Cay Marina, Tortola, British Virgin Islands.
The suspense to see who would win in each class was incredible.

St. Thomas' Chris Thompson, at the helm of his J/27, J-Walker, winner in Spinnaker Racing B, summed it up best when he said: "For us, it all boiled down to the final race in the last regatta in the series. We won by only half a point - it was that close."

In Spinnaker Racing A, St. Croix's Stanton brothers led aboard their Melges 24, Devil 3. "We've been racing the boat hard the last two years," says Peter Stanton.

Cayennita Grande, St. Croix's Tony Sanpere's J/36, took the lead in the Performance Cruising class. "We beat them (third place finisher, El Presidente) in St. Croix and they beat us in Culebra. BVI was the decider," says Sanpere.

BVI veteran sailor, Peter Haycraft, driving his Sirena 38, Pipedream, topped the Racer-Cruiser Class. "I've raced in every C.O.R.T. Series from the start," says Haycraft.

Finally, St. John's Steve Schmidt led the Jib & Main Class aboard his Santa Cruz 70, Hotel California.

Fifteen boats competed in the 2009 Cape Air CORT Series.

First place winners received two round-trip tickets to anywhere in the Caribbean Cape Air flies compliments of the airline. Cape Air offers convenient and reliable hourly flights that make travel between Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, St. Croix and Tortola easier than ever. Cape Air also offers special joint fares and convenient connections with major airlines, making it easier for sailors anywhere in the world to get to their favorite Caribbean destination.

West Marine sponsored VHF Hand-Held Radios for first place finishers, PFD's for second place and retractable beam lights for third.

"We invite everyone to come out and go island-hopping with us next year," says Angel Ayala, director of the Culebra Heineken International Regatta and Cape Air CORT Series. "It's the best competition. Three races, three places and fantastic prizes."

For more information about other services, or to book on-line, visit www.flycapeair.com

For more information about the Cape Air CORT Series, visit www.sailcort.com

2009 CAPE AIR CORT FINAL RESULTS

Spinnaker A
1. Devil 3, Chris Stanton, St. Croix, USVI
2. Bad Girl, Robert Armstrong, St. Croix, USVI
3. Boogaloo (Silver), Morgan Dale, St. Croix, USVI

Spinnaker B
1. J-Walker, Chris Thompson, St. Thomas, USVI
2. Good Bad and Ugly, John Foster, St. Thomas, USVI
3. Magnificent 7, Paul Davis, St. Thomas, USVI

Racer Cruiser
1. Pipedream, Peter Haycraft, BVI
2. Vrijgezeilig, Michel Heidweiller, France

IC-24
1. Lime, Colin Rathbun, BVI

Performance Cruiser
1. Cayennita Grande, Tony Sanpere, St. Croix, USVI
2. Bonne Chance, Bernardo Gonzalez, Puerto Rico
3. El Presidente, Jeff Fangman, St. Croix, USVI

Jib & Main
1. Hotel California, Steve Schmidt, St. John, USVI
2. Mary Ellen, Howard Silverman, St. Croix, USVI

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