Titan XII, the 2004 Caribbean Big Boat

Before the 2004 Caribbean Big Boat Series there may have been many who thought that Titan would have been out of luck in chasing the two maxZ86 canting keel boats through this long, demanding series. Instead Tom Hill’s Titan kept up the pressure and managed some wins over each of these boats, often by a few seconds and finally managed to win the Caribbean Big Boat Series by just one point.

Morning Glory won the Antigua event and would have taken the series win had she not missed the BVI event. Pyewacket could have done better if she could have held the lead in just a couple more races.

In the Racer Cruiser Class Chippewa would have won had she not sailed in the racing class in the St Maarten event. The overall trophy went to Starr Trail followed by Spirit of Minerva and Chippewa.

Morning Glory, twin foil, canting keel, maxi sled

The 2004 season for big boats was unquestionably one of the best for some years. The boat speed potential of the boats could be measured by the ratings that the CSA handicap awarded. Mari Cha (not in the series) had to sail to a rating of over 1.600 which was inconceivable some years ago. Nobody had any idea of what the canting keel boats would do but somehow the measurers had consulted the right Oracle and came up with ratings that made the series as exciting as they turned out. Deltas between the top boats were regularly less than a single minute after hours of racing.

Like most of the top boats Titan had a crew with many top professional sailors. Unsurprisingly she would not go to weather as well as the canting keel boats but had to depend on her better rating to stay with the pack. On the downwind legs however she had no disadvantage and in the heavy wind conditions of Antigua she was able to gain the critical seconds that got her the important positions.

Starr Trail, Farr 72, tops Racer Cruiser

In the Racer Cruiser class Chippewa is clearly a boat that is sailed by a team and it shows on the water. To compete with her requires the same boat speed and teamwork. The results in Antigua suggest that Chippewa had it all her own way. That is not entirely accurate. On the two Thursday races Starr Trail held the lead in both races but equipment refused to co-operate and the victory was snatched from them. Spirit of Minerva is a “head boat “ from Formula One sailing and it is a testament to that organization’s good organization that the boat was able to stay so close to the top finishes and take a third place in Antigua and a second in the Big Boat Series.

The Caribbean Big Boat series was sponsored by Antigua Yacht Club Marina, The Yacht Club at Port de Plaisance and FKG Rigging.

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