Sailing Magazine
by Richard Crockett
The more I dig into this event the more I realise that it needs to be fully documented and researched due to the many different guises under which it has been raced.
The race in December 2000 appears to have been aimed at making it a family affair with the yachties in the family racing and the landlubbers travelling on the ‘RMS St Helena’ to the island where they would meet up and enjoy Christmas together. What a good plan!
20 yachts competed in what was an unusual race as reported here: “Rated among Rated among the most unusual events on the international racing calendar, the 1700-nautical mile downwind race is a multi-faceted event which includes the ocean race, a week or two exploring St Helena, and the option of having one’s yacht hoisted onto the decks of the stately passenger ship, the ‘RMS St Helena’, for a return Christmas cruise to the Mother City.
The race was won by ‘Gladeye’, and Oyster 37 crewed by members of the elite British Household Cavalry Regiment.
Line honours went to ‘Beluga Monarch Assurance’, skippered by British BT round the world sailor Paul Bennet. They won in record time by smashing the 1996 record by just under 21 hours.
READ THE RACE PREVIEW HERE: Pages from 2000 12 – SAILING Magazine – OCR
READ THE RACE REPORT HERE: Pages from 2001 02 – SAILING Magazine – OCR
