The Royal BVI Yacht Club retained the Statue of Liberty Trophy, after holding off the challenge from Manhattan Yacht Club and the West End Yacht Club. Photo: Provided

Returning for their second year to challenge the VI clubs, the Manhattan Yacht Club fielded eight boats and the Royal BVI Yacht Club and West End Yacht Clubs four apiece.

The pursuit race started off Nanny Cay at 09:35 AM with the course taking the fleet up to Deadchest, leaving Peter Island and Flanigan to starboard, Pelican and the Indians to port before returning to the finish off Nanny Cay. A sparkling day on the water with a steady breeze made for some exciting racing with the first boat taking three and a half hours to complete the course.

First overall was the RBVIYC IC24, Black Pearl who reeled in the boats who started before them as they rounded Deadchest and proved to be impossible to catch for the faster boats chasing hard behind them. In second place was Girasoli finishing just 4 minutes behind the Pearl.

Next up was Nanny Cay KATS skippered by the Commodore of the Manhattan Yacht Club, Michael Fortenbaugh. Pulling together a scratch crew, including KATS sailor De'Sani Thomas, they put in an impressive performance to hold off the rapidly approaching J111, Spike which had started almost an hour behind them!

First home for the West End Yacht Club was The Black Pig, sneaking just over a minute ahead of teammates Wicked Winch. Seventh across the line was RBVIYC Commodore with Dances with Whales, also doubling as official photo boat.
Five of the MYC boats sailed an impromptu shortened course with Flag Shipping XV crossing the line first.

Medals for trailing skippers!

Back at the RBVIYC clubhouse, Governor John S. Duncan OBE was on hand to present the prizes and the MYC presented medals of appreciation including a personal thank you from Commodore Fortenbaugh, awarding all those skippers who finished behind him with a medal!

Thank you to all the sailors from all three clubs, but particularly everyone from the MYC, for making it such a fun event, on and off the water (and perhaps also the BVI clubs should thank the Willy T for keeping the competition busy on Friday night...).

The race was also the penultimate one in the Pussers Painkiller Series and with Black Pearl taking their third win of the series ahead of Girasoli it's looking like an exciting finish for the Dark and Stormy.