The Tribune

NOT even an 11-minute head start was enough for the Lady in Red, Lady Nathalie to hold off the A Class boats in the Annual "Catch Me If You Can" St Valentine's Massacre in Montagu Bay over the weekend.

In the special challenge race on Sunday, the B Class Lady Nathalie, skippered by Clyde Rolle, got an 11-minute head start on a seven-mile course, but midway through the second of the three-lap race, she was caught by all three participating A Class boats.

First it was the Red Stripe, skippered by Lundy Robinson, followed by Ed Sky, skippered by Lee Armbrister and finally by the Good News, skippered by Sheldon Gibson.

Stafford Armbrister, one of the members of the organising committee, said they had perfect weather for sailing and the sailors were all pleased with the length of the sailing race.

He said because of the heavy winds, the A Class boats were able to overpower the smaller B Class boat.

"By the time they got to the first buoy, they had already taken off two minutes and when they got to the second buoy, they took off another two minutes," he pointed out. "So in the second lap, they all were able to catch the Nathalie as they headed for the third lap to complete the course."

On Saturday, there was one A Class race. In that race, Ed Sky came out on top, followed by the Good News and Red Stripe.

Originally, a total of five boats were scheduled to compete but only three showed up. Both the Courageous and the Southern Cross didn't make it.

The Valentine's Massacre was organised by Eleazor 'the Sailing Barber' Johnson, who used the event as an opportunity to give the public some excitement during the month of February. Johnson started the event 31 years ago and it has continued every year.

This year's event, sponsored in part by Burns House and Campari, Coca-Cola, the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources, Asa H Pritchard and d'Albenas Agency, was termed a success and, as usual, there was a huge crowd of spectators on the shore enjoying the festivities.