Defending champions Fox and Santiago facing battle to retain title
Scott Fox and crew Joanna Santiago will rest their title on the line during tomorrow’s 51st Warren D Mickey Foggo Flagpole to Flagpole Race.
The East End Mini Yacht Club pair came from behind to claim victory in last year’s Comet class race from Hamilton Harbour to St George’s Harbour.
Heath Foggo, the race director and commodore of race hosts East End Mini Yacht Club, anticipates a fast race in the favourable conditions.
“My expectations are it’s going to be a pretty quick race because of the wind direction,” he told The Royal Gazette. “The wind is supposed to be south, southwest, and if it holds that direction it means it’s going to be a tight reach to St George’s.
“We will be beating out of Hamilton Harbour and on almost a deep reach going from Two Rock to Hog Fish Beacon.
“Once you round Hog Fish Beacon you can go any way you want to get to St George’s. However, you have to go around Hog Fish Beacon.“
Last year Fox and Santiago made up considerable ground to reel in, and pass leaders and East End Mini Yacht Club team-mates Stevie Dickinson and Anderika Gilbert off Fort St Catherine and go on to take the win.
The pair will again have their work cut out among a formidable fleet boasting class stalwarts Dickinson and West End Sail Boat Club pair Gladwin Lambert and Quinton Simons.
“It’s shaping up to be an excellent fleet going down to St George’s,” Foggo added.
The veteran sailor believes the race could potentially be decided on the final beat to the finish line in St George’s Harbour.
“They will have a beat again into St George’s Harbour where everybody knows that gets very tricky,” Foggo said. “If they can stay close together, the race will be in St George’s channel in the Town Cut.”
The race begins at 11am off the Flagpole in Hamilton Harbour.
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