The Flying Pig prevailed at the 2023 Nanny Cay Round Tortola Race on Saturday, November 18, 2023. Photo: Broadsword Communications/Facebook

The 2023 Nanny Cay Round Tortola Race took place on Saturday, November 18, 2023, with plenty of wind in the south offering up a potential record-breaking day. Photo: Broadsword Communications/Facebook

On corrected time, despite their north shore dramas, the win went to Gilbo Simpson and Tim Parson’s The Flying Pig with crew members Nelson Ray-Boothe and Katherine Wilson. Photo: Broadsword Communications/Facebook

The first away at 09:35 was the 40ft Beneteau Libertas skippered by Pat Nolan, the only boat in their fleet that made it to the start line. Sailing with just two crew, Libertas made a great time completing the circumnavigation in 3 hours 47 minutes, and 52 seconds.

Next away was Kelsall 47 trimaran Triple Jack skippered by Richard Wooldridge, who was on a slightly different mission. Back in 2009, Triple Jack recorded a benchmark time, racing around Tortola, Scrub Island, Great Camanoe, and Guana Island in 3 hours 33 minutes and 27 seconds and since then have knocked an hour of their own time.

When entering the NCC, all boats must make a donation to a charity of their choice and the Triple Jack team selected the Humane Society of the BVI.  At 10:26 they crossed the line. 

Clocking speeds in the mid to high teens, they were back in the channel and charging up to the finish line, with supporters ashore anxiously watching the time. Having completed just one tack and one gybe through the whole route they crossed the line with a time of 2 hours 40 minutes and 4 seconds, just 6 minutes and 37 seconds shy of their 2015 record.

The Flying Pig prevails

The last fleet to start were the Corsair trimarans, The Flying Pig, Trike and Ting a Ling, who crossed the line at 10:35. As per the race instructions competitors can choose to take the same route as the Nanny Cay Challenge or take a shorter route inside Scrub, Great Camanoe and Guana. 

Sam Talbot’s 31ft Trike was the first to make their choice and opted for the outside route whilst the two 27’s, Ting a Ling and The Flying Pig, came through the gap to leave Monkey Point on Guana Island to starboard.

Sailors encounter ‘challenging conditions’ on north shore

The north shore offered up very challenging conditions with lighter winds but very strong gusts blasting off the hills and a big swell. The waters off Brewers Bay were the end of the day for Chris Haycraft’s Ting a Ling as a broken rudder forced them to retire from the race.

The Flying Pig almost found themselves a casualty in the same area when a massive gust caused a near capsize and blew out their spinnaker but they were able to continue.

First home was Trike with an elapsed time of 2 hours, 42 minutes and 36 seconds and then it was a waiting game for them as they watched for The Flying Pig to finish. It was 1 minute and 45 seconds past the three-hour mark when the bright pink bows of The Pig crossed the line. On corrected time, despite their north shore dramas, the win went to Gilbo Simpson and Tim Parson’s The Flying Pig with crew members Nelson Ray-Boothe and Katherine Wilson.

Results - Trimaran

Pos. Boat name - Skipper - Corrected time

1. The Flying Pig - Gilbo Simpson - 2:48:29

2. Trike - Sam Talbot - 2:50:10

3. Ting a Ling - Chris Haycraft - RTD

Results - Monohull

1. Libertas - Pat Nolan

2. WannaB - Alex England - DNC

3. Paroma - Luis Balzac - DNC

Nanny Cay Challenge

Triple Jack - Richard Wooldridge - Elapsed time 2:40:04