It was a pleasure and a privilege to join the owners and the crew of the Perini Navi yacht ?Antara? in the competitive racing over the two days of the Perini Navi Cup. Antara was one of the first Perini Navi yachts constructed and will enter the shipyards in Viareggio for a re-fit this winter. But a savvy captain, tactician, and master trimmer gave Antara a fighting chance against ?on paper? faster yachts. Antara was fourth over the line on the first day, but was first over the line on the second day (with a fast time). Overall, I am proud to say that Antana gained a podium place and was third overall.
My hosts on the Antara: Mickey and Diane Gooch:
Mornings before a race on the Antara started with the crew meeting to discuss race possibilities and tactics:
Fourth to start in the staggered line up, racing downwind, and ?smokin the field? with Antara?s ?Big Red? spinnaker hoisted aloft, Antara moves into first and away from the fleet:
Leaving the Perini Navi fleet in its wake, Antara leads the field. Way off in the distance, the last to start, is the Maltese Falcon (second yacht from the left)?
First across the line, Antara then waited to see the other yachts come in. A happy Antara crew celebrating their first place (across the finish line) and waiting to see what time the other yachts will record:
Fighting for the line and time, ?Paz?, ?Squall? (on the right of the three), and the ?Maltese Falcon? all converge together. The other yachts in the Perini Navi fleet are on the horizon and some distance behind.
Paz just made it to second, followed by Squall, and then the Falcon. Across, the line, the yachts drop their sails and head back to port:
Despite starting last in the field, the Maltese Falcon records the fastest time over the two days (accounting for handicaps and penalties).
Second overall was Squall. A truly beautiful racing yacht in the classic sense but finished to Perini Navi?s luxurious standard. Designed by Dubois Naval Architects (in joint work with Perini Navi) who are usually employed to design racing sloops, Squall is both a speed machine and a luxury villa. Their speed on the water was a joy to behold and no other yacht in the fleet could match them apart from one.
No yacht could match the speed and power on the water of the Maltese Falcon. The overall winner across the two days, Thomas Perkins was modest in victory and acknowledged how hard Antara and especially Squall had pushed his own yacht.