Antigua 2006 Press Release

Capt Pat Nolan steered her way into the prizes again during Antigua Race week 2006. On her Beneteau 445 “Seabiscuit”, Pat and her international crew achieved four third places and one fifth to win third in class and fifth in fleet and sailed away with “best all female crew” in the regatta of 197 boats.

Pat’s intense tactical planning during the week of racing certainly paid off. Boat handling, weather conditions, bowel obstructions, prolapses and a cat with an eating disorder had all been vigorously debated over dinner. Teamwork was identified as a key success factor. As foredeck woman Jill Jinks aptly put it …“success is about being tolerant, generous and supporting each crew member in the way they need most.”

Race one – Seabiscuit got a great start and led around the first mark but it wasn’t long before Acadia took the lead and the chase was on. Useful lessons were learnt about the new light reacher which gained two knots when it flew. Seabiscuit crossed the line in second but local boat Sunshine was placed above Nolan’s crew after corrected time.

Seasickness was a problem at the start of the week. Using her years of experience Pat acclimatised the newer crewmembers with an old sea remedy…. 3 beers at 3, cocktails at 6 and red wine at 8. Such elite athletes were also fortunate to have an expert in nutrition on the crew. The human winch, Elaine from Maine, kept the team at their physical peak, demanding anaerobic superfoods from team support worker Nancy Bell. The peanut butter sandwiches and Snickers were most appreciated, particularly by race 3 which, to everyone’s surprise seemed to be entirely upwind. Winchers Kelly, Becky and Elaine kept Seabiscuit in contention, heroically tacking past the rest of the field keeping Acadia in sight. Only 4 minutes separated the first two boats…but again corrected time placed Seabiscuit in third.

Being an all female crew drew much attention from the competition and having next years Miss Antigua on board, (Peg Eaton, who has recently won a modelling contract with HiHo ladies wear) proved popular with the boys and girls on other boats. Despite leaving Jigsaw for dead on the water the Seabiscuit crew couldn’t quite shake them off on the dance floor. In a dangerous manoeuvre Peg Eaton was floored during a quick jive with fellow crewmember Bev Ayre. Ms Ayre having already received an official warning from a French competitor… “remember Beverley when we are dancing I am the Capitaine and you are the crew”. She was retired immediately from the dance floor, drunk. Her position was taken by the elegant Pat Tyrell, who took on the enigmatic Fritz with gusto.

Whilst other crews were wasting their lay day drinking and relaxing 4 of the Seabiscuit crew were hosting the first England v USA ladies cricket final on Galleon Beach. In a closely fought match the English girls triumphed over a bemused USA. Becky Thom was out for a duck, leg before, from a googlie, during a double wicket maiden over, from a rather smug Louise Muddle. Revenge was sweet later in the week as the USA stormed to victory when Pat Nolan took gold in the cribbage and one arm wrestling event.

Race 4 started controversially for some as English gentleman Jim Brocket on Albert II was protested for barging Sunshine but Nolan steered her best start away from the pack. Seabiscuit were walking on all their class to the upwind mark, however difficulties with the reaching sail let Acadia back in on the downwind leg. A second place corrected again to third left Seabiscuit’s crew determined to improve on the final day.

Stringent preparations began. 3 bottles of Veuve Cliquot were chilled and taken immediately to Shirley Heights where the crew sang “What shall we do with the drunken sailor” in torrential rain.

By Friday, the wind had dropped completely. Starts were postponed and boats were left wallowing in the humidity. Worried her team would lose their edge Nolan ordered her crew into the sea where she made them tread water for hours until the breeze picked up. Race 5 was a 5 hour cat and mouse game with the wind – Nolan was a blur as she moved from helm to foredeck to winch to squeeze 2 knots of boat speed from a tickle of wind. Finally Seabiscuit drifted over the finish line to secure a well-deserved third in class.

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