SIMPSON BAY—Team Island Water World won the St. Maarten Yacht Club's Keelboat Racing Season Championship, sponsored by Grant Thornton on Sunday. The fourth race day in the series featured four teams in the Caribbean Sailing Association Class 1. Competing were Team Caraibes Diesel, Team Solstice, Team Island Water World 1, and Team Budget Marine. Team Island Water World won the championship for a record fifth year in a row. “Team Island Water World had already secured their overall win with winning the earlier events counting for the overall scoring, said Skipper of Island Water World Frits Bus. “It was again a race day to enjoy and have a good practice. But, conditions where challenging and rough with strong winds and many gusts from different directions with some gusts up to 25 knots it was not an easy ride in the park.” Budget Marine finished second overall and FKG was third. In the Multihull class, consisting of the Diam 24 fleet; Cry Baby ended up as the season winner. Karibuni came in second and was followed by Merlin. Yet race day four belonged to Budget Marine, a Melges 24, skippered by Joylons Ferron. The young team won all the races. Island Water World finished second. “We were underpowered today. We were missing weight on the boat (the tactician) and struggled with boat handling,” said Bus. Carib Diesel suffered material damage. A newly installed hiking strap, that the crew was leaning against to keep the boat balanced, broke and all but one fell all in the water.
