Cancer Benefit Regatta 2004 raises TT$266,000.00

The art of sailing and the selling of art:

In its 4th year, the Cancer Benefit Regatta lived up to its reputation as a great weekend of racing and an opportunity to put something worthwhile back into the community, raising TT$266,000.00, which was split into equal cheques for the Trinidad and Tobago Cancer Society and the Cancer Society of the South.

Although wind was extremely light on Saturday and about 10 to 12 knots on Sunday, shrewd judgments by race officers to shorten the 1^st race and set courses toward the east to maximize available breeze for race 2 and 3, kept competitive interest up.  Calculating when and where to start is always difficult in light conditions and a number of boats broke their start lines on day two, but there were no serious incidents and the only protest lodged was later withdrawn.

Lloyd De Roche on Nirvana, winner of Cruising Class, a shrewd reader of tide, wind and current conditions, continued with his season’s consistent performance to win overall in Cruising Class. Mike Lewis on Les Remous, winner of the Racer Cruiser Class, got it right this time, doing extremely well in light and medium air to beat the rest of the fleet in this, the biggest class. Racing Class winner Glen Castagne, Stag Brut Force, and his young, enthusiastic team showed they can compete with the more experienced crews and in accepting the trophy he said it felt really good to beat his sailing mentor, Dougie Myers on Legacy, who placed second.  

Calder Hart, initiator and driving force behind this Cancer Benefit Regatta, was clearly astonished and delighted at the huge amount raised.  He paid special tribute to Judy Grimshaw and her hardworking team of ladies who organized the very successful silent Art Auction on Saturday as part of the event, accounting for TT$112,000.00 of the total raised. The paintings (and the framing thereof) were generously donated and included some of the best known artistic talents in Trinidad. The art of sailing and the selling of art formed a winning combination that, according to Dr ….of the T & T Cancer Society and ….of the Cancer Society South will benefit cancer sufferers through increased awareness campaigns for early detection, the purchase of sophisticated testing equipment and ongoing improvement of patient care facilities.

Overall Results  Cancer Benefit Regatta 2004

TTSA | Cancer Benefit Regatta