The Bacardi Cup Series 1927
Regatta Report, Star Log
Ardara and Sparkler had a beautiful scrap for two rounds and then McHugh struck and mark and withdrew while Edrington again sailed home a winner. Ace took second place while Patterson sailed Delfin to a third prize. The next race was sailed in less sea and this time Ace cleaned ‘em up. Delfin was second and lrex third. Edrington did not see Ratsey under his lee and forced him to alter his course. On learning of this Edrington disqualified himseld. Moondyne was disqualified for fouling Ace and McHugh carried the stick out of Ardara on a jibe. The last race was the wildest of the lot. Practically all the yachts were reefed and had all they wanted. Ardara took an early lead but towards the end her crew let his sheet run out on a jibe and while trying to get hold of it again Sparkler and Ace went through and into the lead. Sparkler was just a fraction slower in getting close hauled on the last turn and snappy work by Ed Willis, Ace’s crew, gave Iselin just the necessary margin to win by four seconds. That gave him the series and the most valuable cup ever won outright in a short series. Delfin was the runner up and Patterson, who sailed her in the early stages of the series, and Schellins who substituted when he was called away because of a death in the family and sailed the last couple of races, both deserve great credit for giving Cuba it's first place in an International Star event. Third series money went to Irex IV.
The team race was not so very interesting. The American quartet, selected from the Bacardi results, won easily. Little Bear hit the first mark and for a moment it looked bad for the Americans but Aurrera and Gavilan did the same identical "'thing and then the U. S. with three survivors to Cuba's two had nothing to do but keep the boats afloat through the squall that broke and finish which they did in the following order: Sparkler, Irex, and Ace. Delfin and Lisa brought up the rear for Cuba's 9 points.
No account of the races would be complete without mention of the Midge and her crew, Mrs. Gelston King. While the Nahant boat did not win a prize, it did better than some who did and Mrs. King won the admiration of all by going out in weather that was not fit for the average man to sail in.
The big seas, even unusual ones for the Cuban coast, caused many a skipper to misjudge his mark and be thrown into it for a foul. The races were marked by many fouls and disqualifications and minor accidents. It was fortunate that no serious ones occurred. The Regatta Committee had their hands full with hearings every night. They enforced the rules beautifully and handed out disqualifications right and left and are to be congratulated upon doing so. Had other Committees in the past done this there would have been no reason for having future Internationals run by the I. E. C. Everyone went away happy and contented which demonstrates that enforcement of rules causes no trouble and that it is the lax Committee that hurts the sport.
Results
