NELSON'S PURSUIT RACE

History has been dealt a severe blow on Old Year’s Day 2014 in Nelsons Dockyard, when for the first time a French Vessel has won the coveted Nelson’s Pursuit.

The first yacht to start the annual race was the Carriacou built 36 foot “Sweetheart Mon Amour” which started the race course at 1030. She was pursued by a combined force of 25 British, American, Italian, New Zealand, Dutch and Antiguan yachts to capture the flag of the French Flagship “Mon Amour”.

The only yacht to get within striking distance was the formidable 150 foot Schooner “Gloria” which crossed the line behind “Mon Amour” by 1 min 13 seconds. She was captained by “Who” other than Peter Townsend, who also gained much notoriety in other fields of endeavour. The mighty “Gloria” was ably crewed by half of the top sailors in the area. While “Gloria” was patrolling out near Guadeloupe, the tricky “Mon Amour” short tacked up the south coast of Antigua, almost out of sight of the combined fleet.

S/Y Gloria was closely followed by 24 yachts of the combined navies.

Even the fastest of the British fleet the mighty 100 foot ketch “Marama”, captained by Admiral’s Inn’s Paul Deeth, could not match the speed of the dastardly French. The prize giving was held on the gangway of the STS Lord Nelson, now renamed STS Napoleon Bonaparte, where Lord Nelson surrendered his sword to the French forces led by Admiral Charles Carey Morgan and Captain Oliver Greensmith and crew.

This shameful event took another bad turn with the re naming of English Harbour to French Harbour and was further shamed by the distribution of prizes of fine 5 year old French Harbour Rum and other French Harbour Products.

All of this was washed down with hastily changed rum punch into t-punch which was confiscated from Chippy’s Woodwork team which has been in business in now French Harbour from Nelsons Day.

Over 120 local sailors had to be witness to this humiliating event which will never be forgotten. Vengeance has been planned upon the French for next year’s Bonaparte Pursuit by the crafty British who have vowed to reclaim our beloved Harbour to her former glory.

By sunset we all left in our Citroens with our baguettes and wine to celebrate what was left of 2014.

Click here to view the full race results.