MoBay to embrace 2013 Pineapple Cup

Western Bureau:Montego Bay is poised to get some high-profile international sporting action next month when the city plays host to the 31st biennial Pineapple Cup, one the marquee offshore sailboat races in the world.

The event will start from Fort Lauderdale, Florida's Port Everglades, on February 8, and will take competitors on a challenging all-points-of-sail course, stretching the 811 nautical miles to Montego Bay.

"This has been called the most interesting race because you are almost never out of sight of land the whole time," said race chairman Ken Batzer of Lighthouse Point, Florida. "We have a real quality fleet once again this year and are hoping to have good weather."

The race, which began in 1961, has been running either annually or biennially ever since. The current race record is two days, 10 hours, 24 minutes and 42 seconds, which was established in 2005 by the boat Titan 12.

Some of the past winners of the event include world-renowned skippers such as Ted Turner, who won three times; and John Kilroy, who won twice. Some of the past contenders include Sir Peter Blake, Larry Ellison, and Roy Disney.

AMONG THE BEST OCEAN RACES

Tom Slade, who took second place in one of the classes in 2011 and who will be making his fifth Pineapple Cup appearance this year, is looking forward to this year's staging.

"It's got to be one of the best ocean races in the world … . Not only is it challenging, but the scenery is just unbelievable, and when you get to Jamaica, it's like no other place," said Slade. "We are going to try to sail well again this year, but more importantly, have fun."

Michael Hennessy, a veteran in the world of ocean racing, will be challenging the Florida to Montego Bay course for the first time and is looking forward to the experience.

"We'd like to be competitive, have a lot fun, and enjoy a new course with new surroundings," said Hennessy, whose résumé includes racing double-handed aboard his boat Dragon in the Transatlantic Race in 2011. "Our boat is pretty well dialled in right now and moving fast."

The Pineapple Cup, which is being presented by Appleton Estate Jamaican Rum, is endorsed by the Jamaican Tourist Board and managed by the SORC, a professional sail-boating entity. Sponsors include the Montego Bay Yacht Club, Storm Trysail Club, and Lauderdale Yacht Club.

At the finish, sailors will be treated to a week of fun with cocktail parties every night, steel bands, limbo dancing, and other fun displays and competitions, ending with a dinner and dance along with a prize-giving ceremony on Friday, February 15.