Cleone's crew - Elizabeth and Will - grabbed the gold in the hotly contended Inflatable Dighy Race held at the Bora Bora Yacht Club.
Huge crowds gathered on Saturday afternoon at the Bora Bora Yacht Club for the Inflatable Dinghy hampionsips, held for the first time in French Polynesia. In their Avon-sponsored entry, Cleone got off to a flying start, timing their run to the line perfectly. Striking at an average of 44, during the first leg of the traditional triangular course they were well in front, with the rest of the field struggling to find their rhythm and to get their craft going. At the first mark, Talulah Ruby started to challenge, and the second leg was a ding-dong battle to the mark. But Cleone was still in front, and despite an unjustified call for water, rounded neatly whilst Talulah Ruby ran wide. Cleone then sprinted strongly for the line, hitting 45 as they did so. In the end, it was an easy but well deserved victory for a well-prepared, super-fit entry. The finishers were greated by enthusiastic yachtsmen in traditional garb enacting the rite of Pasta Throwing, immaculately organised - of course - by the Irish Cultural Attaché.
At the prizegiving and press conference held that eveing in the Yacht Club, Cleone's spokesperson said "The boys done good. Team selection, training and boat preparation during the run up were the keys to success". Qustioned by the international media, he admitted that the go/no go decision was tricky, and taken at the last minute ("hurry up and finish lunch, you two, you need to get the outboard off and the dinghy to the start line in 5 minutes"). As they were presented with their champagne (generously provided by the Bora Bora Yacht Club) and medals, Elizabeth and Will posed for the media, blowing kisses and showering their adoring fans with champagne (actually we sensibly opened and drank it later). Asked for comment, Talulah Ruby's spokesman said "Ah'm gutted. We woz robbed".
Our thanks to the Bora Bora Yacht Club for organising this event, and for their generous prizes!
James, Chris, Elizabeth and Will
Yacht Cleone
Bora Bora
Society Islands