Contact (dana@mediapronewport.com)

"There is no way you can plan to do something like this. It's the wind gods, karma, luck, and all the little things that you can't plan on. You never know what will happen with the weather. That's the fun part of sports, of sailing, not knowing what will come your way during a race."

Light, shifty wind ranged from 4 knots at the start of both Divisions' Ocean Race to 12 knots and pouring rain toward the middle and end of the race that took the entire fleet from a start/finish point outside Falmouth Harbour. Both classes were challenged by a range of conditions along the south coast of Antigua with Division A completing approximately 20 miles, while those in Division B sailed 19 miles in a similar course configuration.

Rosebud's tactician Adrienne Cahalan explained that today's race course played up to the boat's strengths. "After Monday's windward/leeward races were cancelled, the team was disappointed," said Cahalan, who was the winning navigator in the 2005 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. "Compared to today, yesterday was tough. Today was good for us."

This victory caps off a very successful run for Rosebud, having won many major races and regattas including the 2003 Rolex Big Boat Series, the 2004 Newport-Bermuda Race and March's BVI Spring Regatta. Bittersweet is the knowledge that this is the last time Rosebud will compete as it has been sold and Sturgeon's sights are on another boat and new regattas.

"When we won the Transpac, in 2005, the boat had an offer on it, and after winning we didn't have the heart to sell it," said Sturgeon. "We said we have to do the Caribbean. Last year we were here and missed a mark racing, then missed out on winning. We had to come back here one more time. The people here are so friendly and so happy. We love racing in the Caribbean."

Victory in the Racing III class today went to High Life, Peter Roger's Ker 11.3 from the U.K. The win also clinched an overall third place in the Racing Fleet behind Titan 12 in second place. Other class victories include Jamie Dobb's Lost Horizon II in Racing IV.

In the Racer/Cruiser fleet, there was a battle of the French boats for today's first place. After a close race, M Bartholomew's Gilly B won the Racer/Cruiser I class with JP Dreau's Grand Soleil 50 Lady First in second. That second place earned Lady First a third overall in fleet, with Clay Deutsch's Chippewa in second place overall.

At press time, pending protests prevented determining Division B overall class and fleet winners. Today's class winners in the Performance Cruiser Fleet include Carel Paauwe's Swan 60, Marie Blue in Performance Cruiser I; Three Harkoms, James Hudleston's Oceanis 445, in Performance Cruiser II; and local sailor Tony Maidment's Beneteau 43, Budget Marine, in the Performance Cruiser III.

In the Cruising Fleet, today's race wins were claimed by Derek Waiter's London-based Bavaria 49, Spirit of the North in Cruising I and Acadia, the Frers 48 owned by Burt Keenan of the U.S., in Cruising II.

Race winners today in the Bareboat Fleet include D. Westby's Best Friends of the U.K. in Bareboat II; KH+P Orient, the Oceanis 473 skippered by Alexander Pfeiffer of Germany, in Bareboat III; Switzerland's Jan Soderberg aboard Chess, a Moorings 445, in Bareboat IV; France's Ronan Delacou on Pearl Island, a Beneteau, in Bareboat V; and Mike Steele, the U.K. skipper of Sunsail Lady Cades, in Bareboat VI.

Today was the final day of racing for all classes except those in the Bareboats fleet. Tomorrow, the top three boats in each of the six bareboat classes will take part in a "sail off" to determine the Bareboat Championship. Following racing tomorrow the prize giving will take place at 3pm for Division B and 6pm for Division A, followed by the Lord Nelson's Ball.

For more information about Rolex Antigua Sailing Week including results, photos and daily highlights video, visit the event's official website www.sailingweek.com.

OFFICAL RESULTS - 2006 Rolex Antigua Sailing Week (a full list of trophies will be available on the event website)

Racing fleet Class, position, winner, trophy name

Overall, 1st, ROSEBUD, Lord Nelson Trophy, Overall 2nd, TITAN 12, West Indies Publishing Cup, Overall, 3rd, HIGH LIFE, VISA International Cup.

Racing Big Boat 1, 1st, ROSEBUD, Curtain Bluff Trophy, Racing Big Boat 1, 2nd, TITAN 12, Delta Cup, Racing Big Boat 1, 3rd, NUMBERS

Racing Class 3, 1st, HIGHLIFE, PriceWaterhouseCoopers Cup, Racing Class 3, 2nd, DSK-COMIFIN, AHTA Cup, Racing Class 3, 3rd, CRASH TEST DUMMIES

Round the Island Race, Best Elapsed Time, TITAN 12, Yachting World Trophy

Racing Class 4, 1st, LOST HORIZON II, American Airlines Cup, Racing Class 4, 2nd, ENZYME, Quinn Farara Cup, Racing Class 4, 3rd, CACCIA ALLA VOLPE, Racing Class 4, X Cat 15yrs+, LOST HORIZON II

RACER CRUISER FLEET

Overall Racer/Cruiser , 1st, JUSTDOIT 3, Sanhall Trademarks Trophy, Overall Racer/Cruiser , 2nd, CHIPPEWA, Global Bank of Commerce Cup, Overall Racer/Cruiser , 3rd, LADY FIRST 2, Catamaran Marina Cup

Racer/Cruiser Class 1, 1st, JUSDOIT 3, Red Stripe Cup, Racer/Cruiser Class 1, 2nd, LADY FIRST 2, E.E Williams Memorial Cup, Racer/Cruiser Class 1, 3rd, DISCO INFERNO II

Racer/Cruiser Class 2, 1st, EXOCET STRIKE, Air Canada Cup Racer/Cruiser Class 2, 2nd, LANCELOT, Universal Cup Racer/Cruiser Class 2, 3rd, SPRIT OF VENUS

Racer/Cruiser Class 3, 1st, EXIHIB'X, Bank of Antigua Trophy, Racer/Cruiser Class 3, 2nd, VRIJGEZEILIG, Temo Sports Trophy, Racer/Cruiser Class 3, 3rd, MADININA WEAR, Racer/Cruiser Class 3, Z Cat 20yrs+, PIPE DREAM

PERFORMANCE CRUISER FLEET

Overall Performance Cruiser, 1st, THREE HARKOMS, Chippy Seaward Sales Trophy, Overall Performance Cruiser, 2nd, OYSTERCATCHER XXV, Helical Moorings Cup, Overall Performance Cruiser, 3rd, HUGO-B, National Parks Heritage Trophy

Performance Cruiser 1, 1st, OYSTERCATCHER XXV, Big Banana Trophy Performance Cruiser 1, 2nd, SELENE, Performance Cruiser 1, 3rd, SOJANA, Performance Cruiser 1, Z Cat 20yrs+, PIAMANZI

Performance Cruiser 2, 1st, THREE HARKOMS, Antigua & Barbuda Investment Bank Trophy Performance Cruiser 2, 2nd, HUGO-B, Performance Cruiser 2, 3rd, L'ESPERANCE, Performance Cruiser 2, Z Cat 20yrs+, HUGO-B

Performance Cruiser 3, 1st, PAVLOVA II, British Airways Trophy Performance Cruiser 3, 2nd, BUDGET MARINE Performance Cruiser 3, 3rd, BULLE 12 Performance Cruiser 3, Z Cat 20yrs+, PAVLOVA II

CRUISING FLEET

Overall Cruising Classes, 1st, SPIRIT OF THE NORTH, Peter Deeth Cup, Overall Cruising Classes, 2nd, SOUTHERN DREAM, Cable & Wireless Trophy, Overall Cruising Classes, 3rd, ACADIA, A & F Sails Trophy

Cruising Class 1, 1st, SPIRIT OF THE NORTH, Island Provision Trophy, Cruising Class 1, 2nd, SOUTHERN DREAM, Cruising Class 1, 3rd, DRAGON FLY, Cruising Class 1, Z Cat 20yrs+, IKRA II

Cruising Class 2, 1st, ACADIA, Admirals Inn Trophy, Cruising Class 2, 2nd, SUNSHINE, Cruising Class 2, 3rd, SEABISCUIT, Cruising Class 2, Z Cat 20yrs+, ACADIA

BAREBOAT FLEET

Overall Bareboat, 1st, CHESS, The Governor-General's Cup, Overall Bareboat, 2nd, MOBY, Sunsail Trophy, Overall Bareboat, 3rd, DURLEY DENE, Bailey's Irish Cream Trophy

Cruising Class 1, 1st, SPIRIT OF THE NORTH, Island Provision Trophy, Cruising Class 1, 2nd, SOUTHERN DREAM, Cruising Class 1, 3rd, DRAGON FLY, Cruising Class 1, Z Cat 20yrs+, IKRA II

Bareboat Class 2, 1st, MOBY, Antigua Slipways Cup, Bareboat Class 2, 2nd, NANDINA, Bareboat Class 2, 3rd, ROAM

Bareboat Class 3, 1st , KH+P ORIENT, Jolly Harbour Trophy, Bareboat Class 3, 2nd, KH+P MARILYN, Bareboat Class 3, 3rd, JULIANA

Bareboat Class 4, 1st , CHESS, Western Union Cup, Bareboat Class 4, 2nd, SEA BREEZE, Bareboat Class 4, 3rd, WHICH DR

Bareboat Class 5, 1st, AT LAST, LIAT, The Caribbean Airlines Cup, Bareboat Class 5, 2nd, SWING, Bareboat Class 5, 3rd, PEARL ISALAND

Bareboat Class 6, 1st, DURLEY DENE, Dewars Highlander Trophy, Bareboat Class 6, 2nd, CENT LIEUES, Bareboat Class 6, 3rd, SUNSAIL LADY CADES

Championship Challenge, 1st, CHESS, Special Award, Championship Challenge, 2nd, DURLEY DENE, Special Award, Championship Challenge, 3rd, SEA BREEZE, Special Award

Special Trophies

Best Elapsed Time (RB1 & R3), Div A, TITAN 12, CIBC Trophy, Best Elapsed Time (R4 & RC1/2), Div A, CHIPPEWA, Celtic Cup, Best Elapsed Time, Div B, OYSTERCATCHER XXV, Christl Cup, Best Mega Yacht (over 100ft), Winner, SOJANA, Gleistein Ropes Trophy, Best Yacht over 60ft, Winner, TITAN 12, Black & White Cup, Best Ultra Light Disp over 50ft, Winner, ROSEBUD, Seac Banche Trophy, Best Swan, Div A, DSK-COMIFIN, Antigua Breweries Cup, Best Swan, Div B, PAVLOVA II, Seagull Services Cup, Best Caribbean Yacht, Div A, TITAN 12, Beefeater Trophy, Best Caribbean Yacht, Div B, DURLEY DENE, American Express Cup, Best Antigua Yacht, Div A, LOST HORIZON II, Hightide Trophy, Best Antigua Yacht, Div B, SUNSHINE, Antigua Air Station Trophy, Best British Yacht, Div A, EXOCET STRIKE, Fletcher Trophy, Best American Yacht, Div A, ROSEBUD, Ricochet Cup, Best German Yacht, Winner, KH+P ORIENT, KH + P Cup, Best Crewed Charter Yacht, Winner, GIENAH, B.O.A.C Cup, Best Yacht Sailed by Women, Winner, SEA BISCUIT, Holtmann Cup, Best Classic Yacht, Winner, SUNSHINE, Mollihawk Trophy

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The purpose of this month’s column is not talk about the Illegal Aliens, but a NEW subgroup, which I have dubbed the ‘Volunteer Aliens’. Some of them live in our homes. Some of them ‘attempt’ to ‘breeze by’ their respective schools. Some of them you see walking the streets of our cities. Some of them fill our headlines, jails--and morgues. It may shock many of us to know that every time a teen drops out of school another Volunteer Alien is born with their final destination being a land below the poverty line.

PUTTING YOU IN THE DRIVER‘S SEAT

I purposely capitalized the terms ‘Illegal Aliens’ and ‘Volunteer Aliens’. Now, let’s probe our collective memories.

Remember about a decade ago that many U. S. companies made a conga line south across the border with the ‘illusion’ of making such moves because of ‘cheaper labor costs’? That was code for ‘searching for slave labor’…but I digress. Here’s another memory tester: When did we start to see an explosion of folks crossing the border? Right! Just as soon as U. S. companies began moving south!

To yours truly, the entire Illegal Alien issue in this new century is just as easy to understand as slavery was in the past few centuries.

It’s all about the money, baby.

Doubt me? Let’s do some quick business math and put you in the corporate boardroom as the owner of a small company. What is the number one cost that will either make or break a small business? That’s right--a company’s labor cost! If you, as a business owner, can find a worker who is willing to work for LESS than the minimum wage, would you hire that person? Even IF that person was a recent ‘under the cover of darkness’ arrival to these shores? While many of us may say NO, remember, you are the owner of a small business, which means that you may be more than happy to say YES, just to keep your doors open.

ENTER ‘TIME MAGAZINE’ AND A GRIM COVER STORY

The April 2006, Time Magazine had a great cover story on the rising dropout rate in America. Entitled: “Dropout Nation”, it featured teens in--and out--of school in Shelbyville, Indiana which is not too far away from the home city of yours truly. It was hard not to miss that magazine, with the defiant face of a young white girl on the cover.

She is the Poster Child of the Volunteer Aliens.

I’m not going into all of the statistics, teen angst, surveys or parents wringing their hands over how many teens--white and black--are bypassing the school house door for the ‘quick buck’ at a fast food joint or some other enterprise, only to find out that they have to have work permits, pay taxes, and engage in surviving from paycheck to paycheck. The high school dropout--just like the dropout in the magazine cover story--quickly learns that without an education, their earning power quickly shrinks, and their upward mobility in an open society is quickly halted. No one ‘forced’ them to drop out. They ‘volunteered’ for the thankless trip out of the schoolhouse door. Instead of hearing the strains of music and the sounds of applause, these ‘new aliens’ only hear the sound of the door hitting them in the butt as they head down the stairs and out into real life…uneducated and unprepared.

PLIGHT OF ILLEGAL AND VOLUNTEER ALIENS THE SAME

The Illegal Alien takes whatever job they can find, and that job is usually under the minimum wage. This is the similar mindset of the Volunteer Alien. The Illegal Alien, for all practical purposes, is at the mercy of the employer. So is the Volunteer Alien. The Illegal Alien will have a ‘crash pad’ rental property involving several of their friends where they can pool their resources. The Volunteer Alien has the same agenda. The Illegal Alien pays for everything in cash, worships the dollar bill, and is constantly on the lookout for those ‘free’ items that allow them to continue to exist for just another day. So does the Volunteer Alien. Lastly, the Illegal Alien, for whatever reason, is just too hardheaded to go through the legitimate citizenship process just like others who have come to the shores of this land. The Volunteer Alien is too hardheaded to admit that their parents, teachers, and friends were right…life was a lot better in school. It is easy to see why fewer and fewer people are feeling sorry for either group.

Brothers, this is a twisted portrait of life in the USA. While we have to look to national and state leaders to formulate, adopt, and have the courage to enforce a decent immigration policy, we have to re-learn to the mantra of: ‘Get your education, kid’ in many of our communities. It is more than an economic issue: it is a family preservation issue.

While some of the best and brightest young men (and young women) among us have bought into the ‘beautiful lie’ that being a Volunteer Alien at 15, 16, and 17 will miraculously spell ‘economic success’ at 21, 25, and 30, they seem to forget that marriages, families, and households are closely tied to the earning potential of the man of the house. Like it or not brothers, marriage is still biblical and socially acceptable in our ‘fast’ society. Also, it is UP to the MAN to provide for his household. Get a young Black man to give away his education is the prevention of another intact Black family getting off the ground, AND it will cause the next generation of children born to that brother (usually outside of marriage) to hate spending time in school--just like their father!

Don’t shout me down when the truth is flowing.

Of course, there is more. I don’t know if you have noticed, but there is a big sneeze forming in the ranks of the majority culture to ‘blow many a mind,’ thanks to that TIME cover story I mentioned earlier. Like it or not, brothers, we ALL know who will get pneumonia when that sneeze eventually comes forth in all its fury…and it will not be those of the majority culture.

Sadly, if one has chosen to become a Volunteer Alien, they may become frozen in their decision when that sneeze does materialize. The thawing period for one who is AWOL from the classroom is no joke. Just ask many of those who ‘dropped out’ of school, and ‘dropped into’ crime. Their new classrooms have bars…and guards…along with teachers.

MIKE RAMEY is the author of THE MANHOOD LINE. A monthly, syndicated column aimed at men from a biblical, business, and common sense perspective. This column appears on line, and in many fine publications around the world. To correspond, drop an Email to manhoodline@yahoo.com . ©2006 Mike Ramey/Barnstorm Communications International.