Over the docks in front of the Westin Hotel, Vela Veloce skipper Richard Oland sported a Cheshire Cat grin after snatching victory away from Anema & Core in the last race.

The Canadian-based Southern Cross 52 trailed the Annapolis-based Judel Vrolijk 52 by two points going into Race 10, but wound up winning by one point after posting a bullet and watching Anema & Core having to retire after an incdent at the weather mark.

“We knew we had to win the last race and put two boats between us and Anema & Core. We just kept our cool and didn’t make any mistakes in that last race,” said Oland, who resides in Saint John, New Brunswick. “It was a very close, competitive class and we are very happy to come out on top.”

Richard Clarke served as helmsman while fellow professional Stu Bannatyne called tactics aboard Vela Veloce, which closed the regatta with back-to-back bullets.

Vela Veloce made its debut at Key West 2010 and placed last in IRC 1 so to come back a year later and win was quite satisfying.

“The boat was brand new last year and we were still learning how to sail her. Since then we have made a lot of improvements in the boat and put together a much better crew,” Oland said. “It involved a lot of hard work, but winning a regatta such as this makes it well worth it.”

The TP52’s will be back at Key West for 2012, we hope in bigger numbers as quite a few TP52’s were sold to the US recently, like Rio, Bribon and Quantum.