Caribbean Compass Yachting Magazine July 2017
Welcome to Caribbean Compass, the most widely-read boating publication in the Caribbean! THE MOST NEWS YOU CAN USE - feature articles on cruising destinations, regattas, environment, events...
Welcome to Caribbean Compass, the most widely-read boating publication in the Caribbean! THE MOST NEWS YOU CAN USE - feature articles on cruising destinations, regattas, environment, events...
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
JULY <strong>2017</strong> CARIBBEAN COMPASS PAGE 20<br />
TED MARTIN TED MARTIN<br />
THE<br />
Antigua Bermuda Race, organized by the Royal<br />
Bermuda Yacht Club in association with Antigua<br />
Sailing Week and supported by Bermuda Tourism<br />
and Gosling’s Rum, is a new fixture in the offshore<br />
sailing calendar. The inaugural race started from Antigua at noon on May 12th, just<br />
after the gala 50th anniversary Antigua Sailing Week. The fleet — ranging from the<br />
162-foot (49.5 metre) schooner Eleonora to the 41-foot Pogo 12.50s — set off into the<br />
Atlantic with ample time to arrive in Bermuda to experience the 35th America’s Cup<br />
races. The fleet included ocean racers new and old, as well as bluewater cruisers<br />
raced by passionate Corinthians. The distance from Antigua to Bermuda is 935<br />
nautical miles, but most teams covered 1,000 miles.<br />
Sailors from nine different countries attended the pre-race Crew Party held at the<br />
historic Copper & Lumber Store Hotel in Nelson’s Dockyard, Antigua, a UNESCO<br />
World Heritage site. Antigua Bermuda Race Chairman, Les Crane, who was competing<br />
in his Farr 56, Monterey, commented, “The variety of the fleet shows the wide<br />
appeal of the race and bodes well for the Antigua Bermuda Race to grow in future<br />
editions. The America’s Cup in Bermuda has ignited interest in the race this year,<br />
however [the course] is a well-known route for yachts leaving the <strong>Caribbean</strong> bound<br />
for the Eastern Seaboard of the United States as well as destinations in Europe. Our<br />
intention is that the Antigua Bermuda Race will be an annual event, popular with a<br />
wide variety of yachts.”<br />
Above: The crew of Warrior, ready to battle for a historic win<br />
Below: Racers bid farewell to Antigua at the pre-race Crew Party<br />
at Nelson’s Dockyard<br />
ANTIGUA BERMUDA RACE <strong>2017</strong><br />
TOM CLARKE<br />
TED MARTIN<br />
Under-Four-Day<br />
RECORD SET<br />
in Inaugural Event<br />
Above: The modified Volvo 70 Warrior, crossing the finish line in Bermuda to set<br />
an event record of 3 days 20 hours 32 minutes and 41 seconds<br />
Below: The Herreshoff schooner Eleonora (in the foreground) and the race’s flagship,<br />
Spirit of Bermuda, setting out from Antigua. At the finish, the 162-foot Eleonora took<br />
Line Honours in the Classic Class<br />
The entire 21-boat fleet started together, and the Antigua Bermuda Race was born.<br />
A southerly breeze of ten knots provided perfect conditions for the start. About 200<br />
miles north, two low-pressure systems offered good breezes into Bermuda. However,<br />
to reach the rich pickings to the north, the fleet needed to cross an area of little wind.<br />
Several yachts elected to use their engines, retiring from IRC but still racing under<br />
CSA with a time penalty to come.<br />
Three of the fastest yachts in the race continued to impress on the third day; leading<br />
on the water was Stephen Murray Jr.’s American Volvo 70, Warrior, ahead of the<br />
British Swan 82, Stay Calm, skippered by Lloyd Kyte. Don Macpherson’s American<br />
Swan 90, Freya, put in a spectacular 24-hour run. The three powerful yachts were the<br />
farthest west of the entire fleet, hoping to get the fresh breeze, but only one yacht managed<br />
to hook into the low pressure system, leaving the rest of the fleet in their wake.<br />
Warrior finished the <strong>2017</strong> Antigua Bermuda Race on May 16th, just after 0830<br />
hours ADT, taking Monohull Line Honours and setting the record for the Antigua<br />
Bermuda Race of 3 days 20 hours 32 minutes and 41 seconds.<br />
Warrior is operated by the non-profit US Merchant Marine Academy Foundation for<br />
the benefit of the Warrior Sailing Program, which helps wounded veterans to maximize<br />
their potential through the sport of sailing. After time correction, Warrior was<br />
also the winner of both IRC and CSA.<br />
“It was a great ride,” smiled skipper Stephen Murray Jr. “Will (Oxley) did a great<br />
job of hooking us into the pressure between the two highs and the weather scenario<br />
now looks hard for the other guys. This has been an unbelievable experience. I have<br />
been waiting to get offshore with this boat since we got her and we want to do a lot<br />
more. I knew she was fast, but I had no idea how fast. We are staying in Bermuda<br />
for the week and hope to see some of the America’s Cup boats while we are here.”<br />
It was over 12 hours before another yacht crossed the finish line. The 78-foot Nigel<br />
Irens-designed catamaran Allegra, crewed by members of the St. Moritz Yacht Club<br />
of Switzerland, set a multihull record for the race of 4 days 9 hours 43 minutes and<br />
59 seconds.<br />
Jeremi Jablonski, in his American Hanse 43, Avanti, was delighted to take second<br />
place for the race in CSA and IRC. “Fantastic!” exclaimed Jablonski. “It is a surprise<br />
because we have never raced in such a diverse fleet, so it is difficult to set your<br />
expectations when you are racing against Volvo 70s, schooners and family cruising<br />
boats. The weather had a tremendous impact on the performance of the fleet. We are<br />
one of the smallest and slowest boats and if it had been heavy weather it would have<br />
suited the bigger, faster boats.”<br />
—Continued on next page
Change language