Antigua Bermuda Race - A thousand miles of emotions
by Louay Habib on 22 May 2017
Crew from Spirit of Bermuda receive their award at the Antigua Bermuda Race Prize Giving held at the Royal Bermuda YC in Hamilton Tom Clarke
The Antigua Bermuda Race organised by the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club in association with Antigua Sailing Week is a new fixture in the offshore sailing calendar. Supported by Bermuda Tourism and Gosling's Rum. The race course is 935 nautical miles as the crow flies, but most teams covered 1,000 miles of the Atlantic to complete the challenge. The inaugural race started from Antigua at noon on Friday 12th May 2017. The highly diverse 21-boat fleet set off into the Atlantic Ocean with ample time to arrive in Bermuda to experience the 35th America's Cup.
Well over 200 sailors from nine different countries attended the Crew Party held at the historic Copper and Lumber Store Hotel in Nelson's Dockyard, Antigua with competitors enjoying canapés and cocktails provided by Gosling's Rum. Antigua Bermuda Race Chairman, Les Crane, who was competing in his Farr 56, Monterey commented: 'The variety of the fleet shows the wide appeal of the race and bodes well for the Antigua Bermuda Race to grow in future editions. The America's Cup in Bermuda has ignited interest in the race this year, however it is a well-known route for yachts leaving the Caribbean bound for the Eastern Seaboard of the United States as well as destination in Europe. Our intention is that the Antigua Bermuda Race will be an annual event, popular with a wide variety of yachts.'
A light southerly breeze of 10 knots and warm Antiguan sunshine provided perfect conditions for the start. The variety pack of 21 yachts was an eclectic collection, both in terms of crew and craft. From the majestic schooner, Eleonora to the pocket rocket Pogo 12.50s, and just about everything in between. The fleet included ocean racers; new and old, as well as bluewater cruisers raced by passionate corinthians. The entire fleet started together and the Antigua Bermuda Race was born. Blogs from the boats started coming in, telling the story of their life at sea during the race: 'Old school sailors! The tunes are on, chilled electro 80s by Ministry of Sound and the boys have had a beer considering the conditions. We have had roti for lunch. It looks as if we may set a kite soon and things are looking good,' says Skipper, Ben Bowen on the Oyster 65, Rock Oyster.
The fleet enjoyed beautiful conditions for the first day and night and 24 hours into the race all of the fleet had passed Barbuda - the next land they would see is Bermuda, over 800 miles north. About 200 miles north, two low pressure systems were offering good breeze into Bermuda. However to reach the rich pickings to the north, the fleet need to cross an area of little wind. Several yachts elected to use their engines, retiring from IRC but still racing under CSA with a time penalty to come.
Three of the fastest yachts in the race continued to impress on the third day; leading on the water was Stephen Murray Jr.'s American Volvo 70, Warrior, ahead of British Swan 82, Stay Calm, skippered by Lloyd Kyte. Don Macpherson's American Swan 90, Freya put in a spectacular 24-hour run. The three powerful yachts were the furthest west of the entire fleet hoping to get the fresh breeze, but only one yacht managed to hook into the low pressure system, leaving the rest of the fleet in their wake.
Stephen Murray Jr.'s American Volvo 70, Warrior finished the 2017 Antigua Bermuda Race on Tuesday 16 May 2017 just after 08 hrs 30 mins ADT, taking Monohull Line Honours and setting the new race record for the Antigua Bermuda Race of three days 20 hours 32 mins and 41secs. Warrior is operated by the non-profit US Merchant Marine Academy Foundation for the benefit of the Warrior Sailing Program which helps wounded veterans to maximize their potential through the sport of sailing. After all yachts had been accounted for, and after time correction, Warrior was also the winner of both IRC and CSA.
Warrior crew for the Antigua Bermuda Race: Stephen Murray, Jr, Ben Bardwell, Jackson Benvenutti, Dann Cahoon, Jesse Fielding, Karl Funk, Christopher Lewis, Ben Lynch, Jan Majer, Will Oxley, Tony Pearce, Ralf Steitz and Chris Welch.
'It was a great ride,' smiled skipper Stephen Murray Jr. 'Will (Oxley) did a great job of hooking us into the pressure between the two highs and the weather scenario now looks hard for the other guys. This has been an unbelievable experience. I have been waiting to get offshore with this boat since we got her and we want to do a lot more. I knew she was fast, but I had no idea how fast. We are staying in Bermuda for the week and hope to see some of the America's Cup boats while we are here.'
It was over 12 hours before another yacht crossed the finish line. Nigel Irens-designed 78ft Catamaran, Allegra crewed by members of the St.Moritz Yacht Club Switzerland recorded a multihull record for the race of 4 days 09 hours 43 mins & 59 secs.
Jeremi Jablonski's American Hanse 43, Avanti were delighted to take second place for the race in CSA and IRC. 'Fantastic!' exclaimed Jablonski. 'It is a surprise because we have never raced in such a diverse fleet, so it is difficult to set your expectations when you are racing Volvo 70s, schooners and family cruising boats. The weather had a tremendous impact on the performance of the fleet. We are one of the smallest and slowest boats and if it had been heavy weather it would have suited the bigger, faster boats. The last time we were in Bermuda we had to divert here with a broken rudder. The people in Bermuda were so helpful then and it is great to be back here to meet them again.'
Meanwhile a drama was unfolding 200 miles offshore. The Antigua Bermuda Race Committee were informed by RCC Bermuda Radio on Wednesday 17 May that Les Crane's Farr PH 56, Monterey had been abandoned after taking on water. The crew were all safe and well having transferred onto the Volvo 60, Esprit De Corps IV from Québec which was close by and also competing in the race. The schooner, Spirit of Bermuda and Whitbread 60, Challenger from Nova Scotia were also monitoring the situation.
'We are saddened by the news, but we know Past Commodore, Les Crane has completed many miles of ocean crossings as skipper and we know his decision is based on the safety of his crew, and we are glad all are safe,' commented Leatrice Oatley, Commodore of the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club.
Esprit de Corps IV, skippered by Gilles Barbot finished the Antigua Bermuda Race on Thursday May, 18 after seven days at sea. For the last day and a half of the race, the French Canadian Volvo 60 had six extra passengers. Read the full story here.
Four classic yachts competed in the inaugural Antigua Bermuda Race. The magnificent 162ft schooner, Eleonora - an exact replica of the 1910 Herreshoff-designed Westward - took Line Honours for the Classic Class. Eleonora is one of the most famous and best-known racing schooners in the world and will remain in Bermuda for the duration of the 35th America's Cup.
The Ballyhoo schooner, Spirit of Bermuda is the flagship of the Antigua Bermuda Race and she finished on the 18 May 2017 around midday. Spirit of Bermuda is owned by the Bermuda Sloop Foundation and since her launch in 2006, 4,000 Bermudian teenagers have sailed on her free of charge.
Carlo Falcone's beautiful Alfred Mylne-designed 1935 ketch, Mariella was a welcome sight in the race. Carlo is one of Antigua's most famous sailors and was the 2017 overall winner of Antigua Classics. For the race, Carlo had a small crew of old friends and family from Italy.
Tim Wilson's classic 68ft Australian ketch, El Oro was one of the last yachts to finish the race but did so without using their engine. Subsequently El Oro won the Classic Class after time correction. Spirit of Bermuda was second with Mariella third.
At around midnight on the eve of the Prize giving, Jason and Judy Payne-James' British Dufour 45, Heartbeat IV crossed the finish line in Bermuda. The final team to finish the race under sail-power alone. Their ship's log showed 1,007 nautical miles and Heartbeat IV has competed in every well-known offshore race in the Northern Hemisphere. Flying the flags of all those memories, Heartbeat IV settled into her berth at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club which will be home for the duration of the America's Cup. Judy says: 'We will be proudly waving the Union Jack and cheering on Sir Ben Ainslie's Landrover BAR Team.'
Andrew & Sabrina Eddy's Oyster 485, Gaia was the final yacht to finish the race. After almost eight days at sea, the team were still full of spirit and wonder at the memorable adventure they had taken together. The ethos of this race is not just about winning, it is about taking part. Here is Gaia's final report: 'It has been a busy few days on board Gaia having been hit by a thunderstorm at 4am on Tuesday morning while flying our spinnaker. This resulted in some slick crew work, leading to a goose-winging opportunity for the next few hours. We've been visited by a plethora of blue-ocean bird life, including long-tailed Tropicbirds, Pomarine Jaegers and South Polar Skuas. The crew have been busy practicing their knot-work, with many turks-heads and monkeys fists appearing round the boat. However their discipline has been slipping as poor laundry etiquette has been punished by unmentionables flying from the right spreader!'
A Prize Giving Ceremony was held at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club with honoured guests; Kenneth Bascome, Member of Parliament, standing in for The Hon. Michael M. Fahy, Minister of Tourism, Transport and Municipalities; The Hon. Nandi Outerbridge, JP, MP of Social Development and Sport; Pat Philip Fairn Chief Product and Experiences Development Officer at the Bermuda Tourism Authority, and Malcolm Gosling Snr, President and CEO of Gosling's Rums and Malcolm and Sarah Gosling Jnr.
The 2018 Antigua Bermuda Race will take place in the week following Antigua Sailing Week which runs from April 28th - May 4th.
Provisional Results - Antigua Bermuda Race 2017
Place, Yacht Name, Type, Owner/Skipper, Hometown, Results, Total Points
CSA - Monohull (CSA - 17 Boats)
1. Warrior, Volvo 70 modified 70, Stephen Murray, Jr. , Metairie, LA, USA - 1 ; 1
2. Avanti, Hanse 43, Jeremi Jablonski , Wilton, Ct, USA - 2 ; 2
3. Freya , Swan 90 88 , Don Macpherson , Santa Monica, CA, USA - 3 ; 3
4. Heartbeat IV, Dufour 45E 44, Jason & Judy Payne-James , Southminster, Essex, UK - 4 ; 4
5. Stay Calm, Swan 82 82, Stuart Robinson , Hampshire, UK - 5 ; 5
CSA - Classic (CSA - 4 Boats)
1. El Oro (Classic), Auzeppy-Brennuer 68 68, Tim Wilson , Paddington, Aus - 1 ; 1
2. Spirit of Bermuda, Ballyhoo Schooner 87 , Michael Moreland , Hamilton, BDA - 2 ; 2
3. Mariella (Classic) , Yawl 79.5, Carlo Falcone , ANT - 3 ; 3
4. Eleonora, Gaff schooner 105.4 Peras Limited , St.Julians, MLT - 4 ; 4
CSA - Multihull (CSA - 1 Boats)
1. Allegra, Nigel Irens Catamaran 78 FastCat Ltd , Georgetown, CAY - 1 ; 1
IRC (IRC - 15 Boats)
1. Warrior (IRC), Volvo 70 modified 70, Stephen Murray, Jr. , Metairie, LA, USA - 1 ; 1
2. Avanti (IRC), Hanse 43, Jeremi Jablonski , Wilton, CT, USA - 2 ; 2
3. Freya (IRC), Swan 90s 88, Don Macpherson , Santa Monica, CA, USA - 3 ; 3
4. El Oro (IRC), Auzeppy-Brennuer 68 68, Tim Wilson , Paddington, NSW, AUS - 4 ; 4
5. Heartbeat IV (IRC), Dufour 45E 44, Jason & Judy Payne-James , Southminster, Essex, UK - 5 ; 5
Antigua Bermuda Race 2017 - Preliminary Cumulative Results
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