Marion-Bermuda Yacht Race - Back Cruising?

by Sail-World Cruising on 23 Feb 2006 ‘First and foremost we are a cruising yacht race,’ according to Graham Quinn, Executive Director of the race. This traditional race, which has operated every two years since 1977, will now have an IRC class, thus opening the race again to a much broader spectrum of entrants.

It will start on Friday June 15th, 2007, so you have sixteen months to plan to be there. The rally has been successful from the start, with 107 starters in the very first event.

‘Our goal is to maintain the integrity and tradition of the Marion Bermuda Cruising Yacht Race’, Quinn continued, ‘and it is our feeling we can continue to do that while offering a choice of handicap systems to our participants.’

The Marion Bermuda Cruising Yacht Association decided to add the IRC class for the 2007 Race. The use of IRC will be in addition to the traditional ORR (former Americap II) handicap.

The decision was made after an in-depth review by Race Operations Chairman Gordon Vineyard, which included discussions with US Sailing and race chairmen currently using IRC. It was agreed that the rule fits the mission of the race.

The Marion Bermuda Cruising Yacht Race as been run biennially since 1977. The race is open to monohulls and multihulls between 32 and 80 feet LOD. The next race will start, as usual, in Buzzards Bay off Marion Massachusetts.

Marion, in Massachusetts USA is an old shipbuilding centre. Now Sippican Harbour is devoted entirely to pleasure cruising. The Beverley Yacht Club, from where the cruising race begins, was formed in 1872, and is located ideally at the head of Buzzards Bay – worth the journey.

For race updates, go to the race web site www.marionbermuda.com