Bermuda Race, ACWS, Rio Olympics—Sailing news from the U.S. and beyond

by David Schmidt, Sail-World USA Editor on 14 Jun 2016 While plenty of things in our sometimes-crazy and always-dynamic world come as a surprise, a few special things can be counted on to unfurl like clockwork. As sailors, we are lucky that many of our regattas and distance-racing events fall into this category. Local traditions aside, it’s tough to find a more celebrated offshore sailing event in the US of A than the “Thrash to the Onion Patch”, otherwise known as the Newport to Bermuda Race.

June 17, 2016 marks the 50th time that many of the country’s best offshore sailing teams have lined up off of beautiful Newport, Rhode Island, not far from Fort Adams, to begin their 635 nautical mile journey to Bermuda. Today, this biennial event draws teams from around the world, including the race’s first all-Chinese entry, with many of the highest profile maxi yachts, such as the mighty Comanche, appearing as repeat customers.

The first Newport to Bermuda Race was held in 1906, and while 110 years is certainly a long time, the race has done a great job of preserving race founder Thomas Flemming Day’s vision of a Corinthian offshore event. A glance at this year’s scratch sheet reveals 190 entered boats, 109 of which are competing for the St. David’s Lighthouse Trophy for the top corrected-time performance of an amateur (or mostly amateur) crew (pros are not allowed to drive). This is by far the biggest division, with the Cruiser Division (43 entries) ranking as the second most popular choice.

Racing begins on Friday at 1500 hours, local time. Each vessel will be equipped with a tracking beacon, allowing landlubbers to follow the action from shore, and the race will also provide online commentary multiple times per day. For anyone living in the Rhode Island area who isn’t racing, be sure to tune into FM 105.9 for race updates. Additionally, Sail-World.com will have the latest coverage available online, so be sure to stay current with the webpage as trophies are decided.

Meanwhile, sailing fans from all across North America-and from around the world-were treated to the never-before-seen sight of America’s Cup-related racing taking place on the freshwater of Lake Michigan as the America’s Cup World Series (ACWS) came foiling into the Windy City this past weekend (June 10-12). While conditions were a bit light and hot on Saturday, the breeze machine was switched on for Sunday, delivering cooler temps and great racecourse conditions.

Meanwhile, on sailing’s international One Design stage, the Rio 2016 Olympics (August 5-21) continues to hove into view, with medal racing set to unfurl in just over 60 days’ time. While there’s been plenty of noise about water-quality issues over the years, more recent headlines from Brazil have been dominated by talk of the Zika virus and a presidential impeachment. Still, Bruce Kendall (NZL), a double Olympic medalist (Gold in 1988; Bronze in 1984) and current windsurfing coach, is quick to swing the conversation back to water-quality conditions on Guanabara Bay.

“The trash over the last weeks has been as bad as I have ever seen and the boats scooping up the [garbage] have been pretty off the pace,” said Kendall. “I have only seen them out there once in the last three weeks I have been here. Racing is random with trash in the water. Microbes and bacteria are scarier still. Filtered but seemingly untreated sewage is pouring into the harbor. Pictures do not carry the stench.”

Not exactly enticing words, but, with Olympic glory on the line and billions of dollars invested in the XXXI Games, the show will go on. Sadly, however, it appears that Brazil’s opportunity to use the Olympics as a catalyst for environmental improvement on Guanabara Bay has passed. Hopefully the Brazilian Government will prove these words to be incorrect come August’s racing.

So, while water-quality conditions on Guanabara Bay fall into life’s sometimes-crazy category, offshore sailors can celebrate the fact that the Bermuda Race trades in offshore conditions. Still, offshore sailors aren’t fully free of any possible olfactory offenses, as flying fish don’t smell great a few hours after they have dry-landed themselves on deck.

May the four winds blow you safely home,