Marion Bermuda Race ponder technology implication

by Colin Thompson - The Royal Gazette on 17 Nov 2008 Quinn was at the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club in Bermuda for discussions with local organisers of the 31-year-old event which could result with measures being implemented to ensure that modern advances – such as online boat tracking – are not used as a means of gaining an 'unfair advantage' over the course of the 645 nautical mile voyage from Buzzard's Bay, Massachusetts to St.David's Head, Bermuda.

'We (race committee) are always trying to evolve with the sport and so every time the race comes around we look at any new technology that comes out on the market and then consider what portion will be allowed,' Quinn told The Royal Gazette.

'We have the race tracking where you can track the boats but have become concerned that it's possible someone back in the States could call somone onboard one of the boats in the race on a cell phone and give away vital information that would give that particular boat an unfair advantage.'

One option Quinn and he fellow race committee members are currently reviewing that could ensure a level playing field is the delaying of boat positioning online by at least an hour or so, a ploy that was widely accepted among this year's Newport to Bermuda fleet.

'We intend to strengthen the rules to make sure people understand that kind of information is considered as outside assistance and is a violation of yacht racing rules,' added Quinn. 'However, we are always working to find a happy compromise between embracing new technology while not allowing people with big budgets to gain an unfair advantage.'

Race organisers have also introduced a Race Mentor Program to assist first-time Marion to Bermuda Race participants as well as a social networking website (racetobermuda.ning) that has proven to be a big success among internet bloggers.

The Marion to Bermuda Race celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2007 when the 70-strong fleet was confronted with light breezes that forced many entries to retire from the race.

Yet despite unfavourable conditions Bermudian boats enjoyed success, such as Preston Hutchings' Morgan's Ghost which was first boat across the finish (three days, 22 hours, 47 minutes and 56 seconds). Also enjoying success was Colin Couper's Swan 46, Babe, that placed third in Class B and Paul Hubbard's Oyster 43, fittingly dubbed 'Bermuda Oyster', that finished second in Class E. Another local entry, Jonathan Baxter's Pond Prowler, was awarded the Corporation of Hamilton Trophy for the best performance by a Bermuda yacht, while David Caso's Silhoutte took overall honours in a corrected time of three days, nine hours, 31 minutes and two seconds.

Since its inception in 1977, the Marion to Bermuda Race has been a Corinthian event and yachts are accepted by invitation. The spirit of the race is that all yachts and crew are participating for the joy and pleasure of sailing, competition, and the camaraderie that accompanies such an offshore event.

The race provides an opportunity for cruising yachts and amateur crews to participate in an ocean race and a rendezvous in Bermuda. It encourages the development of blue water sailing skills on seaworthy yachts that can be handled safely offshore with limited crew.

'Our race is very competitive and essentially open to cruising sail boats,' Quinn pointed out. 'The boats aren't stripped-out racing machines and they must have proper accomodations and proper equipment in order to be eligible for the race which takes boats up to 80 feet and boats as small as 32 feet.'

Quinn said he expected numbers to exceed the 70-plus that took part two years' ago.

'We have had a lot of early interest and positive feedback on our new blog sites,' he added. 'We are concerned about what impact the economy may have but right now we are feeling pretty optimistic that numbers may increase next year. We are looking forward to having a good fleet.'

The biennial race is hosted by the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club, Beverly Yacht Club and the Blue Water Sailing Club and is the brainchild of Bermudian Dickie Bird and Americans Leo Fallon and W.David Kingery who first came up with the idea of having a yacht race from Marion to Bermuda in 1975.

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