Wilmot-Treharne family join for Newport-Bermuda

by Talbot Wilson on 18 Jun 2004 Susie Klein, her husband Jim Hammitt and their two sons Robbie (15) and Galen (13) set sail Friday in quest of the new Family Prize in the Newport Bermuda sailboat race.

Both Susie and Jim were college All American sailors and the Bermuda Race will begin their family training for a Trans Atlantic crossing next summer.

The yacht they are sailing is their Sigma 41 REVILLE. Joining them are navigator Graham Kelley and John Bell, expert on sailing with teens. The two were invited to fill out the crew with offshore sailing expertise and to balance the watches with strength and experience.

Jim, Galen and John will be on one watch; Graham Susie and Robbie on the other. They are out for the family prize, but there is sure to be competition onboard for top watch of the race.

REVILLE will be sailing against only one yacht STARLIGHT a Swan 46 for the family prize in the AMERICAP Non-spinnaker Division.

In the IMS Cruiser/Racer Division eight families are vying for their own prize. Jamie ‘Sparrow’ Wilmot is up from Australia to sail the Swan 44 CRESCENDO brother and former Olympian Bobby, son Jeremy and famous America’s Cup winning tactician/brother-in-law Hugh Treharne.

Wilmot stands second in the Onion Patch Series after a strong showing in the NYYC Annual Regatta presented by Rolex and appears the team to beat for the prize in Cruiser/Racer.

Frank Eberhart’s HOUND, a classic Nielsen 60 which won their class in the 2002 Newport Bermuda Race, will be a contender along with Bill Read and Peter Gibbons-Neff’s Farr 395 UPGRADE, William Ewing III on the J42 ALTHEA, Newton Merrill on another J42 FINESSE, Lawrence Glenn on J44 RUNAWAY, and Jeff Willis on the Frers 66 KODIAK.

Rick and Nonnie Burnes on their IMX45 CYBELE, and they will be signing up with a large contingent of Burnes aboard. Rick was one of the original proponents of the prize.

All in all about 80 prizes will be awarded in this 635-mile ocean classic.