Performance Yacht Racing - Newport to St Maarten via Bermuda

by Performance Yacht Racing on 6 Oct 2016 We will encounter the Gulf Stream by the time we reach Bermuda. With an opposing North wind, it can get interesting!

Blue water sailing means just that. You see no land. Just miles and miles of blue sea. It's an exhilarating and life-changing experience. The annual fall trip from the Northern latitudes to the Caribbean is something every serious sailor knows to be fun, challenging and necessary for future bragging rights. And to do it as part of the famous NARC Rally is just the perfect added bonus.

Sunset Child, our J/120, will be departing from Newport, RI, on October 29th and heading out into the Atlantic on an epic journey bound for St Maarten via Bermuda. The trip should take two weeks and will be skippered by Tracy Spinney, an experienced Ocean Sailor and instructor with many miles of water under his keel.

Tracy is an ASA Sailing Instructor and has sailed Sunset Child up and down this route many times, often incorporating the ASA 105 and 106 Certifications through partnership with Blue Water Sailing School.

Bermuda and St Maarten have changed rather nicely over the years. After days and nights on a dry boat, its abundance of crew bars is welcome!

Sunset Child with spinnaker striking fear and humor into competitors when she's on a downhill run.

This trip is a great sailing adventure with the chance to gain valuable offshore sailing experience with an experienced offshore skipper. Not to mention having a great time at some beautiful and fun filled venues. As an added bonus we shall be in company with many other yachts as part of the famous NARC Rally, so there will be daily radio nets set up en route and great social activities at each stopover.

Please note: This is a non-stop sail. Our watch system requires you to rotate time on deck and on the wheel. If going to the foredeck at 03:00 hours to change from a working jib to a storm jib in 28 knot winds and nine foot seas presents a problem to you, perhaps you should click here. Otherwise, as Skipper Marcus says, 'Toughen up Buttercup!' It's a rite of passage that's one of the most memorable experiences you'll ever have on the water.

When and where?

We aim to depart Newport on October 29th. Crew should aim to arrive on 28th for the Rally dinner that night.

A thorough weather briefing is held at the skippers meeting on the 28th before the party.

We will depart Newport for Bermuda, and then on to St Maarten.

What's included?

• Crew position on board offshore fitted J/120
• Professional Skipper with extensive offshore experience.
• Full offshore safety equipment, including offshore PFDs
• Victualing and berthing costs
• Food and fuel
• Berthing

What's the cost?

Crew position: $2,500

There is the flexibility to crew one leg of the passage, with each leg costing $1,700.