Bermuda Race Week Has Started

by Fitzpatrick on 1 May 2007 We’re enjoying gorgeous sailing conditions at the 80th Anniversary of Bermuda International Invitational Race Week. Warm water, moderate and shifty conditions and nearly as many cocktail parties have been hosted as races have been sailed in some of the classes. Three races are scheduled for Tuesday in all of classes, party tonight and a lay day on Wednesday.

After six races in the IOD’s, John Burnham leads the regatta with 18 points. Bill Widnall is close behind with 22 points. Urban Ristorp, Somers Kempe and David Mathewson are in a close race for third.

The J-24’s are competing for The Gipper Trophy. After 5 races Stuart Jardine, of Great Britain is in the lead with 7 points. Trevor Boyce, of Bermuda, is firmly in second and Pete Ramsdale, also of Bermuda, is in third.

Everybody is trying to catch Peter Bromby in the Etchells Class. After six races, it looks as if he will take home the KF Trigingham Trophy. Paula Lewin is in second with 20 points and Tim Patton is in a close third.

Malcolm Smith and Brett Wright are tied for first in the Laser fleet after 5 races. Tracy Usher is in third and Sarah Lane Adderely is in fourth.

The Snipe North Americans started on Monday. After three races – the first in 12-13 knots and the latter in 8-10 knots, all three in very shifty conditions, Augie Diaz and Kathleen Tocke are leading with 5 points. Ernesto Rodriguez and Enrique Quintero are in second with 9 points and George and Stacy Szabo are in third with 10 points. Brian Bissle and Carlos Lens and Lee Griffith and Andrea Nilsen had a nice start to the series. Both teams are tied for fifth with 15 points.