Bermuda’s Trevor Boyce defends J24 International Race Week title

by Talbot Wilson on 17 Apr 2009
The J24 fleet in the 2009 Bermuda International Invitational Race week year will have participants from Canada, the United States, Great Britain and Bermuda. Trevor Boyce from Bermuda will be defending his title from 2008, the first time a Bermuda skipper and crew has won Race Week in over a decade.

For the first time this year, the RBYC, RHADC and the J24 Class are sponsoring an all-Bermuda junior team. 16-year old Lance Fraser will skipper the boat. Lance has a depth of experience for such a young sailor. His racing includes the Junior Snipe Worlds in South America, the North American Snipe Championships, and many other international regattas. Bermuda is expecting big things from their junior boat this year.

The Junior Team is sailing the J24 sailing spoRHADiC, which is owned and maintained by the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club (RHADC). The entire crew is junior, all 16 years old. The skipper and crew are all from RHADC and are graduates from the RHADC junior sailing program.

'We are regulars in J24 Racing,' Fraser commented, 'and this year won the Wednesday Night Racing in the J24 Class as well as the J24 Match Racing Championships. We all sailed Optimists internationally for Bermuda before graduating out of the class.'

The members of the crew, and the boats they normally sail and their schools in Bermuda include: Lance Fraser, Warwick Academy (Head Boy), Helm on J24 for Race Week, Lance normally sails Snipes as a Skipper, Jason Saints: Warwick Academy, Sheets on J24 for Race Week, He normally sails Laser's as a Skipper. Jordan Saints: Warwick Academy, Middle on J24 for Race Week. Jordon normally sails Laser's as a Skipper. James Anfossi: Saltus, Mast/Middle on J24 for Race Week, James also sails Laser's as a Skipper. Catalina Sposato: Saltus, Foredeck on J24 for Race Week, She normally sails Snipes as a Crew with Lance.

International sailor Bruce Stone returns from St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco having finished third in Race week last year, and will be looking forward to competing right at the front of the fleet as he was regularly demonstrating by the end of last year’s regatta.

This year the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, Race Week organizer since 1927, welcomes newcomer Eric Jakimier who was Commodore of the Fort Worth Boat Club in 2006 and 2007. Eric and his 'Conga Line' crew hail from the Dallas area of Texas and have been waiting for their moment to come down and participate in Race Week.

This will be Doug Inglis’ third visit to Race Week. Along with his crew, he is also bringing Peter Cripton as his skipper.

Local skipper Tim Lynch will be sailing Erin, Tim has been picking up podium places in the local J24 fleet during the past season and seems especially fast in the lighter weather.

Jezebel is again competing in the regatta, this year with a new man on the helm. Will Thomas-Ferrand, a winchman for three past race weeks, will be taking the helm for the week with Gavin Collery, (owner and usual skipper) switching to winches for the days that he can compete.

'Not only is the J24 class bringing competitive racing to Bermuda for Race Week,' said J24 Class representative Jodi Valentine, 'but we also expect, as always, that the J24 class will be inventive and competitive at the dock party once again, too!'

About the 2009 Bermuda International Invitational Race Week
The 2009 Bermuda International Invitational Race Week is sponsored by Bermuda Premium Spirits Limited, local distributors of Bacardi® rum. Racing will be held on two courses. The Keelboats- IODs, J105s, International Etchells class and J24’s- will be on the Alpha course. Lasers will sail the Bravo. Global competitors will represent Australia, Sweden, Norway, Canada, US and the UK against the usual strong contingent from the Bermuda classes.

Details, entry lists, results and photos will be posted on the RBYC web site: http://www.rbyc.bm/Default.aspx?alias=www.rbyc.bm/biirw2009

Racing starts at 1100hrs on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday for both courses. The ‘Bacardi Gras’ Celebration on Race Week’s ‘Bat Tuesday’ leads into a ‘No Race’ day on Wednesday, just right for international guests to enjoy the sights and non-sailing activities of Bermuda. The ‘Bacardi Gras’ Bat Tuesday party is open to competitors and the public.

Bacardi also presents a daily prize at the RBYC Terrace Bar post race party. The Bacardi Sailing Spirit Prize, for the day’s significant sailing achievement, is awarded ceremoniously each afternoon.

The Prize Giving Party at RBYC concludes Race Week on Friday the 24th of April. In addition to the fantastic sailing competition, the week is sprinkled with fleet parties.

Inaugurated by the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club in 1927, Bermuda International Invitational Race Week has become an established international yachting fixture each spring - attracting top skippers from all over the world. Bermuda Premium Spirits Limited, local distributor for Bacardi® rum, is the sponsor and has been for the past nine years. All classes with an active local racing program in Bermuda may invite international sailors to participate in the 2009 Bermuda International Invitational Race Week. International participation is required for a fleet to compete.