Newport Bermuda Race - Governor tours Newport division winners

by Talbot Wilson on 25 Jun 2010 Newport Bermuda Race.

His Excellency the Governor of Bermuda Sir Richard Gozney and Lady Gozney spent the mid-morning today [Thursday] on a tour of three of five division winning boats following the 47th Newport Bermuda Race. The Queen’s representative in Bermuda went aboard Carina, winner of Class 3 and the St. David’s Lighthouse Division, then boarded Noonmark VI, winner of Class 9 and the Gibbs Hill Lighthouse Division followed by a tour of Clover III, winner of Class 13 and the 38-boat Cruiser Division.

The Commodores of the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, Peter Shrubb, and Sheila McCurdy of the Cruising Club of America accompanied the governor’s party. Skippers Rives Potts (Westbrook, CT), Sir Geoffrey Mulcahy (London, UK) and Neal Finnegan (Dedham, MA) welcomed their Bermuda hosts aboard and crewmembers showed them around the decks and cabins of the three yachts. The group had to do some tricky maneuvering to get aboard by crossing a gang plank from dock to boat and back.

On Saturday, Sir Richard will host the winners and guests at Bermuda’s Government House for a gala reception and prizegiving. The venue is spectacular with a stunning view of the North shore and the ancient fort at Dockyard to the West. The Governor and commodores award over 90 prizes. Because of security and space restrictions, attendance at the party is limited to winning boat representatives and full teams of division winners and their guests. Spare invitations are much in demand, so crews are asked to collect tickets they will use well in advance

With the arrival of the Concordia 39 yawl Westray at 22:35:10 on Tuesday night all 183 yachts that started the 635-mile race on 18 June in Newport have officially finished. Westray, sailed by John Melvin (Riverside, CT) had an elapsed time of 127:35:10 and managed to correct her time ahead of two if the 103 boats in the St. David’s Lighthouse Division. Westray’s cook, Jake Kramer (New York, NY) will take the coveted Galley Slave Prize.

Owner John Melvin said, 'This wasn’t our type of race (he had placed sixth in the division in 2008 and third in 2006) because of the light air beat in the first part of the race. The Newport Bermuda Race has an Olin Stephens Trophy for the best combined performance in successive Marblehead-Halifax and Bermuda Races. They should have one for the worst combined score.' Westray has been last boat to finish in the two races in the past year.

Sailors in the Newport Bermuda race arrived in Bermuda this week in a racing mode. After a day in the recovery stage, being refreshed with Gosling’s Dark ‘n Stormy cocktails, they have moved on to relaxation. The marina is full of color and the band plays late into the night. Friday two dozen boats will line up on the Great Sound for the RBYC Anniversary Regatta, races 5 and 6 of the Onion Patch Series. After the two race regatta it’s back to Barr’s Bay Park and another great party Bermuda style. The cruise home for many is a welcome respite.

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