Please select your home edition
Edition
Hyde Sails 2024 - One Design

Charleston Bermuda Race - Stephen Colbert falls short

by Charleston Bermuda Race on 29 May 2011
Stephen Colbert at the Charleston Bermuda Race 2011 Priscilla Parker/Charleston Bermuda Race
Charleston Bermuda Race 2011 saw Stephen Colbert and his crewmates on board the Spirit of Juno race hard right to the end. Colbert and his crew spent the greater part past six days sailing head to head with Tucana.

As the last ten hours of winded down, the win faded from their reach. In the final miles of the race Colbert Nation and his fellow crew couldn’t muster the speed required to catch Tucana.

Yesterday evening, Tucana crossed the finish line just east of St. Georges Channel on Bermuda at 7:46:12 p.m. EDT. At the time, Spirit of Juno was roughly 25 miles behind her, well within striking distance. With the respective handicap ratings factored in (Tucana rates -54 and Juno rates -33) the Shipman owes the Farr time, roughly 4.5 hours on this course, and that differential would determine the final standings.

Unfortunately for Colbert and company, the winds moderated after sunset, and the Spirit of Juno wasn’t able to maintain sufficient speed to arrive at the line in time. She finished at approximately 4:00 a.m. EDT today.

The crew on board Spirit of Juno spent their initial hours on Bermuda in St. Georges Harbor, awaiting daylight. They then proceeded to motor to Hamilton Harbor and the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club where, after clearing customs, Colbert was expected to talk with the media about his voyage. (Stand by for quotes in a later update.)


Meanwhile, the next boat expected to arrive under sail is Noel Sterrett’s J/130 Solarus, sailing in the Doublehanded Division with Matt Henderson as crew. As of the 7:00 a.m. position update, the duo was just 44 miles from the finish, sailing at a respectable speed of 6.2 knots. They’ll need to tap every ounce of speed they can out of this ride if they intend to beat David Skimore’s Eagles’ Wings (the other boat racing in this division).

Skidmore’s boat is owed over 38 hours of time by Solarus with the handicap ratings factored in. Skidmore and his crew Barry Ling were roughly 100 miles astern of Solarus, sailing at six knots at 7:00 a.m.

And then there are the two Cruising Division boats: Rob Turkewitz’s First Light and Bernie Schapiro’s Pied-a-Mer. As of 7:00 a.m., both boats were over 100 miles out, just south of the rhumbline, sailing in a southeasterly direction at reasonably good speeds (6 knots). Schapiro’s team was 115 miles from the finish, with Turkewitz and company just 24 miles farther out. There’s a strong chance that both can finish the race by early Event website

Lloyd Stevenson - AC INEOS 1456x180px BOTTOMDoyle_SailWorld_728X90px_GP BOTTOMC-Tech 2021 (Spars-QFX Racer) 728x90 BOTTOM

Related Articles

31st Block Island Race Week Day 4
Round The Island Race on Mount Gay Rum Race Day Mount Gay Rum Race Day featured everyone's favorite race of Block Island Race Week: the Regatta Craft Mixers Round The Island Race. The breaking of the recent heatwave made for a fast and furious counter-clockwise lap.
Posted on 26 Jun
SailGP's return to Auckland for Season 6 confirmed
ITM is the NZ's Grand Prix's Title Partner, marking a fourth year supporting Black Foils. After a record breaking debut, the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix Auckland has been confirmed to be returning in 2026 and is set to be bigger than ever.
Posted on 26 Jun
Rolex SailGP Championship 2026 dates confirmed
Including a return to fan-favorite destination, Auckland SailGP has released further details of forthcoming 2026 Season, including the return of fan-favorite locations, multi-year hosting agreements secured across all regions, and an evolved regional structure to raise the stakes for athletes and fans alike.
Posted on 26 Jun
44Cup Marstrand 2025 day 2
Aleph Racing takes the lead after glorious four race day The 44Cup is nothing but surprises. Day two of competition for the one-design owner-driver RC44s at the 44Cup Marstrand was forecast to be light but in fact provided further magnificent conditions, with sunshine and flatter seas than yesterday.
Posted on 26 Jun
Pip Hare Announced as Patron of WORLDSTAR 2026
A meaningful return to her roots with the Royal Western Yacht Club of England The Royal Western Yacht Club (RWYC) is absolutely delighted to welcome solo ocean racing legend Pip Hare as the Patron of WORLDSTAR 2026—our flagship round-the-world sailing event. This is more than a title; it's a homecoming.
Posted on 26 Jun
Kieler Woche Day 7
British mixed dominance in dinghy and catamaran After the second day of the Sailing Grand Slam in the Olympic mixed classes, Martin Wrigley and Bettine Harris are leading the 470 class even more dominantly than John Gimson and Anna Burnet in the Nacra 17 on Thursday (June 26).
Posted on 26 Jun
29th Superyacht Cup Palma day 1
Cervo and Open Season take opening day honours The Superyacht Cup Palma 2025 swung into action today, with captains and crews across the varied and inspiring fleet seizing the opportunity to take the measure of the competition out on the racecourse.
Posted on 26 Jun
J/70 Mixed-Plus Worlds at Lake Garda Day 1
Yupi leads after a perfect opening day in Torbole Lake Garda delivered its finest conditions for the opening day of the first-ever J/70 Mixed-Plus World Championship: three races completed in a steady, warm Ora breeze peaking at 20 knots.
Posted on 26 Jun
Tschüss 2 - Transatlantic Titans
Line Honours for Christian Zugel's Volvo 70 in the Transatlantic Race 2025 Volvo 70 Tschüss 2 (USA), owned by Christian Zugel and co-skippered by Johnny Mordaunt, has taken Line Honours in the West to East Transatlantic Race 2025 in an elapsed time of 07 Day 15 Hrs 29 Mins and 10 Secs.
Posted on 26 Jun
Craig Wood Makes History
The first triple amputee to sail solo non-stop and unsupported across the Pacific Craig is the first triple amputee to sail solo non-stop and unsupported across the Pacific, completing the 7506nm journey from Mexico to Japan in 90 days.
Posted on 26 Jun