A Run for the Money in the New York Yacht Club 158th Annual Regatta

Pugwash, owner David Murphey; Wings, owner Mike Bruno & Tom Boyle (Photo by Billy Black / Rolex )

New York Yacht Club 158th Annual Regatta Presented by Rolex

After a rousing 19-mile Around the Island Race on Friday, sailors at the New York Yacht Club (NYYC) 158th Annual Regatta presented by Rolex had to face light winds on Saturday and Sunday and a subsequently abbreviated race schedule where every move counted as critical to final results. With 104 boats entered in Friday’s race (separately scored and optional) and 133 entered in weekend racing, this 2012 edition of what is revered as America’s oldest regatta will go down in sailing history as having its biggest fleet ever…and, for some, the most intriguing last-minute victories.

One for the record is Alex Jackson’s (Riverside, Conn.) trumping of the nine-boat Melges 32 class with Leenabarca in the second of two races today. Two of the class’s world champions (Doug Douglass on Goombay Smash and Pieter Taselaar on Bliksem) were tied for first going into that race, which was the last of three in the regatta series, and Jackson trailed in scoring by one point. According to Douglass, who exchanged friendly banter with Jackson back onshore, “We both went right, and Alex schooled us by going left and winning—he stole (the series) from us!” Jackson joked that while the competition was incredible, “we were just better,” but in all seriousness, the stakes are high for this class as it prepares for its world championships here later this summer. “More teams will be showing up as we get closer to that event,” said Jackson, who finished sixth two years ago at the worlds, “so I wouldn’t say that this was the biggest fleet of Melges 32s we’ve ever had, but it sure included some of the toughest teams.”

Also winning on the final note today was defending champion Mike McCaffrey (Newport, R.I.) aboard Osprey in the Herreshoff S class. Stephan Sloan’s (East Greenwich, R.I.) Argument was leading the regatta until it was forced over the start line prematurely in today’s second race and had to restart. “That gave us the opportunity to salvage a first out of what was looking to be a second or third,” said McCaffrey.

Andrew Fisher (Greenwich, Conn.), winner of the Swan 42 class with Bandit, said his team also had an “incredibly bad start” in today’s first race, but it battled back to finish fifth. “Luckily, we were very much in phase in the second race,” said Fisher, “and we picked more of the right wind shifts than the wrong ones and won. It was a little bit of luck, a little bit of skill.” His closest competition was John Hele’s Daring, which represented the Royal Canadian Yacht Club to win last year’s New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup presented by Rolex and is helmed by Canada’s Terry McLaughlin, an America’s Cup veteran and 1984 Olympic silver medalist in the Flying Dutchman class.

Among the largest boats in the fleet was George Sakellaris’s (Framingham, Mass.) Mini Maxi 72 Shockwave, which won IRC 1. “We had a conservative day,” said the boat’s captain and crew member Reggie Cole (Newport) after today’s single race. “We just wanted to beat (George David’s) Rambler today, because that’s what we had to do to win, but it was just by happenstance that we also beat (Hap Fauth’s) Bella Mente. She blew out a spinnaker and we passed them to finish first.”

Ptarmigan, Larry Dickie’s (Greenwich, Conn.) Ker 43, came from behind to win today in IRC 3. Skipper Bill Lynn (Marblehead, Mass) said that Saturday it had been hard to get out of the shadow of James Madden’s (Newport Beach, Calif.) Swan 601 Stark Raving Mad, which won the day on the merit of posting victory in a single race. “There was massive wind sheer and shifts to deal with,” he said, explaining that on the first beat his team had looked good, but “after that, we were struggling” and finished third. Though today proved more manageable, playing shifts was still the name of the game and Ptarmigan made the most out of them to finish first to Stark Raving Mad’s fourth and post four points to its five (for second place).

Steered by Lexi Gahagan, Dennis Williams’s (Hobe Sound, Fla.) Victory 83 dominated the 12 Metre class, posting three victories in as many races, while in IRC 5 class, Leonard Sitar’s (Holmdel, NJ) J/44 Vamp took class honors with a 2-1 in his series.

Past J/122 North American champion Mike Bruno and Tom Boyle (Irvington, N.Y.) finished 2-1 in the regatta’s two races to take IRC 6 on his J/122 Wings, while past J/109 North American champion Bill Sweetser (Annapolis, Md.) on the J/109 Rush topped IRC 7.

David and Sandra Askew’s (Annapolis, Md.) IRC 52 Flying Jenny 2 won IRC 2, while winning IRC 4 was the Taylor 45 Africa, skippered by Rolex Yachtsman of the Year Jud Smith (Marblehead, Mass.). Peter Kellogg’s (Short Hills, N.J.) Catboat 33′ Silent Maid won CRF 2 Non-Spinnaker, and Lars Forsberg’s (Greenwich, Conn.) S&S Yawl Black Watch took CRF 1 Non-Spinnaker.

In PHRF Navigator’s class, 22 boats competed, proving that this relatively new concept (begun last year) is popular for those who prefer a classic government buoy course to the more prevalent short-course racing on Saturday and Sunday. Defending champions Ben Hall and Bill Berges (Tiverton, R.I.) won Class 5 on their Evelyn 32 Bluto, while Paul Koch’s (East Greenwich, R.I.) Freedom 35 Jazz Fish took Class 6.

A Rolex timepiece was awarded on Friday evening to the overall IRC winner in that day’s Around the Island Race. Accepting the Rolex was Takashi Okura (Tokyo, Japan), owner and skipper of the IRC 52 Sled, which also won its IRC 2 class

Rolex also will award a timepiece to the overall winner (determined by the organizers) of Saturday’s and Sunday’s combined series of races, which officially constitutes the NYYC 158th Annual Regatta presented by Rolex. This special prize, as well as engraved overall trophies in each class and the Great Corinthian Trophy for yacht club teams of three or more boats posting the best class finishes, will be announced and awarded at the November 8 Annual Awards Dinner at the NYYC’s main clubhouse in New York City.

Swan 42 fleet (Photo by Billy Black / Rolex)

Known for attracting a diverse range of boats, NYYC’s Annual Regatta presented by Rolex is the first major sailing contest of the season in historic Newport, Rhode Island. In even-numbered years, the regatta draws a large number of competitors who compete a week later in the Newport Bermuda Race and who use the Annual Regatta to gear up prior to the start of that distance race. Part of the 2012 US-IRC Gulf Stream Series, NYYC’s Annual Regatta presented by Rolex is the first event in the NYYC Classic Yacht Series. Additionally, IRC yachts are eligible to enter the Onion Patch Series which consists of the Annual Regatta, the Newport Bermuda Race and the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club Anniversary Regatta. The first race completed on Saturday and Sunday during NYYC’s Annual Regatta counts toward the Onion Patch Series.

For daily results, releases, photos and video by T2p.tv, please visit the New York Yacht Club’s website at nyyc.org.

Shockwave, Mini Maxi 72, George Sakellaris (Photo by Billy Black / Rolex)

Final Results
NYYC 158th Annual Regatta presented by Rolex
June 9-10, 2012

Blue Class 1 – IRC 1 (IRC – 3 Boats)
1. Shockwave, Mini Maxi 72, George Sakellaris , Framingham, MA, USA – 1, 1, ; 2
2. Bella Mente, J-V Mini Maxi 72′, Hap Fauth , Minneapolis, MN, USA – 3, 2, ; 5
3. Rambler, RP 90 W B 90, George David , Hartford, CT, USA – 2, 3, ; 5

Blue Class 2 – IRC 2 (IRC – 5 Boats)
1. Flying Jenny 7, IRC 52 52, David and Sandra Askew , Annapolis, MD, USA – 1, 2, ; 3
2. Vesper, TP 52 52, Jim Swartz , Park City, UT, USA – 3, 1, ; 4
3. Interlodge, IRC 52 52, Austin and Gwen Fragomen , Newport, RI, USA – 2, 4, ; 6

Blue Class 3 – IRC 3 (IRC – 9 Boats)
1. Ptarmigan, Ker 43 43, Lawrence Dickie , Greenwich, CT, USA – 3, 1, ; 4
2. Stark Raving Mad, Swan 601 60, James Madden , Newport Beach, CA, USA – 1, 4, ; 5
3. Defiance, Marten 49 49, Hamnett Hill , Montreal, Que, CAN – 4, 2, ; 6

Blue Class 4 – IRC 4 (IRC – 13 Boats)
1. Africa, Taylor 45 45, Jud Smith , Marblehead, MA, USA – 1, 2.5, ; 3.5
2. Nasty Medicine, Corby 41 41.5, Stephen Sherwin , Hamilton, BER – 2, 2.5/Protest, ; 4.5
3. After Midnight, CTM 41 41, Paul Jeka , Atlantic Highlands, NJ, USA – 4, 1, ; 5

Blue Class 5 – IRC 5 (IRC – 9 Boats)
1. Vamp, J 44 44.9, Leonard Sitar , Holmdel, NJ, USA – 2, 1, ; 3
2. Carina, Custom 48 48′, Rives Potts , Essex, CT, USA – 1, 2, ; 3
3. Cygnette, Swan 441 44.36, William Mayer , Dover, DE, USA – 5, 3, ; 8

White Class 6 – IRC 6 (IRC – 12 Boats)
1. Wings, J 122 40, Mike Bruno & Tom Boyle , Irvington, NY, USA – 2, 1, ; 3
2. Christopher Dragon, J/122 40, Andrew Weiss , Mamaroneck, NY, USA – 1, 5, ; 6
3. Old School, Farr 395 39.5, Ganson Evans , Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, USA – 3, 6, ; 9

White Class 7 – IRC 7 (IRC – 10 Boats)
1. Rush, J 109 35.25, Bill Sweetser , Annapolis, MD, USA – 1, 1, ; 2
2. Dorade, S&S Yawl 52.5, Matt Brooks , Fremont, CA, USA – 5, 2, ; 7
3. Picante, J 109 36, Rober Salk & John Sahagian , Jamestown, RI, USA – 4, 3, ; 7

White Class 8 – Swan 42 (One Design – 10 Boats)
1. Bandit, Swan 42 42, Andrew Fisher , Greenwich, CT, USA – 3, 5, 1, ; 9
2. Daring, Swan 42 42, John Hele , Newport, RI, USA – 1, 3, 9, ; 13
3. Vitesse, Swan 42 42, Jon Halbert , Dallas, TX, USA – 6, 1, 6, ; 13

White Class 9 – Melges 32 (One Design – 9 Boats)
1. Leenabarca, Melges 32 32, Alex Jackson , Riverside, Conn., USA – 5, 1, 1, ; 7
2. Bliksem, Melges 32 32, Pieter Taselaar , Newport, RI, USA – 2, 3, 4, ; 9
3. hedgehog, Melges 32 32, Alec Cutler , Pembroke, BER – 4, 5, 2, ; 11

Green Class 1 – 12 Metres (One Design – 8 Boats)
1. Victory 83, 12 Metre 65, Dennis Williams , Hobe Sound, FL, USA – 1, 1, 1, ; 3
2. Courageous, 12 Meter 68, Ralph Isham / Alexander Auersperg , New York, NY, USA – 2, 4, 2, ; 8
3. USA, 12 Metre 65′, Guy Heckman , Newport, RI, USA – 4, 2, 4/Protest, ; 10

Green Class 4 – Herreshoff S Class (One Design – 9 Boats)
1. Osprey, Herreshoff S Class 27.6, Michael McCaffrey , Newport, RI, USA – 2, 2, 3, ; 7
2. Argument, Herreshoff S Class 27.5, Stephan Sloan , East Greenwich, RI, USA – 1, 1, 7, ; 9
3. Swallow , Herreshoff S Class 27.5, Leeds Mitchell IV , Providence, RI, USA – 3, 4, 2, ; 9

Green Class 2 – CRF 1 Non-Spinnaker (PHRF – 6 Boats)
1. Black Watch, S&S Yawl 67.86, Lars Forsberg , Greenwich, CT, USA – 3, 1/Protest, 1, ; 5
2. Angelita, 8 Metre 50.33′, Samuel Croll , Greenwich, CT, USA – 1, 5/Protest, 2, ; 8
3. Sonny, S&S Custom 53 53, Joseph Dockery , Newport, RI, USA – 2, 2, 4, ; 8

Green Class 3 – CRF 2 Non-Spinnaker (PHRF – 7 Boats)
1. Silent Maid, Catboat 33′, Peter Kellogg , Short Hills, NJ, USA – 1, 4, 1, ; 6
2. Belle, Luders 24 38.25, Jonathan Loughborough , Newport, RI, USA – 2, 2, 2, ; 6
3. SYCE, 6 Metre 34, Bob and Farley Towse , Stamford, CT, USA – 3, 5, 3, ; 11

Green Class 5 – PHRF Navigators Race (PHRF – 14 Boats)
1. Bluto, Evelyn 32-2 32, Benjamin Hall , Tiverton, RI, USA – 2, 2, ; 4
2. Tonto, J 105 34.5, Fred Darlington , Cumberland, RI, USA – 6, 1, ; 7
3. Blockade Runner, Farr 30 30, Bruce Bingman / Taran Teague , Annapolis, MD, USA – 1, 8.5, ; 9.5

Green Class 6 – PHRF NS Navigators Race (PHRF – 8 Boats)
1. Jazz Fish, Freedom 35 35, Paul Koch , East Greenwich, RI, USA – 1, 3, ; 4
2. Duck Soup, C&C 40 39’6, Bill Clavin , Warwick, RI, USA – 2, 2, ; 4
3. True, J 160 52, Howard Hodgson , Ipswich, MA, USA – 5, 1, ; 6

Victory 83, 12 Metre 65, Dennis Williams (Photo by Billy Black / Rolex)

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Posted by admin on Monday, June 11, 2012 at 9:58 am
Filed under Latest News, NYYC Annual Regatta · Tagged with 12 metre, 312, 439, 8 Metre, Africa, After Midnight, Alain Hanover, ALEXANDER AUERSPERG, Alfred, American Eagle, ANDARA, Andiamo Paul Strauch, Angelita, Apparition, Arethusa, Argument, Around The Island Race, Arthur Santry, Austin Fragomen, Bandit Andrew Fisher, Barra Bruce MacNeil, Barrett Holby, bella mente, Benjamin Hall, BER 1000, Bill Clavin, Bill Sweetser, Billy Black, Bingman, Blazer, Blockade Runner, Bluto, Bob Pethick, Boyle, Bretwalda 3, Brian Cunha, Brodsky, Bruce, Bruno, Bryan Weisberg, Capella David Millet, Carina, CGA 3, Charles Langston, Charlie Ryan, Cherokee, CHI 526, Chips, Christopher Cluver, Colin Rath, Columbia, Contessa 35, Coup d' Etat, Courageous, CYGNETTE, Cynthia Alten-DeLotto, DARING. John Hele, David Askew, David Murphy, David Schwartz, David Van Liew, Decision, Defiance, Dennis Williams, Dorade, Douglas Curtiss, Duck Soup, Dudley Nostrand, EC Helme, Entropy, Escape Plan, FARR 30, Flying Jenny 7, Fortune, Fred Roy, Ganson Evans, George David, George Sakellaris, George Shaw, GER 6262, Gerald Harris, Glenn Darden, Glenn Walters, GLORY, Gold Digger, Gwen Fragomen, Hamnett Hill, Hap Fauth, Hermie, Herreshoff S Class, Hilary Davidson, Hoss, Howard Hodgson, Impetuous, Interlodge, Intrepid, Invictus, IRC 46, Irie, IVB 4915, J-HAWK, Jack Neades, Jaded, James D. Bishop, James Madden, James Phyfe, Jason LeBlanc, Jazz Fish, Jed Pearsall, Jim Swartz, John Bailey, John Curtin, John Kilroy, John Taft, Jon Wullschleger, Jose Manuel Ugarte, Joseph Dockery, Joseph Huber, Jud Smith, Judel-Vrolijk Mini Maxi, K 22, Ken Colburn, Kevin Baxley, Kip Curren, KZ5, Larry Landry, Laura, Lawrence Dickie, Lawrence Huntington, Leonard Sitar, Lincoln Mossop, Mark E. Watson III, Mark Sarvary, Mark Treat, Matt Brooks, Michael Shea, mike, Mike Hackett, Mike Sullivan, Mischief, Molly Savard, Morris 486, NA 11, NA 23, nasty medicine, Nefertiti, New York Yacht Club, New York Yacht Club Annual Regatta, NY 6, nyyc, NYYC Annual Regatta, Oakcliff, Oakcliff Sailing, Old School, P-13, Passion 4C, Patricia Young, Patriot, Paul Jeka, Paul Koch. USA 1, Paul Milo, Paul Zabetakis, Pendragon, Persevere, Peter Davidson, Peter Kellogg, Peter Noonan, Petrel, Philip Lotz, Ptarmigan, Pugwash, Quentin Thomas, Ralph Duffett, RALPH ISHAM, Rambler, Reef Points, Richard Isted, Rick Lyall, Rives Potts, Rolex, Rush, Samba Pa Ti, Samuel Croll, Sandra Askew, SCIMITAR, Seal, Sherwin Hamilton, shockwave, Silent Maid, Silken Ties, Sirius, SLED, Snow Lion, Sonny, Spartan, spirit, Stark Raving Mad, Stefan Lehnert, Stephan Sloan, Stephen Hamilton, Stephen Jaenke, Stephen Murray, storm, Stormy, Stuart Johnstone, Surprise, Swan 42, SWIFT, T 82, Takashi Okura, Talisman, Taran, Teague, Team Tiburon, Temptation, The Cat Came Back, Three Little Birds, Todd Stuart, Tom, Tom Glassie, Tripp 41, TRUE, TUMBLEWEED, Tyler Davidson, US 21, US 53, US 61 USA Guy Heckman, US26, USA, USA 1201, USA 1222, USA 12241, USA 13131, USA 1315 Ninkasi John Taylor, USA 135, USA 14336, USA 14571, USA 146, USA 16, USA 18, USA 19, USA 1968, USA 1976, USA 22, USA 22956. POIA, USA 25555, USA 26, USA 266, USA 27, USA 30, USA 315, USA 32441, USA 34, USA 39505, USA 39532, USA 4, USA 414, USA 417, USA 4206, USA 4208, USA 4212, USA 4214, USA 4216, USA 4227, USA 42324, USA 4235, USA 4243, USA 42700, USA 43600, USA 43678, USA 43932, USA 45, USA 45009, USA 4511, USA 48, USA 49, USA 5, USA 50, USA 50030, USA 50069, USA 50400, USA 50974, USA 51, USA 51109, USA 51868, USA 52007, USA 5206, USA 5210, USA 52599, USA 52770, USA 52821, USA 52830, USA 52915, USA 52985, USA 53194, USA 56, USA 60003, USA 60111, USA 60272, USA 60292, USA 60331, USA 60545, USA 70, USA 711, USA 79, USA 84001, USA 92, Vamp, Vento Solare, Vesper, Victory '83, Wazimo, Wee Dram, White Rhino, White Witch, Wicked 2.0, Wicked One, William Mayer, Windigo, Wings, WIZARD

Takashi Okura Skippers Sled to Overall Win at NYYC Around the Island Race 2012

Sled (Photo by George Bekris)

Sailors on over 100 boats enjoyed classic Newport weather for today’s 19-mile Around the (Conanicut) Island Race, a traditional prelude to the New York Yacht Club (NYYC) Annual Regatta presented by Rolex, which will mark its 158th edition this weekend. The oldest regatta in America is enjoying a record number of 146 entries, with 133 of those signed up for weekend racing. (Today’s Around the Island Race was separately scored and optional.)

“It was southwest 8-12 knots, building to Beavertail,” said Tom Erskine (Marblehead, Mass), main trimmer on Ken Colburn’s Swan 42 class winner Apparition, explaining that with that much horsepower to the wind, the race committee had no problems sticking to a scheduled noon start for a clockwise course that started just south of the iconic Newport (Pell) Bridge. “Then it was 12-15 on the backside of the island and 15-16 on the nose coming home — just great conditions.” It didn’t hurt, either, that the sun shone all day after several days of relentless rain.

“The Race Committee started the smaller boats first,” added Erskine, “which made it fun to see all those classics like Black Watch and Dorade sailing near us, and then at the top of the island Rambler (the largest boat in the fleet at 90 feet) came ripping by us at 17 knots!”

Though Rambler was first to finish in just under two hours, but it was the IRC 52 Sled’s performance that earned owner Takashi Okura (Tokyo, Japan) a class win in IRC 2 and the overall victory in IRC class, which meant he goes home with the coveted Rolex watch as prize for his efforts today. Sled circumnavigated the island in just over two hours.

Spinnakers (Photo by George Bekris)

“I am still jet lagged,” said Okura, who arrived only yesterday to join his mostly-Japanese team on a charter boat that bears the name Interlodge. (Austin and Gwen Fragomen also sailed their newly built IRC 52 named Interlodge and finished third in the class behind Jim Swartz’s IRC 52 Vesper.) “We tried to sail calmly and quietly and just think about the wind and the tide.” Okura added that for ten minutes after the start, Vesper was leading, but the Sled team was able to play the current to its advantage and succeed at a takeover. Okura also won a Rolex watch here in 2006 when he sailed the Farr 40 North Americans as part of the New York Yacht Club Race Week at Newport presented by Rolex and he has every intention of adding an Annual Regatta victory to his resume after he competes this weekend. (Rolex also will award a timepiece to the overall winner of Saturday’s and Sunday’s combined series of races.)

Fourteen class winners today included Hap Fauth (Minneapolis, Minn./Newport, R.I.) with his newly built Judel-Vrolijk 72’ mini maxi Bella Mente in IRC 1 and Annual Regatta defending champions Rives Potts (Westbrook, Conn.) in IRC 6 aboard his custom 48 Carina; Michael McCaffrey (Newport) in the Herreshoff S class with Osprey; Dennis Williams (Hobe Sound, Fla.) in the 12 Metre class with Victory 83; and Joseph Dockery (Newport) in CRF 1 (classics) with his custom S&S 53 Sonny. (Ken Colburn’s Swan 42 Apparition is also a defending champion.)

Since 1845, the tradition of the Annual Regatta, first hosted at the New York Yacht Club’s original clubhouse in Hoboken, N.J., has been interrupted only by war. The event – in even years — is part of the Onion Patch Series, which also includes the Newport Bermuda Race and the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club Anniversary Regatta.

Fleet (Photo by George Bekris)

Racing for the NYYC Annual Regatta presented by Rolex takes place on Narragansett Bay and Rhode Island Sound for all classes, with a PHRF Navigator Class — for those who prefer a classic government buoy course to the more prevalent short-course racing on Saturday and Sunday — having the option of racing either one or both of the weekend days. Live music, refreshments and daily prizes greet the sailors as they come ashore after racing each day to the rolling lawn at NYYC’s Harbour Court clubhouse.

NYYC Around the Island Race (Photo by George Bekris)

For daily results, releases, photos and video, please visit the New York Yacht Club’s website at nyyc.org.

Results New York Yacht Club Around the Island Race

Friday, June 8, 2012

Place, Sail, Yacht Name, Yacht Type, Owner/Skipper, City, State, Country, Finish Date-Time, Elapsed, Corrected, Class Finish/Fleet Finish

Class 1 – IRC 1 (IRC – 4 Boats)
1. USA 45 Bella Mente, Judel-Vrolijk Mini Maxi, Hap Fauth , Minneapolis, MN, USA — 08Jun12-02:56:37PM / 0:01:56:37 / 0:03:06:07 — 1 / 3
2. USA 60272 Shockwave, Mini Maxi, George Sakellaris , Framingham, MA, USA — 08Jun12-02:58:22PM / 0:01:58:22 / 0:03:07:22 — 2 / 6
3. USA 4511 Team Tiburon (Wizard), R/P 74, Mark E. Watson III , Newport, RI, USA — 08Jun12-02:59:16PM / 0:01:59:16 / 0:03:08:47 — 3 / 9

Class 2 – IRC 2 (IRC – 6 Boats)
1. USA 5206 SLED, IRC 52, Takashi Okura , Tokyo, JPN — 08Jun12-03:07:54PM / 0:02:12:54 / 0:03:03:00 — 1 / 1
2. USA 52007 Vesper, TP 52, Jim Swartz , Park City, UT, USA — 08Jun12-03:09:09PM / 0:02:14:09 / 0:03:05:15 — 2 / 2
3. USA 5210 Interlodge, IRC 52, Austin and Gwen Fragomen , Newport, RI, USA — 08Jun12-03:10:45PM / 0:02:15:45 / 0:03:08:41 — 3 / 8

Class 3 – IRC 3 (IRC – 8 Boats)
1. USA 79 Ptarmigan, Ker 43, Lawrence Dickie , Greenwich, CT, USA — 08Jun12-03:19:12PM / 0:02:29:12 / 0:03:07:14 — 1 / 5
2. IVB 4915 Defiance, Marten 49, Hamnett Hill , Montreal, Que, CAN — 08Jun12-03:25:27PM / 0:02:35:27 / 0:03:13:04 — 2 / 21
3. USA 50069 Temptation – Oakcliff, Custom Ker 50, Arthur Santry – Oakcliff Sailing , Arlington, VA, USA — 08Jun12-03:24:52PM / 0:02:34:52 / 0:03:15:17 — 3 / 31

Class 4 – IRC 4 (IRC – 9 Boats)
1. USA 52915 White Witch, King 40, Larry Landry , Newport, RI, USA — 08Jun12-03:32:39PM / 0:02:47:39 / 0:03:08:36 — 1 / 7
2. USA 52830 Barra, Morris 486, Bruce MacNeil , Lincoln, Ma., USA — 08Jun12-03:35:41PM / 0:02:50:41 / 0:03:12:52 — 2 / 17
3. BER 1000 Nasty Medicine, Corby 41, Stephen Sherwin , Hamilton, BER — 08Jun12-03:31:00PM / 0:02:46:00 / 0:03:13:53 — 3 / 25

Class 5 – IRC 5 (IRC – 10 Boats)
1. USA 49 Gold Digger, J 44, James D. Bishop , Jamestown, RI, USA — 08Jun12-03:31:33PM / 0:02:51:33 / 0:03:07:09 — 1 / 4
2. USA 43600 Vamp, J 44, Leonard Sitar , Holmdel, NJ, USA — 08Jun12-03:34:32PM / 0:02:54:32 / 0:03:10:04 — 2 / 14
3. USA 60003 Pugwash, J 122, David Murphy , westport, CT, USA — 08Jun12-03:36:51PM / 0:02:56:51 / 0:03:12:35 — 3 / 16

Class 6 – IRC 6 (IRC – 11 Boats)
1. USA 315 Carina, Custom 48, Rives Potts , Essex, CT, USA — 08Jun12-03:35:16PM / 0:03:00:16 / 0:03:08:55 — 1 / 10
2. USA 16 Dorade, S&S Yawl, Matt Brooks , Fremont, CA, USA — 08Jun12-03:44:10PM / 0:03:09:10 / 0:03:09:09 — 2 / 12
3. USA 1976 Mischief, Lyman-Morse 40, David Schwartz , Smithfield, RI, USA — 08Jun12-03:44:19PM / 0:03:09:19 / 0:03:10:04 — 3 / 13

Class 7 – 12 Metre GP/M (One Design – 5 Boats)
1. K 22 Victory 83, 12 Metre, Dennis Williams , Hobe Sound, FL, USA — 08Jun12-03:02:22PM / 0:02:32:22 / 0:02:32:22 — 1 /
2. USA 61 USA, 12 Metre, Guy Heckman , Newport, RI, USA — 08Jun12-03:08:57PM / 0:02:38:57 / 0:02:38:57 — 2 /
3. KZ5 Laura, 12 Metre, Kip Curren , Warwick, RI, USA — 08Jun12-03:10:30PM / 0:02:40:30 / 0:02:40:30 — 3 /

Class 8 – 12 Metre Traditional (One Design – 3 Boats)
1. USA US 21 American Eagle, 12 Metre, Cynthia Alten-DeLotto , Newport, RI, USA — 08Jun12-03:15:50PM / 0:02:45:50 / 0:02:45:50 — 1 /
2. USA 16 Columbia, 12 Metre, Alain Hanover , Weston, MA, USA — 08Jun12-03:16:10PM / 0:02:46:10 / 0:02:46:10 — 2 /
3. USA 19 Nefertiti, 12 Metre, Jon Wullschleger , Sarasota, FL, USA — 08Jun12-03:16:24PM / 0:02:46:24 / 0:02:46:24 — 3 /

Class 9 – Swan 42 (One Design – 8 Boats)
1. USA 4235 Apparition, Swan 42, Ken Colburn , Dover, MA, USA — 08Jun12-03:07:25PM / 0:02:42:25 / 0:02:42:25 — 1 /
2. USA 4227 Hoss, swan 42, Glenn Darden & Paul Williamson , Fort Worth, Texas, USA — 08Jun12-03:10:46PM / 0:02:45:46 / 0:02:45:46 — 2 /
3. USA 4214 Daring, Swan 42, John Hele , Newport, RI, USA — 08Jun12-03:10:57PM / 0:02:45:57 / 0:02:45:57 — 3 /

Class 10 – CRF 1 Non-Spinnaker (PHRF – 6 Boats)
1. USA 50 Sonny, S&S Custom 53, Joseph Dockery , Newport, RI, USA — 08Jun12-03:32:59PM / 0:03:12:59 / 0:02:38:07 — 1 / 1
2. USA NY 6 Spartan, NY 50, Charlie Ryan , Providence, RI, USA — 08Jun12-03:20:07PM / 0:03:00:07 / 0:02:43:09 — 2 / 2
3. US 71 Black Watch, S&S Yawl, Sam Earle , USA — 08Jun12-03:26:38PM / 0:03:06:38 / 0:02:43:36 — 3 / 3

Class 11 – PHRF 1 spin (PHRF – 9 Boats)
1. USA 34 Blockade Runner, Farr 30, Bruce Bingman / Taran Teague , Annapolis, MD, USA — 08Jun12-03:19:48PM / 0:03:04:48 / 0:02:48:29 — 1 / 7
2. USA 51109 Capella, Sabre 452, David Millet , Needham, MA, USA — 08Jun12-03:24:41PM / 0:03:09:41 / 0:02:53:03 — 2 / 16
3. USA 56 Spirit, J 92S, EC Helme , Newport, RI, USA — 08Jun12-03:40:29PM / 0:03:25:29 / 0:02:54:46 — 3 / 17

Class 12 – PHRF 2 spin (PHRF – 3 Boats)
1. USA 8 Osprey, Herreshoff S Class, Michael McCaffrey , Newport, USA — 08Jun12-04:02:48PM / 0:03:52:48 / 0:02:47:33 — 1 / 6
2. USA 22 Argument, Herreshoff S Class, Stephan Sloan , East Greenwich, RI, USA — 08Jun12-04:04:59PM / 0:03:54:59 / 0:02:49:44 — 2 / 10
3. USA 5 Surprise, Herreshoff S Class, Fred Roy , Newport, RI, USA — 08Jun12-04:08:17PM / 0:03:58:17 / 0:02:53:02 — 3 / 15

Class 13 – CRF 2 Non-Spinnaker (PHRF – 2 Boats)
1. T 82 Silent Maid, Catboat, Peter Kellogg , Short Hills, NJ, USA — 08Jun12-03:54:12PM / 0:03:44:12 / 0:02:52:42 — 1 / 13
2. USA US 53 Cherokee, 6 Metre, Molly Savard , Middletown, CT, USA — 08Jun12-04:07:22PM / 0:03:57:22 / 0:03:08:06 — 2 / 23

Class 14 – PHRF Non-Spinnaker (PHRF – 9 Boats)
1. USA 1968 Hermie, Columbia 50, Gerald Harris , Rowayton, CT, USA — 08Jun12-03:36:02PM / 0:03:26:02 / 0:02:46:03 — 1 / 4
2. USA 414 Coup d’ Etat, McCurdy Rhodes 46, Michael Shea , Farmington, CT, USA — 08Jun12-03:34:26PM / 0:03:24:26 / 0:02:47:19 — 2 / 5
3. USA 42700 Duck Soup, C&C 40, Bill Clavin , Warwick, RI, USA — 08Jun12-03:32:51PM / 0:03:22:51 / 0:02:48:37 — 3 / 8

For More Images Of the NYYC Around- the- Island Race 2012 by George Bekris click HERE

NYYC Round the Island Race 2012 (Photo by George Bekris)

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Posted by admin on Friday, June 8, 2012 at 9:58 pm
Filed under NYYC Annual Regatta · Tagged with 12 metre, 312, 439, 8 Metre, Africa, After Midnight, Alain Hanover, ALEXANDER AUERSPERG, Alfred, American Eagle, ANDARA, Andiamo Paul Strauch, Angelita, Apparition, Arethusa, Argument, Around The Island Race, Arthur Santry, Austin Fragomen, Bandit Andrew Fisher, Barra Bruce MacNeil, Barrett Holby, bella mente, Benjamin Hall, BER 1000, Bill Clavin, Bill Sweetser, Bingman, Blazer, Blockade Runner, Bluto, Bob Pethick, Boyle, Bretwalda 3, Brian Cunha, Brodsky, Bruce, Bruno, Bryan Weisberg, Capella David Millet, Carina, CGA 3, Charles Langston, Charlie Ryan, Cherokee, CHI 526, Chips, Christopher Cluver, Colin Rath, Columbia, Contessa 35, Coup d' Etat, Courageous, CYGNETTE, Cynthia Alten-DeLotto, DARING. John Hele, David Askew, David Murphy, David Schwartz, David Van Liew, Decision, Defiance, Dennis Williams, Dorade, Douglas Curtiss, Duck Soup, Dudley Nostrand, EC Helme, Entropy, Escape Plan, FARR 30, Flying Jenny 7, Fortune, Fred Roy, Ganson Evans, George David, George Sakellaris, George Shaw, GER 6262, Gerald Harris, Glenn Darden, Glenn Walters, GLORY, Gold Digger, Gwen Fragomen, Hamnett Hill, Hap Fauth, Hermie, Herreshoff S Class, Hilary Davidson, Hoss, Howard Hodgson, Impetuous, Interlodge, Intrepid, Invictus, IRC 46, Irie, IVB 4915, J-HAWK, Jack Neades, Jaded, James D. Bishop, James Madden, James Phyfe, Jason LeBlanc, Jazz Fish, Jed Pearsall, Jim Swartz, John Bailey, John Curtin, John Kilroy, John Taft, Jon Wullschleger, Jose Manuel Ugarte, Joseph Dockery, Joseph Huber, Jud Smith, Judel-Vrolijk Mini Maxi, K 22, Ken Colburn, Kevin Baxley, Kip Curren, KZ5, Larry Landry, Laura, Lawrence Dickie, Lawrence Huntington, Leonard Sitar, Lincoln Mossop, Mark E. Watson III, Mark Sarvary, Mark Treat, Matt Brooks, Michael Shea, mike, Mike Hackett, Mike Sullivan, Mischief, Molly Savard, Morris 486, NA 11, NA 23, nasty medicine, Nefertiti, NY 6, nyyc, NYYC Annual Regatta, Oakcliff, Oakcliff Sailing, Old School, P-13, Passion 4C, Patricia Young, Patriot, Paul Jeka, Paul Koch. USA 1, Paul Milo, Paul Zabetakis, Pendragon, Persevere, Peter Davidson, Peter Kellogg, Peter Noonan, Petrel, Philip Lotz, Ptarmigan, Pugwash, Quentin Thomas, Ralph Duffett, RALPH ISHAM, Rambler, Reef Points, Richard Isted, Rick Lyall, Rives Potts, Rush, Samba Pa Ti, Samuel Croll, Sandra Askew, SCIMITAR, Seal, Sherwin Hamilton, shockwave, Silent Maid, Silken Ties, Sirius, SLED, Snow Lion, Sonny, Spartan, spirit, Stark Raving Mad, Stefan Lehnert, Stephan Sloan, Stephen Hamilton, Stephen Jaenke, Stephen Murray, storm, Stormy, Stuart Johnstone, Surprise, Swan 42, SWIFT, T 82, Takashi Okura, Talisman, Taran, Teague, Team Tiburon, Temptation, The Cat Came Back, Three Little Birds, Todd Stuart, Tom, Tom Glassie, Tripp 41, TRUE, TUMBLEWEED, Tyler Davidson, US 21, US 53, US 61 USA Guy Heckman, US26, USA, USA 1201, USA 1222, USA 12241, USA 13131, USA 1315 Ninkasi John Taylor, USA 135, USA 14336, USA 14571, USA 146, USA 16, USA 18, USA 19, USA 1968, USA 1976, USA 22, USA 22956. POIA, USA 25555, USA 26, USA 266, USA 27, USA 30, USA 315, USA 32441, USA 34, USA 39505, USA 39532, USA 4, USA 414, USA 417, USA 4206, USA 4208, USA 4212, USA 4214, USA 4216, USA 4227, USA 42324, USA 4235, USA 4243, USA 42700, USA 43600, USA 43678, USA 43932, USA 45, USA 45009, USA 4511, USA 48, USA 49, USA 5, USA 50, USA 50030, USA 50069, USA 50400, USA 50974, USA 51, USA 51109, USA 51868, USA 52007, USA 5206, USA 5210, USA 52599, USA 52770, USA 52821, USA 52830, USA 52915, USA 52985, USA 53194, USA 56, USA 60003, USA 60111, USA 60272, USA 60292, USA 60331, USA 60545, USA 70, USA 711, USA 79, USA 84001, USA 92, Vamp, Vento Solare, Vesper, Victory '83, Wazimo, Wee Dram, White Rhino, White Witch, Wicked 2.0, Wicked One, William Mayer, Windigo, Wings, WIZARD

RORC Caribbean 600 2012 Results

Niklas Zennstrom's Rán. (Photo: by RORC/Tim Wright photoaction.com)

It has been a busy 24 hours at the Antigua Yacht Club. At dawn on the fifth day of the RORC Caribbean 600, only three yachts were still at sea vying to complete the course before tonight’s Prizegiving celebrations and all of the class winners are now provisionally decided. The bar at the Antigua Yacht Club has been in full swing, buzzing with stories between the crews and songs in a myriad of different languages.

Team Selene skippered by Benjamin Davitt finished yesterday morning. The Swan 80 sailed an excellent race to claim third place overall and will lift the prestigious Swan Caribbean Challenge Trophy later this evening.

Without doubt, the closest racing for this year’s event was in IRC One. Colin Buffin’s Swan 62, Uxorious IV, was first to finish, but the team did not celebrate a class win. Buffin and his young team knew that Amanda Hartley’s Swan 56, Clem, was extremely close to eclipsing their corrected time. Just over three and half hours passed before Clem crossed the finish line to win the class by just 21 seconds on corrected time. There were ecstatic scenes dockside as the Spanish crew of Clem celebrated their class win. The entire crew of Uxorious IV including Colin Buffin sportingly applauded their rivals. Amanda Hartley spoke of their win.

“‘We had no idea until we crossed the line and turned on our phones which went crazy with people calling in from Spain. By our calculation we thought we had lost out by five minutes. We got stuck at Guadeloupe for four hours and we could only sit and watch Uxorious get away. We are obviously extremely delighted and really appreciate Colin and his team coming over to give us such a lovely welcome back to Antigua.”

Jaime Torres’ Puerto Rican First 40, Smile And Wave, finished shortly after midnight last night to claim third in IRC One.

Scarlet Logic, co-skippered by Ross Applebey and Tim Thubron, finished the RORC Caribbean 600 shortly after 2300 last night. The Oyster 48 has been vying for the overall win for the last two days. In the end Scarlet Logic missed out, but the team had put in an incredible effort and have been rewarded with a convincing win in IRC Two. Scarlet Logic has the best corrected time in IRC One, Two and Three and as a result will be awarded the fantastic prize of a week’s accommodation at the luxurious Inn at English Harbour.

“Fantastic, elated but bloody tired,” admitted Tim Thubron, co-skipper of Scarlet Logic. The weather lined up nicely for us and we were aware that we were in with a chance of beating the big, well funded professional teams and that really spurred us on and made us push even harder. A lot of credit must go to the whole team, especially Ross Applebey. Scarlet was immaculately prepared and we hardly had a single breakage, however we did need to drop the main to replace a sail slide. The job was done and the main back up in eight minutes, that to me says it all.”

There was joy and pain for both IRC Canting Keel and the Class40s. Ernesto Cortina’s Volvo 70 Gran Jotiti finished the race in just over two days. The Spanish team is racing the yacht formerly known as Telefonica Black in the last Volvo Ocean Race. Ernesto spoke about his team shortly after finishing. “This has been a great experience, even though our result was badly affected by a lot of sail damage. Many of the sails are tired from thousands of miles of racing. However, the crew have been a joy to sail with and this race is helping us build for the future. Gran Jotiti’s aim is to create a world class amateur Spanish offshore sailing team and we have learnt a lot through this race.

Ron O’Hanley’s Cookson 50, Privateer, showed exceptional pace and boat handling throughout. Unfortunately the American team failed to start correctly and accepted a 10% penalty from the race organisers resulting in Gran Jotiti being declared winner of IRC Canting Keel.

IRC One, Two, Three and Class40 Start. Smile and Wave, Scarlet Logic, Clem and Uxorious IV (Photo by Tim Wright)

The Class40s turned into a battle royale between Christophe Coatnoan’s Partouche and Christof Petter’s Vaquita. The two Class40s were locked in a heroic tacking duel for the final push to the finish line, a 40-mile beat from Redonda to the finish in Antigua.

Vaquita crossed the line just after sunset beating Partouche by a slender margin, just 15 minutes in a race lasting over 3 days. However, Vaquita failed to start the race correctly and to the Austrian crew’s disappointment, the class win was awarded to Partouche: “It was a tough race and we had a couple of moments that really slowed us down,” commented Christophe Coatnoan who raced two-handed with Eric Calmard. “We picked up a fishing float after Nevis without realising and we probably lost 8 miles before we knew it was there. Later at Guadeloupe, I had to dive into the water to free Partouche from yet another fishing buoy. The race was an excellent test for our new design especially for our sails as I think we used every one of them during the race.”

Superyacht Start. Windrose, Adela, Hetairos, Sojana and P2 line up for the start. (Photo by Tim Wright)

Vaquita’s Andreas Hanakamp commented: “Obviously we are disappointed to have been penalised but we were delighted with our performance. Partouche is a brand new Finot design, whilst Vaquita is a 2006 Akilaria. The RORC Caribbean 600 is a testing race course and a very tough race, exactly what we needed to prepare for our main competition of the season, The Atlantic Cup later this year.”

The latest competitor to finish the RORC Caribbean 600 is Bernie Evan-Wong’s Mumm 36, High Tension. Falmouth Harbour exploded with noise as the smallest yacht in the race tied up right outside the Antigua Yacht Club. Thunderous blasts from megayachts, superyachts and foghorns literally shook the dock as the whole of the sailing community in Falmouth heralded the arrival of local hero Bernie and his crew.

“I said we would be here tonight but I always like to be early for appointments,” joked the Antiguan dentist. “It was a hard but satisfying race and the beat from Redonda to the finish seemed to take forever. We could see Antigua but it just didn’t seem to be getting any bigger, however a few miles out a massive rain squall hit and veered the wind favourably for us to speed our way to Antigua. After last year’s dismasting, I think maybe someone was looking out for us!”

Tonight the RORC Caribbean 600 Prizegiving Ceremony will take place at the Antigua Yacht Club. The two yachts still racing are Igor Zaretskiy’s, First 40.7 Coyote II and the RACYC Offshore Racing Team – White Knight’s Spirit of Venus. Both are expected to make tonight’s party, which should be a momentous occasion.

IRC OVERALL RESULTS

Rayon Vert Pulsar 50 (Photo by Tim Wright )

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Posted by admin on Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 10:31 am
Filed under Class 40, Latest News, P 2, P2, Privateer, Rambler, Ran, Ran 2, RORC Caribbean 600, VOR70 · Tagged with 600Nm Racing Club, 78ft Maxi, Adela, Alejandro Perez Calzada, Alistair Groom, Amanda Hartley, Anders Nordquist, Andrew Bardot, Andrew McIrvine, Andrews 72, Andy Middleton, Antigua Yacht Club, Apache, Baltic Yacht, Beneteau 47.7, Benjamin Davitt, Benoit Cabaret, Bernie Evan-Wong, Blackbird, Brad Van Liew, Briand 76, Bryon Ehrhart, C.N.B., Caribbean 600, Carribean 600, catamaran, Charisma, Christof Petter, Christophe Coatnoan, Class40, classic, Classic Schooner, Clem, Colin Buffin, Cookson 50, Coyote II, Didier Lacombe, DP Yachts, EH01, Ernesto Cortina, Falmouth Harbour, Farr 115, Farr 65, First 40.7, Frank Eberhart, George David, Global Yacht Racing, Gran Jotiti, Greg Perkins, Hassebas, hetairos, High Tension, Hound, ICARUS, Icarus Racing, Igor Zaretskiy, Jack Layfield, Jaime Torres, Jonathan Kline, Jonty Layfield, JV72, Karuba 5, Kent Groves, Kings Legend, Lancelot, Lancelot 2, Latest News, Le Pingouin, LILLA, Lloyd's IDEA, Lloyd's of London Yacht Club, Lucky, MacAlpine Downie, Med Spirit, Michael Butterfield, Michael Cotter, Michael Reardon, Michiel Lijnsvelt, Mk11, multihull, Mumm 36, Nefertiti, Nielsen 59, Nigel Irens, Niklas Zennström, Northern Child, Olin J. Stephens, open 60, Oyster 48, P 2, P2, Paradox, Partouche, Peter Aschenbrenner, Peter Harding, Peter Harrison, Philippe Briand, Privateer, racing, RACYC Offshore Racing, Rambler, ran, Ran 2, Reichel Pugh, Reichel Pugh 78, Reichel Pugh 90, Ron O'Hanley, RORC, RORC Caribbean, RORC Caribbean 600, RORC Commodore, Ross Applebey, Safara, Sailing Logic, Scarlet Oyster, Schooner, Selene, Sergey Borodinov, Shipman 63, Simon de Pietro, Sleeper, Smile and Wave, Sojana, Spirit of Isis, Spirit of Juno, Spirit of Tradition, Spirit of Venus, Steve Hayles, Super Rose, Super Yacht, superyacht, superyachts, Swan 56, Swan 62, Swan 80, Team Merkle, TP 52, trimaran, Tripp 75, Uxorious IV, Vaquita, Vincent Fauquenoy, Volvo 70, Welbourn, Whisper, Whisper · Tagged with 40 degrees, White Knight, Windrose, Windrose Of Amsterdam, Windward Sailing, X 65, yacht

Caribbean Dreams For Many Hoping To Win The Caribbean 600 2012

Ran (Photo by George Bekris)

The 4th RORC Caribbean 600, starts at 1100 on Monday 20th February. There isn’t a single hotel room left near Antigua Yacht Club, as competitors fly in to the magical island of Antigua from all four corners of the world – Falmouth Harbour is filled to the brim with astounding yachts.

Niklas Zennström’s JV72, Rán, and George David’s RP90, Rambler, are the hot favourites for the RORC Caribbean Trophy, but the two highly impressive yachts are almost hidden in Falmouth Harbour. Rán were out practicing today and Navigator Steve Hayles reports that conditions were a bit lighter than usual, but he expects 15-20 knots of trade winds for the race with their weather routing predicting that they could finish the race in 48 hours, may be less.

RORC member, Stan Pearson has lived and sailed the sublime waters around Antigua for over 20 years. He was one of the creators of the RORC Caribbean 600 and will be racing this year on Adela, the 181′ twin masted schooner:

“I can’t remember ever seeing Nelson’s Dockyard and Falmouth Harbour with so many impressive yachts but I know why they are here; there is nowhere in the world quite like Antigua and the ’600 is a real celebration of all that the Caribbean has to offer. The sailing is just fantastic; constant trade winds, warm water and air temperature in the high 20′s provides brilliant sailing, but this is a tough race. The course has a lot of corners and there is a lot of activity for the crews. Looking at the fleet, there are going to be some great duels going on, it is going to be a very competitive race.”

For the first time, a Volvo Open 70 will be competing in the RORC Caribbean 600. Some might suggest that the canting keel carbon fibre flyer could have been designed for this course. Ernesto Cortina’s Gran Jotiti has a highly talented Spanish crew and could well be a contender for line honours and an overall win.

IRC Zero has 16 entries and may well be the class to watch for the overall winner. George David’s Rambler 100 is the trophy holder and George David’s all-star crew will not be giving it up without a fight.

Sojana (Photo courtesy of International Maxi Association)

With a combined water line length that would soar 500ft above the Eiffel Tower, there are some truly amazing yachts in IRC Zero. The 214′ ketch Hetairos is an impressive sight. The crew of 36 have been out practicing all this week and on board there are enough sails to cover a full size football pitch. Sojana is expected to have a Superyacht duel with 124′ Pernini Navi, P2, owned by businessman and philanthropist, Gerhard Andlinger. Sojana was on mark laying duty today. The only laid mark of the course is the North Sails mark, off Barbuda. No doubt the crew, will be using the exercise to practice the first 45 miles of racing.

In the Spirit of Tradition class Adela will line up against Windrose. This will be the first time these magnificent yachts have raced against each other offshore, however Adela did get the better of Windrose in The Superyacht Challenge inshore regatta. A close battle with these two powerful yachts fully off the leash is a mouth-watering prospect. Past RORC Commodore, Andrew McIrvine and a team of 11 RORC members including current Commodore, Mike Greville, have chartered the 145ft Windrose.

The multihull record for the RORC Caribbean 600 has not been beaten since the inaugural race in 2009. The 63′ Trimaran, Paradox, skippered by Olivier Vigoureux says the six crew on board are out to ‘beat the current record’. The American, French and British crew members have raced in the Figaro Race, Transat Jacques Vabres, America’s Cup and Mini Transat.

Anders Nordquist’s Swan 90, Nefertiti, has an international crew including Rolex Middle Sea Race winner, Christian Ripard from Malta. They should have a close battle with Wendy Schmidt’s Swan 80, Selene, and Irish entry, RP78, Whisper.

There are a huge variety of yachts racing in IRC One, including Hound, skippered by Hound from Maine USA. The 60′ classic will be competing in the Caribbean 600 for the first time with a family crew of avid racers. Hound has competed in the last 8 Newport-Bermuda races, winning her class twice.

Ondeck’s 40.7 Spirit of Venus is chartered to the Royal Armoured Corp Offshore Racing Team. The majority of the 11 strong crew are part of the Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank Regiment which returned from Afghanistan last spring.

Lt Col Paul Macro RTR: “Soldiers have to work together as a team, under time pressure, when cold, wet and tired, in difficult and even dangerous conditions. The adventurous team spirit required by a successful offshore racing crew is the same as that required by the crew of a tank or any other armoured vehicle.”

There are four Class40s competing. Close duels are expected right through the fleet, but a hard fought and close encounter is expected in this class. Trade wind sailing provides perfect conditions for Class40s, with long reaches and downwind legs, these pocket rockets are capable of surfing at speeds of up to 25 knots. Class40s from America, Austria, France and Great Britain are taking on the 600 mile Caribbean odyssey; Tim Fetch’s Icarus Racing, Christophe Coatnoan’s Partouche, Andreas Hanakamp’s Vaquita and Peter Harding’s 40 Degrees, co-skippered by Hannah Jenner. The Class40s will be level-racing under their own rules. First to finish will claim the Concise Trophy; a full barrel of English Harbour rum.

IRC Two includes the smallest yacht in the fleet, Bernie Evan-Wong’s Mumm 36, High Tension. Antiguan dentist, Bernie has competed in all four RORC Caribbean 600 races, however last year, High Tension did not finish the race.

“It is definitely a case of unfinished business,” said Bernie. “We have actually used our downfall to modify the rig, so we have made something good out of the incident. Like many Antiguans, I am amazed how this race has developed since 2009, I have been sailing in the Caribbean for over 50 years and what has been really missing is a well-run, exciting offshore race. The RORC Caribbean 600 has provided that and made my dreams come true.”

Icarus Racing (Photo by George Bekris)

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Posted by admin on Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 4:02 pm
Filed under Adela, Icarus, Latest News, Le Pingouin, P 2, P2, Privateer, Rambler, Ran, Ran 2, RORC Caribbean 600, Selene, Sojana, trimaran, Whisper · Tagged with 40 degrees, 600Nm Racing Club, 78ft Maxi, Adela, Alejandro Perez Calzada, Alistair Groom, Amanda Hartley, Anders Nordquist, Andrew Bardot, Andrew McIrvine, Andrews 72, Andy Middleton, Antigua Yacht Club, Apache, Baltic Yacht, Beneteau 47.7, Benjamin Davitt, Benoit Cabaret, Bernie Evan-Wong, Blackbird, Brad Van Liew, Briand 76, Bryon Ehrhart, C.N.B., Caribbean 600, Carribean 600, catamaran, Charisma, Christof Petter, Christophe Coatnoan, Class40, classic, Classic Schooner, Clem, Colin Buffin, Cookson 50, Coyote II, Didier Lacombe, DP Yachts, EH01, Ernesto Cortina, Falmouth Harbour, Farr 115, Farr 65, First 40.7, Frank Eberhart, George David, Global Yacht Racing, Gran Jotiti, Greg Perkins, Hassebas, hetairos, High Tension, Hound, Icarus Racing, Igor Zaretskiy, Jack Layfield, Jaime Torres, Jonathan Kline, Jonty Layfield, JV72, Karuba 5, Kent Groves, Kings Legend, Lancelot, Lancelot 2, Le Pingouin, LILLA, Lloyd's IDEA, Lloyd's of London Yacht Club, Lucky, MacAlpine Downie, Med Spirit, Michael Butterfield, Michael Cotter, Michael Reardon, Michiel Lijnsvelt, Mk11, multihull, Mumm 36, Nefertiti, Nielsen 59, Nigel Irens, Niklas Zennström, Northern Child, Olin J. Stephens, open 60, Oyster 48, P2, Paradox, Partouche, Peter Aschenbrenner, Peter Harding, Peter Harrison, Philippe Briand, Privateer, racing, RACYC Offshore Racing, Rambler, ran, Reichel Pugh, Reichel Pugh 78, Reichel Pugh 90, Ron O'Hanley, RORC, RORC Caribbean, RORC Commodore, Ross Applebey, Safara, Sailing Logic, Scarlet Oyster, Schooner, Selene, Sergey Borodinov, Shipman 63, Simon de Pietro, Sleeper, Smile and Wave, Sojana, Spirit of Isis, Spirit of Juno, Spirit of Tradition, Spirit of Venus, Steve Hayles, Super Rose, Super Yacht, superyacht, superyachts, Swan 56, Swan 62, Swan 80, Team Merkle, TP 52, trimaran, Tripp 75, Uxorious IV, Vaquita, Vincent Fauquenoy, Volvo 70, Welbourn, Whisper, White Knight, Windrose, Windrose Of Amsterdam, Windward Sailing, X 65, yacht

The Superyacht Cup Palma Has More Entries Than Ever For June Regatta

Marie 55m (Photo courtesy of The Superyacht Cup

Preparations are well underway for the 2011 Superyacht Cup regatta from 22-25 June in Palma. So far, 16 yachts have registered for the event including five brand new entries that have never competed in the event before. Space at the Muelle Viejo only allows for a maximum of 20-22 entries.

Returning to defend their 2010 title is the 29m Tony Castro designed Jongert ‘Scorpione dei Mar’. Other past Cup competitors coming back to Palma in June include Ganesha (39m Dubois), Saudade (45m Tripp), Tenaz (39m Dubois), Drumfire (24m Hoek) and Gliss (35m Phillipe Briand). Gliss won the 2009 Palma Superyacht Cup and returns this year under new ownership.

This year also sees the biggest number of first-time entries to the event. Joining the fleet are two stunning modern classics, the 55m Adela built in 1995 by Pendennis Shipyard, and Marie, a 55m Hoek design launched last year by Vitters Shipyard in Holland. Other newcomers are Genevieve (37m Dubois), Nilaya (34m Reichel Pugh/Nautor), Nefertiti (27m, Nautor), and Heartbeat (35m Hoek).

Now in its 15th year, the ever-popular Superyacht Cup is the longest running superyacht regatta in Europe and is a favourite event with Owners and crews at the start of the summer season in the Mediterranean. Famous for its relaxed atmosphere and fabulous sailing conditions in the Bay of Palma, the Superyacht Cup is very much a family affair with its trademark barbecues, dockside parties, and a spectacular outdoor gala evening overlooking the Bay of Palma on the final evening.

There are also plans for a Superyacht Cup Golf Day this year, on the day following the event, Sunday 26th June.

“Its fantastic to see so many new yachts coming to the event this year,” commented new 2011 Event Director James Pleasance. “We look forward to welcoming these and all the other competitors to Palma in June and showing them what the Superyacht Cup is all about!”

For more information and images from previous Cup regattas in Palma and Antigua, visit www.thesuperyachtcup.com

Muelle Viejo Palma (Photo courtesy of The Superyacht Cup)

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Posted by admin on Friday, March 11, 2011 at 12:01 pm
Filed under Latest News, The Superyacht Cup, The Superyacht Cup Palma · Tagged with Adela, Bay of Palma, Drumfire, Ganesha, Genevieve, gliss, Heartbeat, Marie, Nefertiti, Nilaya, Palma, Pendennis Shipyard, Saudade, Scorpione dei Mar, superyacht, Superyacht Cup Palma, superyachts, Tenaz, Tony Castro, Vitters Shipyard

2009 12 Metre World Championships Finals From Newport, RI

Victory '83 All Around and Candy Store Cup Winners (Photo by George Bekris)

Victory '83 Candy Store Cup Winners (Photo by George Bekris)

While history didn’t quite repeat itself today, it came pretty close. The final races of the 2009 12 Metre World Championships were sailed on a sparkling Rhode Island Sound as helicopters buzzed and spectator boats jockeyed for front row seats to the action – evoking memories of 26 years ago to the day when the longest winning streak (132 years) in sporting history ended with the loss of the “Auld Mug” to Australia. On this day, however, instead of just two Twelves there were 17 making their way around the old America’s Cup stomping grounds off Brenton Point and with many of the same spectators there to pay homage as the helicopters droned above.

Notable for traveling the furthest to be part of this largest gathering of Twelves since the Cup left Newport: Challenge 12, which William Borel (Paris, France) had shipped from Europe early in the summer, and Australian Skip Lissiman who was onboard the Cup-winning Australia II in 1983. “It’s fantastic to be back in Newport,” he said. “I wanted to be back in particular for the anniversary and [to celebrate] I will be going down to O’Brien’s Pub where they have the original boxing kangaroo flag. We’re going to exchange it with one that the entire crew signed last year when we celebrated the 25^th and take the original flag back to the museum in Australia.”

For the final act of the world championships, two races were sailed in all four divisions – Grand Prix, Modern, Traditional and Vintage – before The Candy Store Cup was re-run after being abandoned on day two of racing. Bill Koch (Palm Beach, Fla./Osterville, Mass.), on Kiwi Magic-KZ7, won the Grand Prix division after adding finishes of 1-3 for a net total of seven points. Lexi Gahagan (Wilmington, Del.), driving Wright on White-KZ3, finished 3-2 to place second overall in the division standings, one point back.

: Victory ’83 All Around and Candy Store Cup Winners (Photo by George Bekris)

More Photos Of The Action Can Be Seen HERE

The Traditional Division saw the only real upset of the championship as Charlie Millikin and Carol Swift (both Newport), on American Eagle-US21, fought back from a three-point deficit with a 1-2 today to tie Weatherly’s Clay Deutsch (Newport) who finished 2-3. With eight points apiece, the tie-break went in favor of American Eagle earning Swift a surprise swim off the dock at Bannister’s Wharf courtesy of the crew. In the Vintage division, Einar Sissener (Oslo, NOR), on Gleam-US11, was one point out of first when the day began and placed first in both races to win by three points over Kip Curren (Middletown, R.I.), on Northern Light-US14.

“In the Modern fleet, on any given day any boat can win, they’re all that close,” said Dennis Williams (Hobe Sound, Fla./Mashpee, Mass.) after winning that division on Victory ‘83-K22. He explained that it was Courageous who was their biggest competition after they had “two good races today and in conditions that were really pretty crazy. They had a first and second and I think we were two points apart with one throw out, so very close. The wind was shifting left and right and the velocity was up and down …it was a very crazy day, it was not predictable. Everybody worked hard trying to keep the boat on track with the shifting winds.”

In addition to winning his first world championship title, it was “nice to put a little icing on the cake,” said Williams about winning The Candy Store Cup which gave a single start for all divisions and sent them on a course back from Rhode Island Sound, past Castle Hill Light, and into Newport Harbor for a finish off Bannister’s Wharf where champagne was awaiting all the teams. “It was great,” said Williams of the 2009 12 Metre World Championship. “Everyone on the boat enjoyed it, we had a great time, great crew. It was just fabulous. The competition was great.”

2009 12 Metre Worlds Final Standings

Place, Boat Name-Sail Number, Skipper (Hometown), Finish positions, Total Points

Division I – Grand Prix

1. Kiwi Magic-KZ7, Bill Koch (Palm Beach, Fla./Osterville, Mass.) 2-2-1-1-1-(3), 7

2. Wright on White-KZ3, Lexi Gahagan (Wilmington, Del.) 1-1-2-2-(3)-2, 8

3. USA-US61, Richard Matthews (W. Mersea, GBR), 3-3-3-(3)-2-1, 12

4. America II-US46, Michael Fortenbaugh (New York, N.Y.), 4-4-DNF-4-4-4, 20

Division 2 – Modern

1. Victory 83-K22, Dennis Williams (Hobe Sound, Fla./Mashpee, Mass.), 1-1-2-1-3-(3), 8

2. Courageous, US26, Stephen Glascock (New York, N.Y.), 3-2-(DSQ)-2-2-1, 10

3. Freedom-US30, Ernest Jacquet (Boston, Mass.), 4- 5-1-4-1-(5), 15

2. Intrepid-US22, Jack Curtin (Toronto, CAN), 2-3-4-5-(5)-2, 16

5. Challenge 12-KA10, William Borel (Paris, FRA), (DSQ)-4-3-3-4-4, 16

Division 3 – Traditional

1. American Eagle-US21, Charlie Millikin/Carol Swift (both Newport, R.I.), (4)-2-2-1-1-2, 8

2. Weatherly-US17, Clay Deutsch (Newport, R.I.), 2-1-1-2-2-(3), 8

3. Columbia-US16, Alain Hanover (Weston, Mass./Palm Beach, Fla.), 1-3-3-3-3-(DNS), 12.5

4. Nefertiti-US19, Sears Wullschleger (Nantucket, Mass.), 3-4-4-4-4-(DNF), 19

5. Easterner-US18, Paul Callahan (Ft. Meyers, Fla./Newport, R.I.), 5-5-(DNS)-5-5-1, 21

Division 4 – Vintage

1. Gleam-US11, Einar Sissener (Oslo, NOR), (3)-1-2-1-1-1, 6

2. Northern Light-US14, Kip Curren (Middletown, R.I.), 1-2-1-2-3-(3), 9

3. Onawa-US6, Morten Kielland (Geneva, SUI), 2-DNF-(DNS)-3-2-2, 13

Freedom Approaches The Finish Of The Candy Store Cup (Photo by George Bekris)

More Photos Of The Action Can Be Seen HERE

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Posted by admin on Sunday, September 27, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Filed under 12 Metre World Championships, 12 Metre Worlds, America II, American Eagle, Challenge, Challenge 12, Columbia, Courageous, Easterner, Gleam, Intrepid, Kiwi Magic, Latest News, Nefertiti, Northern Light, Onawa, USA, Victory '83, Victory ’83, Weatherly, Wright on White · Tagged with 12 meter, 12 meter world championships, 12 meter worlds, 12 metre, 12 Metre World Championships, 12 metre worlds, 2009 12 meter world championships, 2009 12 meter worlds, 2009 12 metre world championship results, 2009 12 metre world championships, 2009 12 metre worlds, a, Alain Hanover, America II, American Eagle, Andy Green, Bekris, Bill Koch, Brenton Point, Candy, Candy Store Cup, Carol Swift, Caroline, challenge, Challenge 12, Challenge and Adventure, Charlie Milligan, Clay Deutsch, Columbia, Courageous Foundation, cup, Dawn Riley, Dennis Williams, Easterner, Einar Sissener, Elizabeth Tiedemann, Enterprise, Ernest Jacquet, France, Freedom, Gahagan, Gary Gregory, george bekris, George Hill, Gleam, Grand Prix, Harold Cudmore, Harry Graves, Herb Marshall, Images, image’, Intrepid, Island, Jack Curtin, Jan, K 18, K 22, KA 10, Kip Curren, Kiwi Magic, KZ 3, leg, Lexi, Lionheart, Marblehead, Michael Fortenbaugh, Morten Kielland, Nefertiti, newport, Northern Light, Norway, Onawa, Paul Callahan, photo, Photos, results, Rhode, Richard Matthews, Russell Coutts, Sears Wullschleger, Shake, Shake-A-Leg, Slee, Store, Twelves, US 11, US 14, US 16, US 17, US 18, US 19, US 21, US 22, US 24, US 27, US 6, US 61, USA, Valiant, Victory, Victory ‘83, Weatherly, William Borel, Wright on White

12 Metre World Championships Faced Light Winds On The Old America’s Cup Racecourse Today

There were no surprises in the finishes posted by the 17 Twelves who completed only a single race today at the 2009 12 Metre World Championship. After sailing out to the old America’s Cup racecourse off Brenton Point, the wind speed took a nosedive as it changed direction from WSW to NNW, leaving the competitors drifting for close to two hours. With one race completed, the four divisions were given a combined start for the Candy Store Cup, sending them on a course back into Newport Harbor to the finish line at Bannister’s Wharf. The wind, however, continued to be uncooperative and the race was abandoned when the Twelves were unable to make the time limit for the race.

Yesterday, racing in the Modern division was quite contentious, with the outcome of numerous protests resulting in Challenge 12 and Courageous each picking up a DSQ when the jury decisions did not go in their favor and causing a complete shake up in the results for that division. Unscathed by the protests, Dennis Williams (Mashpee, Mass.) at the helm of Victory ’83 is reaping the benefit of having assembled a crew that includes several who have sailed together for close to 30 years, including Heart of America veterans Wally Henry (San Diego, Calif.) and Jim Gretzky (Storrs, Conn.), along with three father and son pairs – Jerry and Rome Kirby, Bill and Randy Shore (all Newport, R.I.) and Larry and Matt Mialik (both Madison, Wisc.), making for a well-oiled effort as evidenced by the 1-1-2 they posted on day one.

Peter Stalkus (Newport, R.I.), navigator aboard Victory ’83, has the distinction of having been navigator with four America’s Cup campaigns (’80 Clipper, ’83 Defender, ’87 USA 61 and ’97 Young America). His take on Victory ‘83’s impressive performance here is that Dennis Williams, its owner, has been meticulous in his approach. “The boat is well prepared and it shows,” said Stalkus after the team picked up their third win in four races. “It has good speed and we’ve practiced ahead of time.”

While the fallout from the protest decisions catapulted Intrepid from fifth into second and Freedom from fourth to third, today’s result did not do much to help either. Intrepid added a fifth-place finish today and dropped back to fourth overall, while the Freedom’s fourth-place finish held them in place. For Courageous, who had slipped from third to fourth overall after the protest, their second-place finish today moved them up to second overall. Challenge 12, dropping from second place to fifth after the protest results, was third in today’s race and did not move in the overall standings.

Bill Koch (Palm Beach, Fla./Osterville, Mass.), on Kiwi Magic, leads the Grand Prix division, while tied on points – six each – with Lexi Gahagan (Wilmington, Del.) on Wright on White. In the Traditional division, Clay Deutsch (Newport, R.I.) on Weatherly leads with six points, three ahead of American Eagle being driven by Charlie Millikin and Carol Swift (both Newport, R.I.). Kip Curren (Middletown, R.I.) on Northern Light is leading by one point over Gleam, driven by Einar Sissener (Oslo, NOR), in the Vintage division.

Images By George Bekris

(click on image to enlarge)

Legends Forums – The Legends Forums are a unique sidebar to the 2009 12 Metre Worlds, bringing together the biggest names of the America’s Cup 12 Metre era for question-and-answer sessions moderated by Gary Jobson (Annapolis, Md.), who won the America’s Cup with Ted Turner in 1977 and went on to become the voice of sailing for television. Held after racing each day dockside at Bannister’s and Bowen’s Wharves, with a finale forum planned for Sunday, as well, at the awards ceremony at Harbour Court, the forums are designed to include representation from a varied – and knowledgeable – group of personalities in the categories of Syndicate Representative, Crew, Design, Journalist and Other Notables. On opening day, the panel included Skip Lissiman (AUS), Gianfranco Alberini (ITA), Russell Coutts (NZL), and Americans Charlie Hovey, Harry Anderson, Dave Pedrick, Andy MacGowan, Bill Koch and Dick Enerson. The questions ran the gamut from “Who was the best 12 Metre skipper?” (all of them who won, it was decided in consensus) and “What was the best Twelve ever?” (Intrepid for being the biggest departure, changing all future designs) to “What will win the next America’s Cup, a trimaran or a catamaran?” (that one was a toss-up). Clearly, the audience was enjoying the up close-and-personal encounter, and they lingered to talk about the exchanges long after the luminaries had left, some even discussing what questions would be best to ask a different group tonight.

Intrepid (Photo by George Bekris)

Racing resumes tomorrow, Friday, September 25, and concludes Saturday, September 26.

2009 12 Metre Worlds Results for Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009
Place, Boat Name-Sail Number, Skipper (Hometown), Finish positions, Total Points

Division I – Grand Prix

1. Kiwi Magic-KZ7, Bill Koch (Palm Beach, Fla./Osterville, Mass.) 2-2-1-1, 6

2. Wright on White-KZ3, Lexi Gahagan (Wilmington, Del.) 1-1-2-2, 6

3. USA-US61, Richard Matthews (W. Mersea, GBR), 3-3-3-3, 12

4. America II-US46, Michael Fortenbaugh (New York, N.Y.), 4-4-DNF-4, 17

Division 2 – Modern

1. Victory 83-K22, Dennis Williams (Mashpee, Mass.), 1-1-2-1, 5

2. Courageous, US26, Stephen Glascock (New York, N.Y.), 3-2-DSQ-2, 13

3. Freedom-US30, Ernest Jacquet (Boston, Mass.), 4- 5-1-4, 14

2. Intrepid-US22, Jack Curtin (Toronto, CAN), 2-3-4-5, 14

5. Challenge 12-KA10, William Borel (Paris, FRA), DSQ-4-3-3, 16

Division 3 – Traditional

1. Weatherly-US17, Clay Deutsch (Newport, R.I.), 2-1-1-2, 6

2. American Eagle-US21, Charlie Millikin/Carol Swift (both Newport, R.I.), 4-2-2-1, 9

3. Columbia-US16, Alain Hanover (Weston, Mass./Palm Beach, Fla.), 1-3-3-3, 10

4. Nefertiti-US19, Sears Wullschleger (Nantucket, Mass.), 3-4-4-4, 15

5. Easterner-US18, Paul Callahan (Ft. Meyers, Fla./Newport, R.I.), 5-5-DNS-5, 21

Division 4 – Vintage

1. Northern Light-US14, Kip Curren (Middletown, R.I.), 1-2-1-2, 6

2. Gleam-US11, Einar Sissener (Oslo, NOR), 3-1-2-1, 7

3. Onawa-US6, Morten Kielland (Geneva, SUI), 2-DNF-DNS-3, 13

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Posted by admin on Thursday, September 24, 2009 at 11:31 pm
Filed under 12 Metre World Championships, America II, American Eagle, Challenge 12, Courageous, Easterner, Gleam, Intrepid, Kiwi Magic, Latest News, Nefertiti, Northern Light, Onawa, Victory '83, Victory ’83, Weatherly, Wright on White · Tagged with 12 meter, 12 meter world championships, 12 meter worlds, 12 metre, 12 Metre World Championships, 12 metre worlds, a, Alain Hanover, America II, America's, American Eagle, Andy Green, Andy MacGowan, Bekris, Bill Koch, Bill Shore, Boats, Brenton Point, Candy Store Cup, Carol Swift, Caroline, challenge, Challenge 12, Challenge and Adventure, Charlie Hovey, Charlie Milligan, Clay Deutsch, Columbia, Courageous Foundation, cup, Dave Pedrick, Dawn Riley, Dennis Williams, Dick Enerson, Easterner, Einar Sissener, Elizabeth Tiedemann, Enterprise, Ernest Jacquet, France, Freedom, Gahagan, Gary Gregory, george bekris, George Hill, Gianfranco Alberini, Gleam, Grand Prix, Harold Cudmore, Harry Anderson, Harry Graves, Herb Marshall, image', Images, image’, Intrepid, Island, Jack Curtin, Jan, Jerry Kirby, Jim Gretzky, K 18, K 22, KA 10, Kip Curren, Kiwi Magic, KZ 3, Larry Mialik, leg, Lexi, Lexi Gahagan, Lionheart, Marblehead, Matt Mialik, Michael Fortenbaugh, Morten Kielland, Nefertiti, newport, Northern Light, Norway, Onawa, Paul Callahan, Peter Stalkus, photo, Photos, race, Randy Shore, Rhode, Rhode Island, Rhode Island Sound Race, Richard Matthews, Rome Kirby, Russell Coutts, sailing, Sears Wullschleger, Shake, Shake-A-Leg, Skip Lissiman, Slee, US 11, US 14, US 16, US 17, US 18, US 19, US 21, US 22, US 24, US 27, US 6, US 61, USA, Valiant, Victory, Victory ‘83, Wally Henry, Weatherly, William Borel, Wright on White, yachts

12 Metre World Championships Opening Day In Newport, RI A Who’s Who Of Sailing Greats

Easterner Rounding The Mark Just Ahead Of American Eagle (Photo by George Bekris)

Some of the competitors at the 2009 12 Metre World Championship are certainly experiencing déjà vu as a veritable “Who’s Who” of sailing walked the docks at Bannister and Bowen’s Wharves this morning as the first day of this long-anticipated event got underway. From current America’s Cup poster boy Russell Coutts (Auckland, NZL), who is sailing on Kiwi Magic with Cup patron and skipper Bill Koch (Palm Beach, Fla./Osterville, Mass.), to Dawn Riley (St. Clair Shores, Mich.) who broke ground as team leader of the first women’s entry in the Cup, to noted British sailors Harold Cudmore (Cowes, GBR) and Andy Green (Lymington, GBR), there is a surfeit of recognizable faces. Twenty-six years ago when the America’s Cup was won by Australia (in 1983) in Newport, it ended the longest winning streak in sporting history (132 years). Four years later, two more milestones in the event’s history were marked: Dennis Conner became the first person to lose and then win the Cup, and the Twelves were sailed for the last time as the America’s Cup yacht of choice after 29 years.

“It’s wonderful to wander about the docks at Bowen’s and Bannister’s Wharf and see the 12 Metres here again, where they were in ’83, many of them with their same crews from then,” said Robin Wallace (Newport, R.I.) who was a member of Race Committee for the Challenger Series in ‘83 and is the Principal Race Officer for this event. “With the current legal squabbles going on, people have become disenchanted with the America’s Cup, but this is like a re-awakening of the class, a reinvention of a competition that celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the 12 Meters first being used in the Cup.”

Divided into four divisions – Grand Prix, Modern, Traditional and Vintage – the 17 competing yachts sailed three races today, all in different wind levels in the Twelves old stomping grounds off Brenton Point. The southwesterly breeze went from light, increasing to 12 knots for race two, and into the mid-teens for the third race, with a relatively flat sea state until race three.

French Supporters Cheer On Challenge 12 ( KA 10 ) As They Head Out For Race One (Photo by Donna Erichsen)

We broke a couple of sails,” said Dawn Riley who came to the event to participate in the Legends Forums and wound up racing on America II. “But, we’re kind of a slower boat in the Grand Prix so we were happy to beat one of the boats to the top mark and almost to the bottom mark. And, we improved from the first race to the second race and everybody on board had fun. The bad news is you break sails and you can’t race, the good news is it was full-on physical, athletic, screaming, swearing . . . and everyone came out with smiles.”

All Images By George Bekris

(click on image to enlarge)