by Talbot Wilson
Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club (RHADC) BERMUDA, June 23, 2019: The 2019 Marion Bermuda Race is in the books. 39 Founders Division entries and two Classic Division boats lined up for their starts in Buzzards Bay on Friday June 14. One of the classics failed to start, but sailed with the fleet heading south in Buzzards Bay for the finish in Bermuda and the hospitality of the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club.
The race started with a gusty beat out of Buzzard’s Bay. Some boats like Riley family’s scratch boat Kiwi Spirit suffered gear failures in the 30-knot gusts. The tack of their mainsail blew out and they had to sail the rest of the race with shortened sail. Kiwi Spirit was first to finish but was off the podium on handicap in class and finished 37, second to last, in fleet.
On the course, one yacht— Mahinia Kai, an Oyster 54 skippered by Arthur Haubner and Arthur Auclair of Salem NH— withdrew with a steering malfunction. They headed back to Newport RI.
The Marion Bermuda Race is the only offshore race from a US port that offers prizes for boats that turn off their electronics and steer by celestial navigation only until they are 50 miles from the finish. Fifteen boats elected to sail celestially including the winners of all four classes and both divisions.
The finish line committee at St David’s Lighthouse in Bermuda had their hands full on the fourth day, Tuesday. The first boat finished at 2:27:59 in the morning with an elapsed time of 3 days 12 hours, 17 minutes and 59 seconds.Thirty more boats finished before midnight. The last seven in the fleet finished before noon the next day.
Hotspur II, a Columbia 50 skippered by Ron Wisner of Marion MA, was last to finish after 4 days 21 hours 47 minutes and 49 seconds.
And then the parties started at the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club. The marina was full with all the boats, and the club opened its doors to all and offered cookouts, BBQ, live entertainment, Crown & Anchor, and lots of famous Gosling Dark ‘n Stormy cocktails and some Gosling Old Rum, too.
The 22nd running of this classic yacht race wrapped up with the prize giving on the Dinghy Club dock level and a gala dinner under the big top.
After welcomes from the Mayor of Hamilton Mr. Charles Gosling and the US Consul General Constance Dierman, His Excellency the Governor of Bermuda Mr. John Rankin presented the class, overall and special trophies with RHADC Commodore Willie Forbes. The prize summary which includes special prizes— is posted on line— PRIZE SUMMARY.
At the gala dinner attended by some 300 guests, the Skipper and Crew of Tabor Boy issued challenge to David Goodwin of the Bermuda Sloop Foundation to a rematch between Tabor Boy and Spirit of Bermuda.
In 2018, Spirit had challenged Tabor Boy, throwing down the gauntlet, a real gauntlet. This time as the winner, Tabor’s Student Executive Officer Chip Connard threw down the same gauntlet, challenged Spirit and Spirit picked it up.
The match is on for the 23rd Marion Bermuda Race… June 18, 2021
Results—
Founder’s Division
Class A—
Abigail— Robert Buck, Aquidneck 52, Marion MA - Celestial
Kinship — Francis Selldorf, Baltic 52, Padanaram MA
Sunflower — Mark Lenci, Beneteasu Oceanis 523, Harpswell ME
Class B —
Gallant, Christian Hoffman, Navy 44, USNA Annapolis MD, Celestial
Momentum, Paul Kanev, Hinckley Sou’wester 51, Newport RI
Defiance, George Hamilton/Kevin Navarro, Navy 44 MKII, USNA Annapolis MD, Celestial
Class C—
Pinnacle— Peter Torosian, Tartan 4100, Rye NH, Celestial
Escapade II— Tom Bowler, Morris 46, Ocean, Marion MA
Scappare— David LeBlanc, Catalina 42 MKII, Stillhouse Cove RI
Class D—
Cordelia— Roy Greenwald, Valiant 42, Marion MA, Celestial
Frolic— Ray Cullum, Dixon 44, Marion MA, Celestial
Silhouette— David Caso, Cherubini 44, Portsmouth RI
Classic Division
Overall Class and division
Tabor Boy— James Geil, Schooner 92, Tabor Academy Marion MA, Celestial
DNS Spirit of Bermuda—Jordan Smith, Tall Ship 118, Dockyard, Bermuda