Antigua-Bermuda Race 2017

VIDEO: Start of the first Antigua Bermuda Race

organised by the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club in association with Antigua Sailing Week. A diverse fleet of 21 boats from nine different nations, ranging from 40-162ft took the start off Fort Charlotte, Antigua to race the 935nm to Bermuda in good time for the 35th America’s Cup. Set to become an annual event and firm fixture on the international sailing calendar. @ Acquafilmsantigua

The fleet enjoyed beautiful conditions for the first day and night of the Antigua Bermuda Race. A light easterly breeze of about 8 knots and a gentle sea state provided glorious reaching conditions. By morning on the second day, all of the fleet had passed Barbuda – the next land they will see will be Bermuda, over 800 miles north. The wind experienced was more than forecast and this may allow the faster yachts to hook into good pressure further north. The slower yachts might miss the lift in pressure as it goes east away from the race track. The phrase ‚rich get richer‘ would be an apt comment for the leading boats in the Antigua Bermuda Race. However to reach the rich pickings to the north, the fleet need to cross an area of little wind.
At 0900 ADT on Day Two, the Nigel Irens-designed catamaran, Allegra, of the St. Moritz Sailing Club was 800 miles from Bermuda. Watch Captain, Paul Larsen contacted the media team via satellite just before sundown on Day One:
„The view from the nav. office right here, right now is pretty damned nice! The Caribbean sun is closing fast on the horizon to my left and setting over the very low shores of the island of Barbuda. There is a slight swell, but it’s comfortable. Scotty is doing some last checks around the deck before darkness sets in. Behind me, Rick is preparing a steak dinner. Everything is golden on board Allegra! We are making about 8.5 knots across this painting and we’re grateful for every one of them,“ says world speed sailing record holder, Paul Larsen in his blog from on board.
„The fact is that we’ve had more wind than we expected since the start, having thought it would be a very light weather affair. Seeing as some of the crew have appointments set in stone, that can’t be missed – family wedding, weirdly not planned around a sailing race! – the decision was made to fill Allegra with fuel after the last weather forecast before the start. The weight equivalent of two Harley-Davidsons was parked/loaded into the tanks,“ says Larsen.

„The wind we have now is not as forecast and we only have to do these speeds for a couple of days to be out of trouble time-wise. Then the pressure is off… and the longer showers and even a little air conditioning action is all back on. Typically people like to see hardened sailors suffering and battling away for every rugged mile. Thankfully, not all sailing is like that, and certainly not what this boat is about. No, from where I’m sitting now it’s not about that at all… although, wait. Damn, a low cloud on the horizon, so no green flash. Can’t have it all eh?
„We’re already well ahead of the predicted routing, but of course it’s early days and this can change. It will be interesting to see how Stay Calm fairs going to the west of Barbuda. Nav. lights are going on and dinner is about to be served. A very full moon should be rising shortly. What a great way to get to Bermuda. So far so good,“ Cheers from Allegra.

Last night, three competing yachts decided to round the windward side of Barbuda: Swan 82, Stay Calm, Carl Soares‘ Paradise 60, Morning Star from Bermuda and Tim Wilson’s 1973 Australian ketch, El Oro. The British Swan 82, Stay Calm looks to have found a significant advantage by taking the route, passing Stephen Murray Jr.’s Volvo 70, Warrior, shortly before dawn this morning. This is the first offshore race for the US Merchant Marine Academy’s Volvo 70, donated by the Murray Family to promote Warrior Sailing, a program to assist wounded veterans in their recovery through the sport of sailing.

The two smallest boats in the Antigua Bermuda Race are enjoying a close battle on the water. Swedish yacht, Talanta, skippered by Mikael Ryking, has managed to just stay ahead of the Canadian Pogo 12.50, Hermes. However, after time correction Hermes is winning the duel.
„Our first sunset on the Antigua Bermuda Race. It was slow going at the start, but now, when we do manage to get into double-digit wind speed, we are able to gain ground on the fleet quite quickly. Rounding Barbuda at nightfall and slowly, but steadily ticking off boats. Playing with the staysail to see if we can squeeze out any extra boat speed,“ reports Meg Reilly from on board Canadian Ocean Racing’s Pogo 12.50, Hermes.

One of the other smaller yachts in the race is Jeremi Jablonski’s Hanse 43, Avanti, representing Cedar Point YC, Connecticut USA. Avanti, racing with three crew on board and is currently second after IRC time correction: „Seven knots of wind and sailing the rhumb line. We are enjoying every minute of it!“ reported Avanti’s, Jeremi Jablonski who has sailed her to the Caribbean for the last five seasons from her home port.
Three yachts have declared using their engine for propulsion and have retired from IRC, but are still racing under the CSA Rating Rule with a penalty to come: Les Crane’s Farr PH 56, Monterey, Schooner Eleonora and John Marshall’s Oyster 65, Rock Oyster.

Keep up with the race and all the news via the official website where blogs from the fleet, photos and a start video will be uploaded: https://www.antiguabermuda.com/
Race Tracker: https://yb.tl/a2b2017
ENDS/…. Louay Habib

HOW TO FOLLOW THE ANTIGUA BERMUDA RACE:

TRACK THE FLEET:
As they head to Bermuda: https://yb.tl/a2b2017
All competing yachts will be fitted with YB Trackers and encouraged to blog their story of the race via satellite connection.

RACE WEBSITE:
https://www.antiguabermuda.com/
Race reports, blogs, images, video from the boats can be found on the race website
FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/antiguabermudarace/
Like and share our official Facebook page.
@antiguabermudarace
TWITTER:
#antiguabermuda
YOUTUBE:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqJXlVyaaPQhvcwkFXcytig/playlists
Preview video from Antigua and a start edit will be available on the race YouTube channel.
VIDEO:

Embed code: <iframe width=“560″ height=“315″ src=“https://www.youtube.com/embed/Vv9CtDLciyY“ frameborder=“0″ allowfullscreen></iframe>

Requests from broadcasters to: trish@j2pr.co.uk and roddy@acquafilms.com

QUICK FACTS:
Start: Friday 12th May 2017 at 1200 AST. The start is off Fort Charlotte, Antigua.
The Antigua Bermuda Race is supported by the Bermuda Tourism Authority and Goslings Rum
Antigua Bermuda Race is organised by the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club in association with Antigua Sailing Week. The inaugural race coincided with the finish of the 50th edition of Antigua Sailing Week and the 35th America’s Cup event in Bermuda
There will be one start for the 21-boat fleet representing 9 different countries (and crews from many more) racing under CSA Monohull, CSA Classic, MultiRule and IRC
Yachts from the following countries: Antigua; Australia; Bermuda; Canada; Ireland; Great Britain; Sweden; Switzerland; USA
Crew from many more nations, including: Australia; Austria; Denmark; France; New Zealand; St. Maarten and St. Lucia
21 boats, 17 over 50ft, 7 x Maxi yachts, a SuperMaxi, plus majestic schooners: the sight of the fleet departing will be nothing short of spectacular
Smallest/Largest:
40ft – Smallest boats in the fleet, Pogo 12.50’s – Hermes (CAN), Talanta (SWE)
162ft (49.50m) – Largest boat – Eleonora, follows Westward’s heritage of big schooner racing, but has all the character and style of a true classic with the advantages of being a modern yacht
Fastest:
Fastest Multihull in the race is the Nigel Irens designed APC 78 catamaran, Allegra. Skippered by Adrian Keller with Boat Captain Rob Grimm, the crew includes Paul Larsen, the World’s fastest sailor who achieved 68 knots on board Vestas Sailrocket!
Fastest Monohulls: The fastest monohull competing is likely to be the USMMA’s (US Merchant Marine Academy) Volvo 70, Warrior, skippered by Stephen Murray Jr.Warrior
Although Warrior and Allegra are competing in different classes, the two fastest yachts in the race might enjoy an interesting battle at the front of the fleet
The variety of the fleet shows the wide appeal of the offshore race, attracting ocean going cruisers, round the world racing yachts, high performance multihulls, as well as classic designs
Corinthian sailors with family and friends on board will be on the same race course as Volvo Ocean Race and Round the World record holders and ‚pro‘ sailors
Personalities also include well-known Australian broadcaster/journalist, Piers Akerman racing on the Australian, El Oro
The destination for the 935-mile offshore race will be one of the oldest yacht clubs in North America, the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, established in 1844, seven years before the America’s Cup
„The variety of the fleet shows the wide appeal of the race and bodes well for the Antigua Bermuda Race to grow in future editions,“ commented Antigua Bermuda Race Chairman, Les Crane who will be competing in his Farr 56, Monterey. „The America’s Cup in Bermuda has ignited interest in the race this year, however it is a well-known route for yachts leaving the Caribbean bound for the Eastern Seaboard of the United States as well as destination in Europe. Our intention is that the Antigua Bermuda Race will be an annual event, popular with a wide variety of yachts.“