Farr PH 56, Monterey abandoned – Antigua Bermuda Race

17.05.2017

Antigua Bermuda Race 

Newsflash: Farr PH 56, Monterey abandoned;
crew all safe on board Esprit de Corps IV

The Antigua Bermuda Race Committee has been informed by RCC Bermuda Radio on Wednesday 17 May that Les Crane’s Farr PH 56, Monterey (Bermuda) had been abandoned after taking on water; the cause of which is unknown.

The crew are all safe and well having transferred onto the Volvo 60, Esprit De Corps IV (Canada), also competing in the race which was close by. The schooner, Spirit of Bermuda is also close by and monitoring the situation. The incident occurred during the Antigua Bermuda Race that started from Antigua on Friday 12 May 2017. All yachts in the race are fitted with YB Trackers.
„We are saddened by the news but we know Past Commodore, Les Crane has completed many miles of ocean crossings and as Skipper we know his decision is based on the safety of his crew, and we are glad all are safe,“ Commodore, Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, Leatrice Oatley.

Antigua Bermuda Race website: 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:
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TWITTER:
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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:

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.“