J/24s and J/105s Revel in Race Week
(Hamilton, Bermuda)- This years edition of the Bermuda International Invitational Race Week, powered by Bacardi Rums, proved yet again why crews love to get invited to sail in Bermuda. What's wrong with this picture? Get invited. Go sail. Go party. Get picked up and delivered at the airport. And, enjoy wonderful times with your gracious host! For those who've experienced the extraordinary Bermudian hospitality, many simply say, "we've died and gone to sailing heaven".
The first day of racing for 83rd Bermuda International Invitational Race week started with beautiful sunny weather and winds out of the North between 15-20knots. Day two of Race week was very exciting. Winds were 20-22 with gust to 30, the end result is the IODs had a little bit of damage. Racing resumed day 4 (Wednesday) after racing was cancelled on Tuesday because of high winds 35-40. Because of this the Tuesday night "Dock on the Dock" party was quiet because the racing was close for all classes. The rest of the week was both benign and beautiful.
The
J/24 class in Bermuda threw down the red carpet and welcome mat again
for their breathless guests. This year there were teams from England
(2), Canada (1) and USA (1). Adorned with Bermuda shorts and
polo-shirts, ready to tickle their toes in the famous pink sand beaches,
and enjoying their first libations of Bacardi Rum drinks with umbrellas
in them, it didn't take long for the visiting dignitaries to take on
the sybaritic trappings of "island life" (where manana is manana-- e.g.
tomorrow is tomorrow). While being great and wonderful hosts, it did
not mean the Bermudians were offering to duck everyone while on
starboard or letting everyone "walk politely through the gate door
first" and have room at the mark! Au contraire! The racing was fun but
competitive. And, having learned the ropes fast, young Trevor Boyce
from Bermuda grabbed the "Wetty Gripper Trophy" for first overall. The
British team of Roger Morris managed to snag second and the Canadian
team of Sean McDermott placed fourth. Pete Ramsdale from Bermuda was
third.In the J/24 class there was some excitement on the first day. Local boy, Trevor Boyce and his son decided to go swimming in the third race of the day getting a fourth in the that race after getting two bullets. Lots of broaches in the J/24s, should be even more exciting tomorrow with higher winds. At the end of the day, Trevor Boyce sailed very well and was first overall, and which was fairly certain before Friday's racing. The major contest was for second, third and fourth place. The racing for those places was also decided right at the finish line with Peter Ramsdale just beating Sean McDermott by a nose and Roger Morris just beating Pete. So Trevor was first with 17 points, Roger Morris from the UK was second with 25 points, Pete Ramsdale was third with 28 points and Sean McDermott from Canada was fourth with 30 points. Talking with Trevor he said it was great racing all week and the competition was very close.
The
J/105s have continued to grow as a fleet in Bermuda, taking advantage
of the fact that you can buy great used J/105s in the USA and import
them for less than half of what it cost to do new a dozen or so years
ago. This year, it is believed that it was the first time anyone had
won a BIIRW Bacardi with nearly straight firsts! Congratulations to
Chuck Millican and Dave Brining for this remarkable feat. Second was
Jim McDonald and third was Ed Faries. There was plenty of discussion at the Royal Bermuda YC bar about this year's race week and the weather. What is interesting, since 1958, RBYC have never had a race week with the wind from the south!? And, that's despite the fact the prevailing wind in Bermuda is from the south! Video of J/105s Sailing in Bermuda. Video of J/24s Sailing in Bermuda. For more Bermuda International Race Week sailing information.
