J/122 2nd In Nassau Cup Race(Nassau, Bahamas)- Since 1934, some of the best offshore sailors in the world have battled for the prestigious Miami to Nassau Cup, including Ted Turner, Dennis Conner, Dick Bertram, and Ted Hood, aboard legendary boats like Running Tide, Windward Passage, Tenacious, and Boomerang. Half a generation after World War II forced a short intermission, the race became part of the fabled Southern Ocean Racing Conference in the 1980s until the series’ dissolution in the 1980s. Building on the race’s welcome rebirth in 2003, the new SORC, a group of race-veteran race managers, announced its management of the Nassau Cup Race in 2010.
Starting in South Florida, racers leave Great Isaacs Light to starboard and proceed past Great Stirrup Light, finally finishing at Nassau harbor. Today’s modern boats just need the right conditions to claim this legendary prize, and racers of all types will enjoy the navigational and crew challenge of the race across the Gulf Stream.
It
was a “come from behind victory parade” this year for the 2014
Miami-Nassau Cup Race, with slower boats riding new breeze right up to
the leaders on the final leg into Nassau Harbor. The entire fleet
finished within 2.5 hours of each other on Friday evening. First across
the line was Frank Atkinson’s new J/125 RAISIN’ CANE, sailing in the IRC
Class.For the faster boats, it was a day of light downhill work that brought the leaders slowly to Nassau. Behind them, a classic frontal system blowing off Florida and across the Gulf Stream brought strong, new breeze to the tail-enders in the fleet, the proverbial “fleet compression puff” on an enormous, macro scale! Nevertheless, Robin Team’s illustrious J/122 TEAMWORK managed to play their cards right and take 2nd overall in the IRC Class for the Nassau Cup. Getting the short-end of that stick was Atkinson’s RAISIN’ CANE, having to settle for 5th overall after watching their substantial lead over the fleet evaporate in the last 12 hours of the race!
A
similar scenario played out in PHRF Class for the top J/120s. After a
great start and strong overnight performances, the two J/120s, Frank
Kern’s famous Detroit team aboard CARINTHIA and Bill Terry’s crew on
TAMPA GIRL, could only watch in dismay as they saw the little spinnakers
popping up over the horizon behind them with the incoming breeze. To the fleet’s great amusement, teams were selected to participate in a J/22 Match Race event right off Nassau YC. Sailing just main & jibs only, a great time was had by all in this fun, low-key regatta that brings local kids aboard to experience keelboat racing on J/22s— a bit different than their Optimist dinghies! SORC Media - C. Woolsey For Mr Dunkley’s sailing photos: For more Miami- Nassau Cup sailing information
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