(Hamilton, Bermuda)- The Bermuda J/105 Class and Royal Bermuda YC hosted
the 2nd Annual Bermuda J/105 Invitational Regatta, sponsored by XL
Group, from November 21st to 23rd on the gorgeous aquamarine waters of
The Great Sound. Due to the effects of hurricane damage, just six
international teams sailed in this year’s event. The sailors were
treated to a wide variety of conditions, from near-drifting sunny
weather on the first day, to rainy and windy on the second day, to
postcard-perfect sailing on the final day. Sailors from the USA, Canada,
UK, and Bermuda competed for the XL Trophy [Overall Series]; the
Bermuda Tourism Trophy [International Series]; and the Goslings Trophy
[Bermuda Series].The regatta featured a unique “team” format- each boat was made up of 3 international sailors and 3 Bermuda sailors who sailed together in each race. Races were being designated as “Bermuda” or “International”; the respective nominated helmsman helmed for that race. The format has proven popular for the sailors and continues to attract top-notch competition. One of the Island’s top Race Officers, Royal Bermuda YC’s Charles Tatem, ran an amazing regatta all three days.
On the first day of sailing, the fleet was greeted by light WNW winds gently crossing over Somerset and Ireland Island and onto the Great Sound (future home of America’s Cup 35!). Setting the course just south of Pearl Island, the fleet barely managed to get in two races before PRO Tatem called off sailing for the day. Tied on points at the end of the day were SADIIQI team (Richard Mitchele & Pete Ramsdale) and the MORNING GLORY team (Jason Owen & Jon Corless). Lying in third was CHEQUEMATE (Kevin Murphy & Peter Bromby- a former Star World Champion).
The second day saw five races completed in a stiff southwesterly breeze of 12-20+ knots. The opening race of the day was in 13-15 knots with the International Skippers in charge, majority of the fleet picked the SW side of the course to good effect. The opening race went to Morning Glory skippered by Jason Owen, with the boat continuing to lead the overall.
Race 4 saw Bermuda Skippers sailing the boats, a battle between Morning Glory skippered by Jon Corless and Chequemate skippered by Pete Bromby for the two-lap race, with Bromby taking the win in a close finish.
Race 5 put the International Sailors back skippering and saw the fleet split, with Sadiiqi sailed by Richard Mitchele taking the left side of the course and the bulk of the fleet middle to right. With the left paying handsomely, Sadiiqi took her second win of the competition from Passion sailed by Bill Lakenmacher, who was having a very consistent day.
Bermuda Skippers took over once again for Race 6 and the Breeze had shifted a little to the South and built to 16-18 knots. YABSTA’s Stuart Neff & Trevor Boyce started off fast and led the fleet around the track, winning the race but having to take penalty points for a rules infraction. Both Morning Glory and Sadiiqi continued to sail well, taking a 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
In the seventh race Sadiiqi led after the first lap, but YABSTA had a better leeward rounding and took the lead on the second upwind, and then kept a comfortable lead of several hundred yards to the finish from Sadiiqi. At the completion of the day, the Sadiiqi team was holding onto their first place overall, but having to face the fact that four other boats were squeezed into a four point spread just behind them. It would be no small task for the Sadiiqi team to hold on to the lead considering the closeness of the racing so far.
The final day of racing saw three races completed in a stiff northerly breeze. The opening race [#8] of the day was in 14-18 knots, and the fleet had to deal with large wind shifts as well as difficult chop that this wind direction always brings. The race went to YABSTA [Trevor Boyce] – his second bullet of the regatta, ahead of Chequemate [Peter Bromby]. It was also YABSTA’s third straight bullet against the highly competitive fleet.
Race 9 [the final International race] started with a shift to the left in strong breeze. At the windward mark, a massive pack converged with YABSTA again leading the fleet for the fourth race in a row. Immediately behind them, the entire pack of five boats rounded as a massive cluster, which saw several protests hailed and flags raised, as the finer points of rules were politely discussed on the racecourse. Sadiiqi came out of this mess pinned out to the right and behind, never to recover. After two laps, Passion [Bill Lakenmacher] beat Chequemate [Kevin Murphy] to the line, with YABASTA (Stew Neff) dropping back to fifth.
Race 10 [the final Bermuda race] rounded out the series, and it came to a thrilling conclusion. After yet another solid, controlling start, the YABSTA crew (Trevor Boyce) led the fleet around the first windward mark (leading the fleet for the 5th time in a row) with Chequemate [Peter Bromby] just behind. After a disastrous leeward mark rounding, the race leader YABSTA fell back into the pack and took a fifth. Meanwhile, Chequemate won the race and the regatta.
As a result, the winner of the 2nd annual XL Bermuda J/105 Invitational was one of Bermuda’s most famous sailors- Peter Bromby on Chequemate sailing with Kevin Murphy. Just two points back was Morning Glory (the team of Jason Owen & Jon Corless). In third was Passion sailed by Bill Lakenmacher & Jim Macdonald. Sadiiqi’s (Richard Mitchele & Pete Ramsdale) slow day dropped them to fourth and Yabsta (Stew Neff & Trevor Boyce) held onto 5th.
A fun distance race, “The Last Blast Race”, then took the teams on a tour of the Great and Little Sound’s, before working down Granaway Deep back to RBYC. YABSTA convincingly won this race for the prize presented by Triangle Rigging.
For the International Trophy, sponsored by Bermuda Tourism Authority, the winner was YABSTA (Stew Neff), followed by Passion (Bill Lakenmacher) and Sadiiqi (Richard Mitchele).
For the Bermuda Trophy (the locals), sponsored by Goslings, the winner was Chequemate [Peter Bromby], followed by Morning Glory [Glenn Astwood/Jon Corless], then Sadiiqi [Pete Ramsdale]. For more XL J/105 Bermuda Invitational Regatta sailing information
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