Newport Bermuda 2016 may be second largest

Bella Mente finishes the Newport Bermuda race off St. David's Lighthouse at the northeast tip of Bermuda © Talbot Wilson

As of April 5, 195 boats have been sanctioned by the Newport Bermuda Race Organizing committee as qualified entries in the 50th Bermuda Race. Since another 14 boats are expected to be sanctioned soon, this race has every chance of being the second largest "Thrash to the Onion Patch" in the 110-year history of racing across the Gulf Stream to Bermuda. It follows only the 265 entries in the centennial race in 2006. The race in 2008 had 198 entries, hopefully a close third now.

Race Chairman AJ Evans noted, "Now that we have reached this first deadline, and we have such a large and diverse fleet, there is still plenty of work to do before June 17th. Skippers have until May 15th to complete the online entry process. All of the important dates and deadlines are in the Notice of Race. Getting yachts measured and inspected are priorities now."

"We have 209 yachts invited or in the approval process," Evans continued, "but as always we expect some attrition. The largest races have been 265 in 2006 and 198 in 2008. Let's hope the numbers hold and we have the second largest fleet in the 50th crossing."

"The entry list," Evans added, "is proof the Bermuda Race continues to attract a diverse group of monohull yachts from mostly-amateur cruisers to professionally crewed racers with a variety of rigs, designs, hailing ports, and vintages. The diversity of boats and crews provides good competition in the ocean and interesting walks on the RBYC docks with Gosling's in hand."

Potentially, the fastest boat in the fleet will be Comanche, Jim and Kristy Clark's flashy 100-foot VPLP-Verdier design. She will be going for line honours and a try at the record set in 2012 by George David on Rambler with his passage in 39hrs 39min 18sec.

Actaea, Michael Cone's Hinckley Bermuda 40, among the smaller boats in the fleet, will be back to defend her title as the 2014 winner of the St. David's Lighthouse Trophy, one of the most coveted prizes in yacht racing. Actaea, won the cruiser-racer St. David's Lighthouse Division defeating 96 finishers.

Owner George Sakellaris led his Maxi 72 Shockwave to line honours in 2014. This year he will put his new Maxi 72 Proteus to the test against two other Maxi 72's, Hap Fauth's Bella Mente and Dieter Schoen's Momo.

Look down the list of entries at bermudarace.com/2016-race/race-applicants and you will recognize many returning skippers, some with new boats. About 40% of the skippers are new to the Newport Bermuda Race, coming out to make their rite of passage in the 50th 'Thrash'. The majority of the fleet, as always, are traditional Cruiser Racer types and pure cruisers... 95% of the boats are amateur driven as Double Handers, Cruisers and Cruiser Racers.

The diversity of the Newport Bermuda fleet is unique in yacht racing. There are five regular divisions defined in the Notice of Race, St. David's Lighthouse, Cruiser, Double Handed, Gibbs Hill Lighthouse, and Open. There are two additional 'special' divisions, Spirit of Tradition and Super Maxi. Division placements have not been published to date. The largest is the St. David's Lighthouse Division that had 99 entries in 2014.

In the mix of yachts in the race this year are 36 J Boats, 19 Swans, and 9 Beneteaus making up the largest production brands. Except for Super Maxi and Spirit of Tradition entries the maximum length is 100 feet and the average, ironically, is 50 feet.

The largest boat in the regular divisions is Comanche at the maximum100 feet. The smallest boat is Jeroboam a Beneteau Oceanis 351 signing in at just a smidge under 34 feet. More than 100 feet longer, the largest application for entry so far is the replica of the Schooner America which is 139.2 feet. She will be some much-needed competition for the 112-foot Spirit of Bermuda in the Spirit of Tradition Division.

Royal Bermuda Yacht Club Commodore Leatrice Oatley reminds skippers, "The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club and the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club marinas and other private marinas will be crowded with the large fleet racing this year. Skippers should reserve berths now. The Bermuda Berth Reservation forms for the RBYC and the RHADC are online on the Official Newport Bermuda Notice Board."

"Also", she added, "boats in Bermuda racing in the Onion Patch Series or just the RBYC Anniversary Regatta need to indicate their participation on their berth reservation form so they will be assigned an appropriate location. The Onion Patch Series includes the New York Yacht Club Annual Regatta presented by Rolex and the RBYC Anniversary Regatta. All feature racing in the traditional Onion Patch Series format and the Onion Patch Navigators Series introduced in 2014."

Bermuda boats are invited to race the Navigators Series race of the RBYC Anniversary Regatta using a free ORR-ez rating certificate issued by the Offshore Racing Association. The RBYC Anniversary Regatta, sailed Friday June 24 on Bermuda's Great Sound, site of AC35 in 2017, and adjacent waters, is the highlight of Bermuda Offshore Sailing Week. Register for great day sailing in Bermuda at RBYC AR entry.

A list of Frequently Asked Questions is maintained on the race website to help explain rules and procedures.

bermudarace.com