‘TI’ Wins Big In Marion Bermuda Yacht Race
[Written by Talbot Wilson]
‘TI’ skippered by Greg Marston was overall winner of the 2015 Marion Bermuda Race Founders Division and was awarded the Goslings Rum Founders Trophy at the prizegiving held Saturday evening [June 27] at the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club. ‘TI’, an Alden Mistral 36 sailed under Celestial Navigation by a family crew took the big prize and more.
‘TI’ was first in Class D and won the Beverly Yacht Club ‘Polaris’ Trophy as the yacht with the best celestially navigated performance. Her navigators Andrew Howe and Chase Marston were awarded the Navigators Trophy for their winning effort.
‘TI’ at the start. Photo courtesy of Fran Grenon Spectrum
The crew of ‘TI’ consisted of the skipper Greg Marston, navigators Andrew Howe and Chase Marston, Watch Captain Peter Stoops, and crewmembers John Omeara and Jake Marston. They are all related, and all are from Falmouth Maine.
‘TI’ skippered by Greg Marston was a big winner of the 2015 Marion Bermuda Race Founders Division. ‘TI’, an Alden Mistral 36 sailed under Celestial Navigation by a family crew. The crew of ‘TI’ consisted of Navigators Andrew Howe and Chase Marston, Watch Captain Peter Stoops, and crewmembers John Omeara and Jake Marston. They are all related, and all are from Falmouth Maine.
‘Mischievous’, sailing for the Massachusetts Maritime Academy and skippered Charles Cahill by grabbed line honors in the 645-mile race. She was awarded the Blue Water Sailing Club Board of Governors Trophy for shortest elapse time. ‘Mischievous’ skippered by Charles Cahill crossed the finish line at St. David’s Lighthouse Bermuda during the twilight Lighthouse Committee cocktail party at the finish tower on Monday evening at 6:42 EDT.© Fran Grenon Spectrum Photography
‘Spirit of Bermuda’, the Bermuda Sloop Foundation’s sail training vessel chartered by Jim Butterfield for an employee team building adventure, had a strong fourth for line honors and first in the Classic Division. This is her best showing ever in a Bermuda Ocean Race by ‘Spirit of Bermuda’.
His Excellency Mr. George Fergusson, the Governor of Bermuda, was one of 24 crew members aboard ‘Spirit’ for the race. Mr. Fergussen said, “I want to thank Jim Butterfield [charterer of ‘Spirit'] for taking me aboard and also thank the crew of ‘Spirit’ for putting up with me for four days. To all of you sailors who raced to Bermuda in 2015, I invite you to come back again in 2017 and tell your mates to come so there will be even more.”
“Bermuda will really be buzzing,” the governor noted, “with tall ships in the harbor and some guys on foils in the Great Sound, too.” He was referencing the America’s Cup 35 being sailed in Bermuda in foiling catamarans in late June or early July of 2017.
Photo courtesy of Talbot Wilson
The fleet from the fastest to slowest boats experienced many hours of gale force winds with sustained winds noted at 40-50kts. That was followed by a long beautiful sail in breezy reaching conditions. Some said it was the best offshore sailing they had ever experienced. In a post race survey 90% of the skippers said they would be back for the 2017 race set to start June 16, of that year.
Race Chairman David Patton led the sailors and guests in a moment of silence in memory and honor of Bill Fasnacht who died of natural causes aboard ‘Legacy V’ during the race.
In remarks before the prizes were awarded, Patton acknowledged the efforts and response of Captain Michael Wiseman of ‘Legacy V’ in their efforts to give care and comfort to Mr. Fasnacht.
‘Swift’ the US Naval Academy 44 [NA11] took home a treasure trove of prizes from the 2015 Marion Bermuda Race. They were 1st in Class B, won the Offshore Youth Challenge Trophy, the Bartram Trophy [for Academy, Maritime College boat], Naval Academy Trophy [for top Chesapeake Bay boat]. the Kingman Yacht Center Marion Bermuda Team Trophy [for a team of Three Yachts]. the other two Navy 44′s ‘Defiance’ and ‘Integrity’ were 2nd and 3rd in Class B and shared the team trophy. Photos © Talbot Wilson
Patton and the trustees also recognized the skipper and crew of ‘Roust’, Ian Gumprecht and Mark Swanson. Race Chairman Patton said, “Their response to and concern for the sailors and their seamanship in supporting ‘Legacy V’ following their distress calls is commendable. Thank you, ‘Roust’.”
Tragedy struck ‘Legacy V’, a Class B entry, when Mr. Fasnacht died the second night out. His crewmates could not revive. ‘Legacy V’ returned to Connecticut. One of the ‘Legacy V’ crew, Tim Dung, attended the prizegiving on behalf of the entire crew.
Class A [Finishers]
Division – Rank Class – RankRan Class – Yacht Name [Sail Number] – Skipper – Corrected + Penalty
- 7 – 1 – MARGALO [USA11772] – Chip Johns – 3d 20:33:43
- 12 – 2 – ARIEL [USA60510] – Bob Anderson – 3d 22:55:42
- 16 – 3 – DEFIANCE [51868] – Peter Noonan – 3d 12:23:56
- 18 – 4 – ORONOCO [USA60426] – Adrian Ravenscroft – 3d 23:44:51
- 21 – 5 – MISCHIEVOUS [50065] – Charles Cahill – 3d 05:12:11
- 22 – 6 – LUCY GEORGINA [USA60492] – Peter Bacon – 3d 17:23:41
- 30 – 7 – FEARLESS [33555] – Shaun Ensor – 4d 00:01:19
- 31 – 8 – BALLYHOO [43744] – Wes McMichael – 4d 07:05:00
- 33 – 9 – SCARLET [MON2323] – Barry Feldman – 4d 09:28:19
- 34 – 10 – SPIRIT [35753] – Priscilla Stoll – 4d 11:42:30
- 35 – 11 – ICEBEAR [48601] – Kurt Harrington – 4d 12:43:06
Founders Division – Class B [Finishers]
Division – Rank Class – RankRan Class – Yacht Name [Sail Number] – Skipper – Corrected + Penalty
- 4 – 1 – SWIFT [NA11] – Kyle Briggs – 3d 23:16:12
- 5 – 2 – DEFIANCE [NA23] – Jared Valeske – 3d 22:15:23
- 6 – 3 – INTEGRITY [NA22] – Tom Wester – 3d 22:29:22
- 13 – 4 – MAHINA KAI [GBR5402C] – Arthur Wayne Haubner – 3d 23:45:14
- 15 – 5 – ARIEL [51444] – Eric Eichler – 3d 23:37:03
- 25 – 6 – EAGLE [42788] – Dana Oviatt – 4d 12:01:31
- 26 – 7 – CONVERJENCE [50903] – Bill Bowers – 4d 11:25:56
- 28 – 8 – MOMENTUM [51020] – Paul Kanev – 4d 08:53:14
Founders Division – Class C [Finishers]
Division – Rank Class – RankRan Class – Yacht Name [Sail Number] – Skipper – Corrected + Penalty
- 2 – 1 – SILHOUETTE [USA42605] – David Caso – 4d 03:02:17
- 8 – 2 – BLACK MALLARD [40866] – Tracy Day McRoberts – 4d 06:10:36
- 11 – 3 – ATTITUDE [USA52571] – Shawn Dahlen – 4d 05:01:13
- 17 – 4 – ETOILE [60205] – Anne Kolker – 4d 07:47:35
- 19 – 5 – CORSAIR [74044] – David Risch – 4d 09:25:58
- 20 – 6 – ESCAPADE II [8516T] – Tom Bowler – 4d 11:56:51
- 23 – 7 – JOVINI [60609] – John Rizzi – 4d 12:42:33
- 27 – 8 – PANACHE [41992] – Robert Scribner – 4d 12:23:35
- 29 – 9 – SPIRIT [USA5181] – Manny Hontoria – 4d 20:52:08
- 38 – 10 – BACCHANAL [60435] – Mike Crawford – 6d 01:15:00
Founders Division – Class D [Finishers]
Division – Rank Class – RankRan Class – Yacht Name [Sail Number] – Skipper – Corrected + Penalty
- 1 – 1 – TI [1863] – Gregg Marston – 4d 19:27:54
- 3 – 2 – TRUST ME [USA60475] – Jeff Dowling – 4d 09:59:57
- 9 – 3 – ROUST [USA37] – Ian Gumprecht – 4d 21:51:58
- 10 – 4 – FREE SPIRIT [24] – Thomas Stokes – 4d 14:55:15
- 14 – 5 – HOTSPUR II [2175] – Ron Wisner – 4d 14:24:17
- 24 – 6 – SPARKY [42023] – Rob McAlpine – 4d 17:28:51
- 32 – 7 – WISPER [61034] – Peter Helmetag – 5d 18:07:00
- 36 – 8 – QUE SERA SERA [12] – Edwin E. [Ted] Geiger – 5d 19:36:11
- 37 – 9 – GEMINI [USA3] – Mark Competiello – 5d 20:44:30
Founders Division – Classic Yacht [Finishers]
Division – Rank Class – RankRan Class – Yacht Name [Sail Number] – Skipper – Corrected + Penalty
- 1 – 1 – SPIRIT OF BERMUDA [BER688] – Stuart Birnie – 3d 18:48:51
