Newport Bermuda Race Schedule Announced
As the June 15, 2012 start of the 48th Newport Bermuda Race — affectionately known by sailors as “The Thrash to the Onion Patch” — approaches, the organising committee has created a schedule and programme that includes some interesting innovations, such as a novel approach to the safety-at-sea seminar that allows different levels of participation.
The race continues recent tradition by starting in the mouth of Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay before a big audience on shore at Castle Hill. Next comes the crossing of the always challenging Gulf Stream. Then the Bermuda race experience is — as ever — capped by the prize-giving ceremony at Government House.
Following on, the fleet will disperse once again for the sail home, which is often a training ground for the next generation of Bermuda race sailors.
For old-timers, the race is almost a habit, but every old-timer was once a first-timer. In fact, one out of four entries in the 2010 race was commanded by a first-time skipper.
The BROC puts a lot of energy into identifying men and women who want to make their first race, and then helping them through the planning and inspection process, advised by Bermuda Race Ambassadors assigned by the Bermuda Race Organising Committee.
Early dates and deadlines include
- Late Fall 2011: Notice of Race (NOR) posted on the website
- January 16, 2012: Entry process opens on the website.
- March 15, 2012: The race program will be published. It will include the NOR, boat inspection tips, guides to Newport and Bermuda, and some race-oriented how-to articles.
- March 17 & 18: Newport Bermuda Race Safety at Sea Seminar, Newport Hyatt Regency Hotel.
- April 15, 1700 hours: Application for entry deadline.
As always, the main prize is the classic St. David’s Lighthouse Trophy, and it will go to the top cruiser-racer with an amateur crew. The 2010 winner, “Carina” [pictured above], will be back after an around the world sail that includes the Fastnet and Sydney-Hobart races.
Built in 1969 for the Nye family, the 48-foot McCurdy/Rhodes-designed sloop promptly won the 1970 race. In 1982, after design modifications by Scott Kaufman, she won her division and came within minutes of taking the entire race.
Later acquired by Rives Potts, “Carina” won silver year after year before taking home her second Bermuda line honours in 2010, her 41st year. Her victory margin of three and a half hours is one of the largest in the race’s history.
