Marion Bermuda 2019 Overall: Wrap up, prizes and party

His Excellency the Governor of Bermuda Mr. John Rankin presented the 'First to Finish' Blue Water Sailing Club Board of Governors Trophy to Jo Riley, skipper of Kiwi Spirit © Talbot Wilson

The 2019 Marion Bermuda Race is in the books. 39 Founders Division entries and two Classic Division boats lined up for their starts in Buzzards Bay on Friday June 14. One of the classics failed to start, but sailed with the fleet heading south in Buzzards Bay for the finish in Bermuda and the hospitality of the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club.

The race started with a gusty beat out of Buzzard's Bay. Some boats like Riley family's scratch boat Kiwi Spirit suffered gear failures in the 30-knot gusts. The tack of their mainsail blew out and they had to sail the rest of the race with shortened sail. Kiwi Spirit was first to finish but was off the podium on handicap in class and finished 37, second to last, in fleet.

On the course, one yacht— Mahinia Kai, an Oyster 54 skippered by Arthur Haubner and Arthur Auclair of Salem NH— withdrew with a steering malfunction. They headed back to Newport RI.

The Marion Bermuda Race is the only offshore race from a US port that offers prizes for boats that turn off their electronics and steer by celestial navigation only until they are 50 miles from the finish. Fifteen boats elected to sail celestially including the winners of all four classes and both divisions.

The finish line committee at St David's Lighthouse in Bermuda had their hands full on the fourth day, Tuesday. The first boat finished at 2:27:59 in the morning with an elapsed time of 3 days 12 hours, 17 minutes and 59 seconds. Thirty more boats finished before midnight. The last seven in the fleet finished before noon the next day.

Hotspur II, a Columbia 50 skippered by Ron Wisner of Marion MA, was last to finish after 4 days 21 hours 47 minutes and 49 seconds.

And then the parties started at the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club. The marina was full with all the boats, and the club opened its doors to all and offered cookouts, BBQ, live entertainment, Crown & Anchor, and lots of famous Gosling Dark 'n Stormy cocktails and some Gosling Old Rum, too.

The 22nd running of this classic yacht race wrapped up with the prize giving on the Dinghy Club dock level and a gala dinner under the big top.

After welcomes from the Mayor of Hamilton Mr. Charles Gosling and the US Consul General Constance Dierman, His Excellency the Governor of Bermuda Mr. John Rankin presented the class, overall and special trophies with RHADC Commodore Willie Forbes. The prize summary which includes special prizes— is posted on line— Prize Summary.

At the gala dinner attended by some 300 guests, the Skipper and Crew of Tabor Boy issued challenge to David Goodwin of the Bermuda Sloop Foundation to a rematch between Tabor Boy and Spirit of Bermuda.

His Excellency the Governor of Bermuda Mr. John Rankin presented the Captain Edward Williams Trophy to Tabor Boy's captain James Geil for the yacht winning the Classic Yacht Division, best corrected time. - photo © Talbot Wilson

In 2018, Spirit had challenged Tabor Boy, throwing down the gauntlet, a real gauntlet. This time as the winner, Tabor's Student Executive Officer Chip Connard threw down the same gauntlet, challenged Spirit and Spirit picked it up.

The match is on for the 23rd Marion Bermuda Race... June 18, 2021

Overall Results:

Founder's Division

Class A
1. Abigail— Robert Buck, Aquidneck 52, Marion MA - Celestial
2. Kinship — Francis Selldorf, Baltic 52, Padanaram MA
3. Sunflower — Mark Lenci, Beneteasu Oceanis 523, Harpswell ME

Class B
1. Gallant, Christian Hoffman, Navy 44, USNA Annapolis MD, Celestial
2. Momentum, Paul Kanev, Hinckley Sou'wester 51, Newport RI
3. Defiance, George Hamilton/Kevin Navarro, Navy 44 MKII, USNA Annapolis MD, Celestial

Class C
1. Pinnacle— Peter Torosian, Tartan 4100, Rye NH, Celestial
2. Escapade II— Tom Bowler, Morris 46, Ocean, Marion MA
3. Scappare— David LeBlanc, Catalina 42 MKII, Stillhouse Cove RI

Class D
1. Cordelia— Roy Greenwald, Valiant 42, Marion MA, Celestial
2. Frolic— Ray Cullum, Dixon 44, Marion MA, Celestial
3. Silhouette— David Caso, Cherubini 44, Portsmouth RI

Classic Division

Overall Class and division

1. Tabor Boy— James Geil, Schooner 92, Tabor Academy Marion MA, Celestial
DNS Spirit of Bermuda—Jordan Smith, Tall Ship 118, Dockyard, Bermuda

Full results available here.

For more information visit marionbermuda.com