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June 23, 2008

Headwind snuffs Bermuda record hopes

George David, owner of Rambler, and Alex Jackson on Speedboat, the two men vying for line honors in their respective classes, will have to put their record-breaking ambitions on hold until the next Newport Bermuda Race in 2010.

A light wind blowing up the rhumb line directly from Bermuda has dashed their hopes, says race spokesman Talbot Wilson.

Speedboat’s navigator had predicted an ETA of 3 p.m. yesterday. “Now, it may be [3 p.m. today] before they reach Bermuda, a day late and a little short,” Wilson said.

The race has two records, one for Open Division boats, 48 hours, 28 minutes, 31 seconds set by Hasso Plattner’s Morning Glory in 2004, and the “official” record for traditional designs set by Roy Disney’s Pyewacket at 53 hours, 39 minutes, 22 seconds.

“Both Rambler and Speedboat will have to settle for line honors now,” said Wilson. “But we have to remember how the much smaller 66-foot Bella Mente skippered by Hap Fauth slipped over the line well ahead of the 98-foot super-maxi Maximus back in 2006. The new 69-foot Bella Mente is within striking distance if the big boats falter.”

The race started with 198 boats Friday afternoon off Castle Hill.

Posted by Tom Meade  at 7:35 AM | Permalink

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