Twenty-Five keelboats from The J 105, Etchells and International One Design (IOD) classes hit the water with the intent of completing 5 races on the Great Sound to ultimately crown the Bacardi National Keelboat Champions in the three classes. Royal Bermuda Yacht Club race officer Jay Hooper and his team were constantly tested (along with the sailors) with winds shifting as much as 80 degrees between south east and south west throughout the day. Sailors experienced all types of wind conditions ranging from 10 knots to the mid twenties. The highest wind conditions were seen during the 4th race in the middle of a "whiteout" rain squall. A number of boats, slightly worse for wear, elected to retire before the 5th and final race.
The hotly contested J 105 Class saw five boats on the line with Jon Corless and his crew sailing "Mayhem" showing the most consistent form with four first place finishes and a second, posting a total of 6 points. Glenn Astwood sailing "Ockham's Razor" and James Macdonald's "Passion" battled it out for second place with Astwood prevailing with 13 points.
The Etchells Class had an impressive turn out with ten boats competing including overseas teams from the USA, UK and Canada joining the locals in borrowed boats. Veteran Etchells sailor and former National Champion and current Canadian Champion Tim Patton and his crew were eventually victorious with 14 points, just a single point ahead of the teenage up-and-comers Lance Fraser and his crew. Fraser and his crew of Catalina Sposato, Jason Saints and Jordan Saints, all graduates of the island's Optimist sailing programme, have shown remarkable versatility and success across many classes of keel boats and dinghies in Bermuda and overseas. One point behind in third place was Will Thompson and his crew aboard Fram.
The IOD's also had ten boats on the course. Former multiple World and National IOD Champion Eugene "Penny" Simmons sailing "Ariel" had one fifth place finish and 4 first place finishes to clinch the championship in the final race with 9 pts. Patrick Cooper and crew sailed "Solna II" consistently and was one point behind in second. This regatta is designed not to allow "drop" races so consistency was the key to success. Craig Davis and crew finished 3rd sailing "Vrengen" on 14 pts.
Final Results
J 105 Fleet
1st - Jon Corless - Mayhem
2nd - Glenn Astwood - Ockham's Razor
3rd - James Macdonald - Passion
4th - Chuck Millican - Elusive
5th - Not Mine - Trevor Boyce
Etchells Fleet
1st - Tim Patton – Thrash
2nd - Lance Fraser- Fugly
3rd - Will Thompson - Fram
4th - Phil Wehriem (CAN)
5th - Martn Vezina - Raven
6th - Scott Simmons - Critter
7th - Jason Owen (GBR)
8th - Peter Martin - No Name
9th - Phil Worboys - Gumption
10th - Ian Feathers - Completely Clueless
International One Design (IOD) Fleet
1st - Penny Simmons – Ariel
2nd - Patrick Cooper Solna II
3rd - Craig Davis - Vrengen
4th - Jordy Walker - Peppercorn
5th - Hugh Watlington - Dalliance
6th - George Cubbon - Blitz
7th - Tim Lynch - Impulse
8th - Jeff Arnst - Shadow
9th - Steve Sherwin - Gaylord
10th - Bob Duffy - Encore
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