The ocean match race between two classic yachts— Belle Aventure and Spirit of Bermuda— was broken this week when Belle’s captain Dave Thompson notified the Marion Bermuda Race organizers that they would not be able to race in the 645-mile crossing to Bermuda on June 14th. Spirit, the big blue Bermuda sloop had anticipated the challenge of a 645-mile match race in the new Classic Yacht Division against the 94-foot Fife Ketch Belle Aventure sailed by an all New England crew.
This leaves the fleet with 37 boats in the Founders Division and one in the new Classic Yacht Division. Spirit of Bermuda is the largest boat, with Founder’s Division entry Shindig, an Andrews 68 entered by Mass Maritime, 44 feet shorter but perhaps faster in some conditions. This should be the battle for line honors at St David’s Lighthouse, Bermuda
The smallest boat is Roust, a Sea Sprite 34, sailed by Ian Gumprecht of Oyster Bay, NY.
“Due to unforeseen circumstances with the owners' schedules,” Thompson wrote to the organizers, “S/Y Belle Aventure will not be able to sail to Bermuda this year during the Marion to Bermuda race. We were looking forward to racing, but will have to hold off for a different year. Both the crew and the owners apologize for any inconveniences this may cause and wish you all luck in the race this year.”
Upon learning of the withdrawal, Bermudian Preston Hutchings said, “Their withdrawal is disappointing. Nevertheless, we will have a safe and fun time sailing Spirit to Bermuda and competing for the Blue Water Sailing Club Board of Governors’ Trophy.” The trophy is awarded to the yacht with the shortest elapsed time. Hutchings had been looking forward to matching up against another classic yacht for this race. In 2012 Spirit of Bermuda had also sailed as the only classic.
Back in February 2012, Hutchings was participating in a Bermuda Sloop Foundation fundraiser, trying to raise money for Spirit of Bermuda and to save himself from walking the plank. He asked Alan Burland, co-founder of the foundation about the possibility of someone chartering Spirit for the next Marion Bermuda Race. The charter price was settled in a few days and Hutchings and his friend Patrick McGee of Dallas TX took the plunge, but not off the plank.
They took a joint charter for the 2013 race and are set to start at 12:10PM on June 14.
McGee had once told Hutchings that he would like to race to Bermuda with his family. Going on a typical boat with McGee and his sons wasn’t really a possibility so the idea lay dormant for years. Now that they had Spirit, a boat that would need a crew of 21, the dream was rekindled.
McGee will be joined by his son William. Hutchings will be joined by his two sons William and Alistair. They will also be joined by another family… navigator and executive director of Team Adventure Larry Rosenfeld, his wife Amy and their son Willie.
Hutchings and McGee have also endowed the division for American Sail Training Association (ASTA) rated boats and have dedicated the division winner’s trophy in the memory of Ed Williams, the former captain of Sir Bayard Dill’s yacht the Dutchess of Devonshire.
Alan Burland commented on Ed Williams role in making the Spirit dream come true: “Ed Williams Sr. was a wonderful Bermudian sailor, ambassador, and friend of Spirit.” Burland had begun his eulogy at Williams’ funeral by saying “Captain Ed Williams was a loyal and steadfast supporter of the Bermuda Sloop Foundation… Capt. Ed wanted to help young Bermudians to learn real life long skills, to build character, to work together, to be resilient, and to excel – the very lessons he learnt so well.” Ed Williams Jr. will be aboard for the race.
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