Howie Hodgson’s Swan 75, True, has claimed a clean sweep of the major honors in the 2026 Antigua Bermuda Race, navigating a tactically bruising 935-mile course that left nearly half the fleet stranded at sea.
In what will be remembered as one of the most unpredictable editions of the longest offshore race in the Western Atlantic, True secured line honors, the prestigious Warrior Trophy for first under IRC, and first place under CSA.
The race was defined by an unusual weather pattern that defied traditional expectations. The legendary strong tradewinds were absent at the start, replaced by a tentative 10-knot breeze that persisted for the opening days.
While the leaders eventually punched through a front—encountering 20-30 knot squalls that propelled them toward the finish—those further back were not so fortunate. A lack of pressure left the trailing pack "parked" in light air. The consequences were stark: of the seven starters, three failed to make the eight-day time limit. In a cruel twist of fate, the yacht Rock n' Roll was just eight miles from the finish line when the clock finally ran out.
Despite the disparity in size, the battle at the front was remarkably tight. True found itself shadowed for much of the journey by Michael Hennessy’s scow-bow Class40, Scowling Dragon. Despite their vastly different waterlines, the two boats were almost equally rated under the CSA system.
Hennessy, whose Scowling Dragon took second place and the trophy for the first double-handed boat, reflected on the narrow margins of the 935-mile trek. He noted that had the conditions offered just a few more hours of fast reaching, the Class40 might have bridged the 20-mile gap to the Swan 75.
With the fleet now safely in Hamilton, the focus shifts to the post-race celebrations, though for those who missed the cut by mere miles, the 2026 edition will likely be remembered for what might have been.
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