It’s the most wonderful time of the year! So say Moth sailors after Hydrofoiling around Bermuda’s sun splashed Great Sound in anticipation of the Amlin International Moth Regatta.
“I’ve been out practicing for two days and this is the best place I’ve ever sailed,” said 38-year-old Rob Greenhalgh after a day of sailing in 12 to 15 knots.
With winter descending on the Northern Hemisphere and shutting down home training bases, as many as 60 sailors from 14 nations have been invited to the British territory in the Atlantic Ocean for the regatta. Hosted by the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, the blue riband fleet begins racing for a $10,000 prize purse, including $5,000 for the winner, on Monday, Dec. 7th, with the final day of racing scheduled for Friday, Dec. 11th.
Greenhalgh staged a fantastic comeback to win the Moth European Championship last summer. Greenhalgh won the last of 10 races to overcome rival and compatriot Chris Rashley by 1 point after Rashley had led from Race 1.
Greenhalgh is joined by the likes of Rashley, who placed 2nd and 4th at the 2014 and 2015 Worlds, respectively, and Britons Ben Paton, who was 5th at the 2014 Worlds, and Tom Offer, who was 8th at the 2014 Worlds.
“There are a lot of good guys,” said Greenhalgh. “And with the Cup guys, we’ll have to be on the money.”
As many as 15 America’s Cup sailors are expected to compete in the Amlin International Moth Regatta, including Dean Barker and Chris Draper of SoftBank Team Japan, Tom Slingsby and Kyle Langford of ORACLE Team USA, and Francesco Bruni and Paul Goodison of Artemis Racing. Goodison placed 3rd at the Europeans last summer.
The Amlin International Moth Regatta will also support an initiative for the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation, which was founded in memory of Olympic Gold medalist Andrew “Bart” Simpson. During the regatta, sailors, RBYC members and visitors will be encouraged to “buy a beer for Bart” with all proceeds going to the ASSF.
“The Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation was chosen because of its objective to inspire the next generation by using sailing to improve the lives of young people around the world,” said Andy Cox, regatta chairman. “There’ll be signs placed all around the club encouraging everyone to buy a beer, or round, for Bart.”
PRELIMINARY LIST OF ENTRANTS (subject to change)
Thomas Allin (USA), Nathan Bailey (GBR), Dean Barker (JPN/SoftBank Team Japan), Jason Belben (GBR), Eelco Boers (NED), Francesco Bruni (SWE/Artemis Racing), Andrew Campbell (USA/ORACLE Team USA), Matt Cassidy (USA/ORACLE Team USA), Chris Clarke (GBR), Sebastien Col (FRA), Kalle Coster (NED), Victor Diaz de Leon (VEN), James Doughty (BER), Chris Draper (JPN/SoftBank Team Japan), Rory Fitzpatrick (IRL), Kinley Fowler (USA/ORACLE Team USA), Giovanni Galeotti (BEL), Jonny Goldsberry (USA), Paul Goodison (SWE/Artemis Racing), Robert Greenhalgh (GBR), Jonathan Heathcote (RSA), Markus Hirsch (AUT), Simon Hiscocks (GBR), Andy Horton (USA), Stefan Järudd (SWE), Chris Jeeves (GBR), Tom Johnson (USA/ORACLE Team USA), Rome Kirby (USA/ORACLE Team USA), Alistair Kissane (IRL), Matthew Knowles (USA), Anthony Kotoun (USA), Kyle Langford (USA/ORACLE Team USA), Matthew Lea (GBR), Thomas Loughborough (USA), Richard Mason (GBR), Zachary Maxam (USA), Steve McLean (GBR), James McMillan (GBR), Ben Moon (USA), Chris Museler (USA), Joe Newton (USA/ORACLE Team USA), Sam Newton (USA/ORACLE Team USA), Tom Offer (GBR), Ben Paton (GBR), Tim Penfold (GBR), Adriano Petrino (SUI), Philippe Presti (USA/ORACLE Team USA), Chris Rashley (GBR), Hans Rasmussen (DEN), Christopher Rast (SUI), James Sainsbury (GBR), Nat Shaver (USA), Louis Sinclair (USA/ORACLE Team USA), Tom Slingsby (USA/ORACLE Team USA), Dave Smithwhite (GBR), Graeme Spence (USA/ORACLE Team USA), Dan Ward (GBR), Joseph Wilson (USA)
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