Newport to Bermuda

The bi-annual Newport, Rhode Island to Bermuda sailing race has been occupying most Bermudians this week and filling Hamilton harbour with colour and atmosphere.

This was the 49th running of the Newport to Bermuda race, the first one taking place in 1906, and is therefore the oldest ocean race for amateur sailors.

Shockwave, skippered by George Sakellaris, was the first to cross the St Davids finish line in the early hours of Monday finishing the 635 nautical mile race in 63 hours. In 2nd just 7 minutes behind was Bella Mente.

162 boats and over 1,500 sailors raced across the Atlantic Ocean and have been arriving since Monday, although bad weather has made this year’s competition one of the slowest ever and many boats had to pull out of the race and motor to the island more leisurely.

Beautiful specimens of boats in 14 different classes have been moored at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club (RBYC), which I can see from my office and is one of the oldest of its kind in the world.

Bermuda’s capital Hamilton has been full of sun and rum kissed sailors all week, and the bars and restaurants should have a made a small fortune as hopefully did the RYBC where I found myself twice this week, including late last night, on it’s impressive outside deck.

We also spent some time yesterday walking between sailing boats that are incredible machines. Some built for speed, some for design.