Largest Fleet Battles Wednesday Night Sailing Thriller
IslandStats.com
The Hamilton Harbor came alive once again for Race Day 5 of the Wednesday Night Sailing Series, drawing the largest fleet of the year to navigate a challenging inshore course that both started and finished within the harbor's confines. The shorter format demanded sharp tactical decisions and precise boat handling, leading to a closely fought contest under the evening sky.
While the raw speed across the water was evident, the intricacies of handicap scoring meant the order of finish on the water didn't necessarily translate to the final standings. Crossfire was the first boat to cross the finish line, clocking an impressive elapsed time of 54 minutes and 54 seconds. However, once their handicap was applied, their corrected time of 1 hour, 0 minutes, and 33 seconds placed them fifth overall on the night. Similarly, Nasty Medicine was the second boat to finish, with an elapsed time of 57 minutes and 24 seconds, but their corrected time of 1 hour, 2 minutes, and 24 seconds saw them settle in 14th position.
Ultimately, it was Renegade who emerged as the victor of the night, showcasing a combination of speed and effective handicap management to achieve a corrected time of 59 minutes and 21 seconds. Just eight seconds behind in a tightly contested second place was Menace, with a corrected time of 59 minutes and 29 seconds. Yabsta rounded out the podium finishers in third place, clocking a corrected time of 1 hour, 0 minutes, and 15 seconds. Solna II also sailed a strong race, finishing just fractions of a second behind Yabsta in fourth place with an identical corrected time of 1 hour, 0 minutes, and 15 seconds.
Race Day 5's thrilling action in Hamilton Harbor highlights the tactical depth of the Wednesday Night Sailing Series, where both boat speed and handicap awareness are crucial for success. The largest fleet of the season battling it out on the inshore course provided a captivating spectacle, with the corrected times showcasing the tight competition across the various classes.
The picturesque St. George's Harbor played host to the annual Wall Memorial Regatta for the Comet Class sailors, a challenging event that saw competitors navigate a course starting within the harbor, venturing out through the Town Cut Channel towards the Oil Docks before returning.
In a display of teamwork and sailing prowess, the duo of Maxwell Curtis and Wesley Tucker emerged victorious, expertly maneuvering their Comet to a winning time of 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 34 seconds. Their familiarity with the local waters and their well-honed partnership proved to be a decisive advantage.
The battle for the podium places was closely contested. Gladwin Lambert and Stefan Maybury sailed a strong race to secure second position, crossing the finish line just over a minute behind the winners with a time of 2 hours and 46 seconds.
Rounding out the top three were Anthony Smith and Zane Hendrickson, who also navigated the course skillfully to clock a time of 2 hours, 2 minutes, and 49 seconds. Their consistent performance ensured them a well-deserved spot on the podium.
The Wall Memorial Regatta, a long-standing tradition for the Comet Class in Bermuda, once again provided a platform for these skilled sailors to test their abilities and compete for bragging rights in the challenging conditions of the harbor and the channel. The victory for Curtis and Tucker highlights their current form within the Comet Class fleet.
Wall Memorial Regatta 2025
1:59:34 - Maxwell Curtis & Wesley Tucker - Pole Position 2:00:46 Gladwin Lambert & Stefan Maybury - Melody 2:02:49 Anthony Smith & Zane Hendrickson - Rebel 2:03:06 Quinton Simons & Greg Proctor - Stir the Pot 2:05:11 Greg Wade & Geno Smith - It’s A Standard 2:07:23 Giovanni Hayward & Eli Furbert - Mai Lucy 2:23:56 Lorenzo Lambert & Shane Morrissey - Sea Hawk
Friday, May 09, 2025
Murphy Masters Great Sound to Clinch Race Week Crown
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Canada's Ted Murphy emerged victorious from a hard-fought Bermuda International Invitational Race Week Regatta, sealing the overall championship after two final races contested on the picturesque Great Sound.
The International One-Design (IOD) Series fleet concluded their ten-race series today, with Murphy showcasing impressive consistency to finish on a net score of 19 points. His final day saw him secure a solid second and third place, enough to fend off the chasing pack.
Bermuda's own Bill McNiven put up a valiant challenge, ultimately finishing just two points adrift in second place with 21 net points. McNiven experienced a mixed final day, recovering from a sixth-place finish in the penultimate race to clinch a well-deserved victory in the final race of the regatta, much to the delight of the home support.
American Courtenay Jenkins rounded out the overall podium, finishing in third place with a net total of 28 points, demonstrating his competitiveness throughout the week-long event.
Murphy's success wasn't limited to the overall standings. He also claimed the top spot in the prestigious B Series, finishing with a remarkably low net score of just 8 points. This further underscored his dominance in the IOD class throughout the week.
Bermuda's Colin James, sailing with Ray DeSilva, secured second place in the B Series with a net score of 9 points, highlighting the strong local contingent within the fleet. McNiven's consistent performance also earned him a place on the B Series podium, finishing third with 12 net points.
The Bermuda International Invitational Race Week once again delivered thrilling racing on the stunning backdrop of the Great Sound. Ted Murphy's composed performance across the series, culminating in his overall victory, marks him as a worthy champion. The strong showing from local sailors like Bill McNiven and Colin James/Ray DeSilva also provided plenty for the home fans to cheer about, promising another exciting chapter in the event's rich history.
IOD Fleet after Eight Races
19 Ted Murphy - Canada 21 Bill McNiven - Bermuda 28 Courtenay Jenkins - USA 34 Hannah Vincent - USA 35 Colin James/Ray DeSilva 37 Morten Tenvig - Norway 41 Christopher Gould/David Pool 42 Anton Larrsson - Sweden 48 Oliver Dix - Great Britain
Thursday, May 08, 2025
Murphy Grabs IOD Series A Lead as Race Week Heats Up
IslandStats.com
The elegant International One-Design (IOD) Series fleet once again graced the waters of the Great Sound as the Bermuda International Invitational Race Week Regatta continued its captivating competition. After another day of tactical battles and tight racing, the provisional standings in the A Series have seen a shift at the top.
Canada's Ted Murphy has emerged as the new overall leader after a total of eight races. His consistent performance today, which included a decisive victory in race seven followed by a solid fifth-place finish in race eight, has propelled him to the summit with a net score of 19 points. With discards playing a crucial role, Murphy's ability to minimize high scores is proving vital.
Bermuda's own Bill McNiven, who has been a frontrunner throughout the regatta, now sits just one point behind Murphy in second place with 20 net points. McNiven had a mixed day, finishing fourth in the first race of the day but then demonstrating his local knowledge by crossing the finish line first in the final race. The close proximity at the top suggests a thrilling climax to the A Series is in store.
American Courtenay Jenkins remains firmly in contention, currently occupying third place with a net score of 25 points. Jenkins recorded a third and a fourth-place finish in today's races, keeping him within striking distance of the leaders as the regatta progresses.
Away from the overall A Series standings, Ted Murphy is also leading the separate B Series with a net score of 8 points. Norway's Morten Tenvig sits in second place in the B Series with 9 points, while Courtenay Jenkins occupies third with 10 points, highlighting Murphy's strong performance across both segments of the IOD competition. With more racing still to come, the Bermuda International Invitational Race Week promises further excitement and potential shifts in the leaderboard.
IOD Fleet after Eight Races
19 Ted Murphy - Canada 20 Bill McNiven - Bermuda 25 Courtenay Jenkins - USA 28 Hannah Vincent - USA 30 Morten Tenvig - Norway 36 Colin James/Ray DeSilva 38 Anton Larrsson - Sweden 40 Christopher Gould/David Pool 21 Oliver Dix - Great Britain
Wednesday, May 07, 2025
Scatteraction Wins Tight Race Day 4 in Hamilton Harbor
IslandStats.com
The Wednesday Night Sailing Series continued its captivating run with Race Day 4, which saw the fleet navigating a course that both started and finished within the confines of Hamilton Harbor. The shorter, inshore format provided a different tactical challenge for the sailors, resulting in a closely fought contest.
While Crossfire was the first boat to visually cross the finish line, clocking a time of 46 minutes and 55 seconds, the crucial element of corrected time ultimately determined the night's victor. After handicap adjustments were applied, Crossfire's corrected time of 51 minutes and 45 seconds placed them fourth overall on the evening.
The second boat to cross the line was Scatteraction, finishing in 52 minutes and 55 seconds. However, their superior handicap saw their corrected time come in at an impressive 50 minutes and 5 seconds, securing them the coveted first place on Race Day 4.
The competition was incredibly tight at the top, with Airforce claiming second place for the night with a corrected time of just 50 minutes and 21 seconds, narrowly missing out on the win. Passion also sailed a strong race, securing third place with a corrected time of 51 minutes and 11 seconds.
Race Day 4 highlighted the strategic nuances of harbor racing, where boat handling and tactical positioning become paramount. The close corrected times demonstrate the evenness of the fleet and promise more exciting action as the Wednesday Night Sailing Series continues.
Wednesday Night Sailing Series Race 4 Results
0:50:05 Scatteraction 0:50:21 Airforce 0:51:11 Passion 0:51:45 Crossfire 0:52:08 RS 21 3 0:52:31 Menace 0:52:35 Yabsta 0:52:55 Back in Black 0:53:44 RS 21 2 0:53:57 Windfire 0:53:57 Tiburon 0:54:26 Fat Tuesday 0:54:30 Solna II 0:54:35 RS 21 1 0:55:52 Lorato Makato 0:55:59 Shadow 0:56:03 Lix 0:56:11 Severn 0:56:21 Jitterbug 0:56:25 Stormy 0:56:26 Tiddlewinks 0:58:33 RS 21 6 0:59:00 Down Time RET RS 21 5 ZFP RS 21 4
