Newport - Bermuda Race
The 2022 Newport-Bermuda Race (also known as “the thrash to the onion patch”) took place from June 17th to June 25th. I was crew on a Jeanneau 53 called “Challenge Accepted” and skippered by Michael Cummings, who I had met shortly before the COVID-19 outbreak while I was heading from Annapolis to the Caribbean.
In total we had 10 sailors aboard:
In total we had 10 sailors aboard:
Michael Cummings | Eric P. | Bill W. | David C. |
Robert C. | Michael M. | Lloyd T. | John S. |
Alex W. | Arnd W. |
Start
The start was busy, with almost 200 boats milling around and waiting for their division and category to start. There were some bigger waves in the area, which made for some uncomfortable rolling around while under engine. Nonetheless we managed to start well and zipped out on course despite the congestion and confusion. Unfortunately, soon after the start we were becalmed for a while as a thunderstorm discharged close to the start line. Although this forced a postponement in the classes behind us, that didn’t help us.Race
With 630 miles ahead of us we headed to the southeast, with Mike using the internet connectivity given to us with an Iridium Go! and Expedition Software to plan an optimal course for the boat. The Newport-Bermuda race is known for varying conditions. From calm to storm plus the Gulf-Stream eddies.But we had some issues that prevented us from making as good a course as we’d hoped, this included hitting a hole in the wind which held us up long enough to miss the frontal passage which would have propelled us towards Bermuda. Then we had a spinnaker wrap which could not be fixed, so that sail had to be dropped and then a puff of wind while under Code 0 blew out our pulpit! This was a blow to our chances of placing highly in the Newport-Bermuda race, but we still had a long way to go and a chance at repairing the damage.Offshore
Nevertheless our race was a challenging one, with winds ranging from almost non-existent to over 30 knots constant with gusts over 40 knots. Challenge Accepted is exceptionally nimble and certainly faster than my boat, despite Zanshin being longer on the waterline.The only sour note during the race was that we found out that there had been a fatality aboard one of our competitors, the skipper (with 10 Newport-Bermuda races under his belt) of another boat had gone overboard in a storm. Sadly, when he was recovered back aboard was no longer responsive.Despite this, the 2022 Newport-Bermuda race was a resounding success, in my opinion.Here are some pictures taken by crewmembers with various cameras:
Alex before the start
RBYC Docks with racing boats
RBYC Docks with racing boats
Waiting for wind
Arnd helming past the cruise ship
Robert relaxing at the dock
11th Hour racing
Low winds and Mike steering
Rainbow in the background
Sunset in Newport
Navigation Station during delivery
Finishing off an ice-cream dessert
Weather Briefing
Dolphins at CA's bow at sea
Eric forward
Team Photo
Mike flaking the sail
Lloyd while approaching Bermuda
Crew at sunset
Preparing Challenge Accepted at Newport
Team Photo
Bent winch part
Bill at the helm during the delivery
Lines prior to coiling
Mike at the Nav station
Challenge Accepted crew before departure
Eric helming prior to the start
Brilliant sunset at sea
Mike waiting for the fun to begin
Sunrise in Hamilton, Bermuda
Bundled up for the cold after sunset
Block Island Coast Guard
Dolphins at CA's bow at sea
Winch motor assembly - old and new
Instructions for going up
John and a sunset at sea
Sunset at sea
RBYC Accepting Norfolk Pennant
Team Photo
Robert going aloft
11th Hour racing
Foul weather gear hanging out to dry
Race spectators ashore
Dinner on the night before departure
Entering Block Island
Block Island ice cream
RBYC Docks with racing boats
Heading to the start line
Newport-Bermuda Poster
Damaged pulpit assembly
Mike helming at sea
Flags flying at the RBYC
Eric Helming at sea
Arnd helming and a rainbow
Rain and boats behind us
Crew Pictures
Barnett-Searing National Cancer Foundation
Sunset at sea
Dolphins at CA's bow at sea
Entering Block Island
Dolphins at CA's bow at sea
Sailing in light winds
Leaving the Newport Docks
Challenge Accepted at the RBYC docks
Bermuda docks next to Challenge Accepted
John muscling the helm
Concentration prior to the start
David abovedecks between meals
Bull Point
Robert at Block Island
Bull Point
Asymmetric Spinnaker pulling us
Ashore on Block Island
Lloyd checking out the competition passing us
Lloyd and a cruise ship at dusk
Block Island New Harbor
Weather Briefing
At the RBYC Docks
Robert going aloft
Waiting for work in light winds
Newport Shipyard Dinner
Lloyd at the wheel
Eric steering out of Block Island
iPhone GPS position
Eric steering into Block Island
David in the cockpit at Block Island
Alex standing on deck
Twisted steel pulpit
Dark and Stormies at the RBYC
Gulf current Eddies
Barnett-Searing National Cancer Foundation
RBYC Docks with racing boats
Bill at the Oar
Motoring to the race start
Bill coiling line
Newport
Leaving the Newport Docks
Through-hull map aboard
Robert and Bill belowdecks
Black Watch at the docks
Dark and Stormy at the RBYC
Oar Sunset on Block Island
Bill on Delivery
Weather Briefing
Dolphins at CA's bow at sea
Lloyd and a cruise ship at dusk
Challenge Accepted Results
Arnd helming and a rainbow
David at the Galley
Watching the dolphins
Bermuda at sunrise
Lots of AIS hits!
Newport Shipyard Dinner
John with his game face
Sunset on Block Island
Swag stand in Newport
Crews at the RBYC Docks
Mike relaxing at the hotel after the race!
Projected courseline
RBYC Docks with racing boats
Bermuda at Sunrise
RBYC Docks with racing boats
Weather Briefing
John at the Docks
Ice Cream makes for a happy crew
Mike
John and Lloyd
On the bow in light winds
Hamilton at Sunrise
Sun sinking below the horizon
RBYC Docks with racing boats
Eric using his tablet
Nothing to see but sea
Preparing Challenge Accepted at Newport
Close competitor
Crew Pictures
Challenge Accepted at the RBYC docks
iPhone GPS position
Robert waiting for the start
Dolphins at CA's bow at sea
Team Photo
Downwind sail
Crew Pictures
Newport Docks
Arnd helming past the cruise ship
Rum tasting at the RBYC
Mike with a Dark & Stormy
Waiting for the race to start
RBYC Docks with racing boats
Menu at the Oar
Sunset at sea
Nothing to see but sea
Light winds and nothing to do
Relaxing before departure
Cruise ship with a sunset as a backdrop
Mike computing the optimal course
Eric relaxing during the delivery
John steering in light winds
Mike and Robert listening to the safety briefing
Team Photo
Alex standing on deck
Our wake and a rainbow