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:
Nothing to see but sea
Mike computing the optimal course
Heading to the start line
Sunset in Newport
David at the Galley
John with his game face
Team Photo
Crew Pictures
Leaving the Newport Docks
Newport-Bermuda Poster
Twisted steel pulpit
RBYC Docks with racing boats
Robert relaxing at the dock
Eric steering into Block Island
RBYC Docks with racing boats
Preparing Challenge Accepted at Newport
Preparing Challenge Accepted at Newport
Block Island New Harbor
11th Hour racing
RBYC Docks with racing boats
Rum tasting at the RBYC
Lots of AIS hits!
RBYC Docks with racing boats
Dolphins at CA's bow at sea
Brilliant sunset at sea
iPhone GPS position
Arnd helming past the cruise ship
Menu at the Oar
Lloyd while approaching Bermuda
John and a sunset at sea
Close competitor
Swag stand in Newport
Crew Pictures
Dinner on the night before departure
11th Hour racing
Black Watch at the docks
Eric forward
Barnett-Searing National Cancer Foundation
Challenge Accepted at the RBYC docks
Winch motor assembly - old and new
Alex standing on deck
Newport Shipyard Dinner
Bill coiling line
Mike relaxing at the hotel after the race!
Race spectators ashore
John at the Docks
Instructions for going up
Hamilton at Sunrise
RBYC Docks with racing boats
Robert going aloft
Challenge Accepted at the RBYC docks
Our wake and a rainbow
Gulf current Eddies
Crew at sunset
Bill on Delivery
RBYC Docks with racing boats
Rain and boats behind us
Bermuda at sunrise
Motoring to the race start
Ice Cream makes for a happy crew
Downwind sail
Dolphins at CA's bow at sea
Challenge Accepted crew before departure
RBYC Accepting Norfolk Pennant
Mike waiting for the fun to begin
Navigation Station during delivery
David abovedecks between meals
Robert at Block Island
Lloyd and a cruise ship at dusk
Team Photo
Sunset at sea
Watching the dolphins
Crew Pictures
Mike and Robert listening to the safety briefing
Lloyd and a cruise ship at dusk
Sunset at sea
Eric Helming at sea
Block Island ice cream
Entering Block Island
Eric relaxing during the delivery
Foul weather gear hanging out to dry
Team Photo
Bull Point
Alex standing on deck
Alex before the start
Waiting for the race to start
Lines prior to coiling
Weather Briefing
Lloyd checking out the competition passing us
Robert and Bill belowdecks
Mike with a Dark & Stormy
RBYC Docks with racing boats
Damaged pulpit assembly
Bent winch part
Projected courseline
iPhone GPS position
Rainbow in the background
Bermuda at Sunrise
Arnd helming and a rainbow
John and Lloyd
Dark and Stormies at the RBYC
Sailing in light winds
Relaxing before departure
Sunrise in Hamilton, Bermuda
Cruise ship with a sunset as a backdrop
Arnd helming past the cruise ship
John muscling the helm
Dolphins at CA's bow at sea
Sun sinking below the horizon
Mike
David in the cockpit at Block Island
Bill at the Oar
Finishing off an ice-cream dessert
Eric helming prior to the start
Bull Point
Bundled up for the cold after sunset
Waiting for work in light winds
Nothing to see but sea
Asymmetric Spinnaker pulling us
Dark and Stormy at the RBYC
Waiting for wind
Through-hull map aboard
Oar Sunset on Block Island
Concentration prior to the start
Entering Block Island
Leaving the Newport Docks
RBYC Docks with racing boats
Mike at the Nav station
Dolphins at CA's bow at sea
Team Photo
Light winds and nothing to do
Weather Briefing
John steering in light winds
On the bow in light winds
Weather Briefing
Robert waiting for the start
Ashore on Block Island
Eric using his tablet
Dolphins at CA's bow at sea
Bermuda docks next to Challenge Accepted
Block Island Coast Guard
Bill at the helm during the delivery
Team Photo
Mike flaking the sail
Newport Docks
Lloyd at the wheel
Eric steering out of Block Island
At the RBYC Docks
Challenge Accepted Results
Barnett-Searing National Cancer Foundation
Sunset at sea
Flags flying at the RBYC
Crews at the RBYC Docks
Weather Briefing
Arnd helming and a rainbow
Low winds and Mike steering
Newport
Sunset on Block Island
Mike helming at sea
Newport Shipyard Dinner
Robert going aloft
Dolphins at CA's bow at sea