Bermuda One-Two Complete Singlehanded Leg

Stanley Parris, who lived in Bermuda for several years, was the first to finish the singlehanded leg of the Bermuda One-Two, sailing a Farr designed Paris 63 in the experimental class. In the leg from Newport to Bermuda, Stanley finished about 7:40 AM on Wednesday, June 12. The doublehanded return leg from Bermuda to Newport will start on June 20.

Stanley has big plans to race around the world alone in this boat, leaving St. Augustine, FL in November this year. Stanley is using the Bermuda One-Two as a workup to his race. Stanley will do the double handed leg with his son Alan Paris of Around Alone fame.

The first boat to finish in the regular classes is John Lubimir’s Flight Risk, a Quest 30 Modified designed by local Rodger Martin. This is John’s second Bermuda One-Two race, thought the first in Flight Risk which he sailed in the Singlehanded Transpac in 2012.

Twenty three boats started in Newport on June 8 after the passing of the Tropical Storm Andrea. This is the smallest Bermuda One-Two fleet in many years.

The first Bermuda One-Two Race was held in 1977 and is held on the odd years. This race is not as well-known as the Newport-Bermuda Race, though it is well known amongst the shorthanded racers for competitive offshore solo sailors looking to test their talents and earn bragging rights.

The conditions this year have been very demanding and seven boats have dropped out for various reasons mostly due to the tough wind and sea conditions. Most of the fleet finished June 14 with a couple more on June 15.

Solid Air, a Columbia 32C, was abandoned due to keel problems and was picked up by new comer Dan Alonso on Halcyon. Mirari, a Bristol 39 sailed by Dan Stadtlander, turned back with a broken boom, torn main and genoa sails leaving only a storm jib. Mirari was able to start motoring at some point but broke the propeller shaft. Mirari was able to devise a coupler and was able to motor to Martha’s Vineyard then to home in Connecticut.

Serif, a Tartan 30 sailed by Charles Schepens, had some electrical wiring fried which kept him from starting his motor and using his electrics the rest of the way then his main triple reefed got blown out of the mast slot. Serif limped to Bermuda with a genoa only.

The St. George’s Dinghy and Sports Club is the host club on Bermuda and the Newport Yacht Club is the host club in Newport. Roy Guay is the chairman of the event and Brian Oatley is the chairman at the St. George’s Dinghy and Sports Club. The singlehanded results and live boat tracking is available through the race’s website: http://bermuda1-2.org