Scallywag joins Antigua Bermuda Race

Two months before the start of the 2019 Antigua Bermuda Race, 20 yachts have now expressed their intention in the third edition of the 935 nautical mile race through the Atlantic Ocean to Bermuda.

Starting on May 8, the 100ft superyacht SHK Scallywag, which will be racing with a full complement of world class sailors, has confirmed participation. The smallest is the Open 40 Raucous, skippered by Henry Rourke, which will race double-handed. Two of this year’s entries have competed in all previous editions of the race. Pogo 12.5 Hermes, co-skippered by Meg Reilly (USA) and Morgen Watson (CAN), and Hanse 43 Avanti, skippered by Jeremi Jablonski (USA), which will be racing double-handed.

“Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag’s team owner, SH Lee, is very excited to be racing his 100-foot Super Maxi with his team in Antigua for the first time in the upcoming 2019 Antigua Bermuda Race,” commented Scallywag skipper Dave Witt (AUS).

The 100-foot canting keel Scallywag (ex-Ragamuffin) is very capable of breaking the Antigua Bermuda Race record which was set by Stephen Murray, Jr. (USA) racing Volvo 70 Warrior last year (2 days, 18 hours, 32 minutes and 48 seconds). The Antigua Bermuda Race is part of the Atlantic Ocean Race Series and is equally weighted with the RORC Caribbean 600, Rolex Fastnet Race, and Rolex Middle Sea Race. Scallywag will be picking up valuable points prior to the start of the main event for the series, the Transatlantic Race, starting June 25, 2019.

The American Hanse 42 Avanti, skippered by Jeremi Jablonski will be racing double-handed with John D’Angelo; both members of the Cedar Point Yacht Club, Westport, Connecticut. They have raced over 10,000 miles together, but this will be the first time the pair has competed in this race double-handed. Avanti’s main competition will be debutant Henry Rourke, racing Open 40 Raucous also double-handed.

“I have always raced Avanti with a limited crew offshore,” noted Jablonski. “On a small boat like Avanti it is counter-productive to have a big crew because more personal space allows better rest, and for this race, sailing on reaching angles is not so demanding.

“We will be hoping for great trade winds for the first few hundred miles. At some point we should get into different weather patterns which can be challenging. For a Corinthian team like ours, the attraction is to race in a high calibre, true ocean race as we have few opportunities to race 1,000 miles.

“To finish with the reception at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club is special for any sailor, especially as we get such a great welcome. I would encourage more Corinthian teams like ours to take part; it is so unique and not a difficult race.”

Competing for the third time is the Canadian Pogo 12.50 Hermes, co-skippered by Meg Reilly and Morgen Watson. Collectively the team is known as Ocean Racers, an extended network of young sailors from all backgrounds.

“The Antigua Bermuda Race is one of the best offshore races,” observed Reilly. “Nearly 1,000nm, split by a rocket-launching reach out of the trade winds, and then the real work comes with strategy, tactics and pure patience in the final miles towards Bermuda. Perfect for anyone’s first offshore race, or those looking to happily avoid the Gulf Stream in a race to Bermuda.”

Details: https://antiguabermuda.com/

The third edition of the 935-mile Antigua Bermuda Race will start on the May 8 and is organized in association with Antigua Sailing Week and is supported by the Bermuda Tourism Authority. Yachts of 40-feet and over will be racing under the IRC Rating Rule, MOCRA and the CSA Racing Rule, with the latter amended to permit boats to use their engines, subject to a time penalty.

The 2019 Atlantic Ocean Racing Series will consist of five races: RORC Caribbean 600, Antigua Bermuda Race, Transatlantic Race 2019, Rolex Fastnet Race, and Rolex Middle Sea Race. Three races, including the Transatlantic Race (weighted 1.5), will be required to qualify.

Source: Louay Habib