No record for Antigua Bermuda Race

(May 12, 2019; Day 5) – Supermaxi SHK Scallywag (HKG), skippered by David Witt, crossed the finish line outside St David’s Lighthouse, Bermuda just before 10pm local time last night, taking Line Honours in the 2019 Antigua Bermuda Race in an elapsed time of 3 days 08 hours 54 mins 21 seconds.

SHK Scallywag crew: Skipper David Witt, Anemike Bes, Harry Bethwaite, Tom Clout, James Crampton, Nick Crones, Ferdinand Galetta, Kris Mark Galetta, Alex Gough, Phil Harmer, Jack Macartney, Matt Pearce, Ben Piggott, Trystan Seal, Miles Seddon, Lindsey Stead and Charlie Wyatt.

A light air pressure ridge along the 935nm course kept Scallywag’s finish time outside the record set last year by Stephen Murray Jr.’s Volvo 70 Warrior (2 days, 18 hours, 32 minutes and 48 seconds).

“The boys did great, but we are a bit disappointed we didn’t get the record as the weather did not play our way,” commented Witt. “We sailed the boat really well and the boat is getting more reliable, and hopefully getting a bit quicker.

We are looking forward to the rest of the year, before we have a crack at the Sydney Hobart Race. This race was a good length for a 100 footer. It gives us a chance to really stretch our legs, as most of the other races are 600 mile sprints. This has been a great lead up to the Transatlantic Race.”

Several yachts are expected to finish over the next 24 hours. At 0900 AST today, Afansay Isaev Maxi Weddell (RUS) was 223 miles from the finish line. Gilles Barbot’s Volvo 60 Esprit de Corps IV (CAN) are just 14 miles astern of Weddell, 237 miles from the finish.

In the race for the win after IRC time correction, the Lombard 46 Pata Negra (GBR) skippered by Andy Liss is estimated to be leading by eight hours, with 261 miles to go, while three other yachts are having a very close battle for the remaining positions on the podium after time correction.

Kevin McLaughlin’s x-55 Rye (USA) is 300 miles from the finish and estimated to be second under IRC. Just one hour behind Rye on corrected time is Peter Grueterich’s xP-44 Xpatriate (USA), which has 323 mile to go. Morgan Watson and Meg Reilly’s Pogo 12.50 Hermes II (CAN) is fourth after IRC time correction, with 304 miles to go and very much challenging for the podium.

In CSA Cruising, Carlo Falcone’s 1938 79ft Alfred Mylne ketch Mariella (ANT) continues to impress. Mariella is estimated to be leading after time correction by five hours from Pata Negra and Hermes II.

Race details – Entry list – Tracker – Facebook

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