Pata Negra wins Antigua Bermuda Race

Hamilton, Bermuda (May 14, 2019) – With all yachts accounted for in the 2019 Antigua Bermuda Race, Giles Redpath’s Lombard 46 Pata Negra (GBR), skippered by Andy Liss (above), has posted the best corrected time under IRC, winning the Warrior Trophy.

In a dramatic finish for second place, Peter Grueterich’s xP-44 Xpatriate (USA) corrected out to take runner-up by just 21 minutes after over five days of ocean racing. Kevin McLaughlin’s x-55 Rye (USA) was third.

“Only one member of the crew was over 25 and we came together after Antigua Sailing Week,” commented Pata Negra’s skipper Andy Liss. “Some of the crew will help me deliver Pata Negra to Newport for the Transatlantic Race and others will be sailing boats across the Atlantic in the ARC, and private deliveries.

“The crew for this race are a great bunch and we have become firm friends. We are delighted to continue the winning tradition for Pata Negra.”

“It’s a small boat for six days on the water but we just get along great, we had fun all the way!” said Grueterich. “I knew it was very, very tight between us and Rye, and it was an excruciating finish as it seemed so long get there.

“When we heard we had got second, I was completely floored. There was an outburst of joy from the whole crew. This has been an incredible race, with great organisation. The whole idea of a race to finish the Caribbean season is just perfect.”

Kevin McLaughlin (Rye) laughed out loud when he heard that Xpatriate had beaten them to second place by just 21 minutes. “After 5 days and nights at sea, to be that close is just amazing,” commented McLaughlin. “Third is great for us but – holy smoke that’s close! With just three crew we did three hours on, three hours in the cockpit, and three hours rest.

“It was a nice race but with also a lot of challenges. Friday (May 10) night was intense; we had a massive squall just after dark and torrential rain with the wind all over the place hitting 30 knots. The last 24 hours we did really well, especially the last night was fast sailing.”

Pata Negra was also the winner of the CSA Cruising Class and Xpatriate second. Third was Morgen Watson and Meg Reilly’s Pogo 12.50 Hermes (CAN).

“Boat speed out of Antigua was up to 15 knots and we thoroughly enjoyed the race,” smiled Hermes co-skipper Morgen Watson. “We had a few problems with weed on the rudders and Raucous crossed the line just in front of us, but to get on the podium is just great.”

The Prize Giving for the 2019 Antigua Bermuda Race will be held at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club on Thursday 16 May at 18:00 local time.

Race details – Results – Tracker – Facebook

Final Results
CSA – Cruising Monohull (CSA – 10 Boats)
1. Pata Negra (CSA), Lombard IRC 46, Andrew Lis , GBR
2. Xpatriate (CSA), XP44, Peter Grueterich , USA
3. Hermes (CSA), Pogo12.5, Morgen Watson , CAN
4. Rye (CSA), X55, Kevin McLaughlin , USA
5. Raucous (CSA), Open 40, Henry Rourke , USA
6. Scallywag (CSA), Dovell 100, David Witt , HKG
7. Mariella, Yawl, Carlo Falcone , St Pauls, ANT
8. Weddell (CSA), Grand Mistral 80, Afanasy Isaev , GBR
9. Esprit dr Corps IV (CSA), Volvo 60, Gilles Barbot , CAN
10. Challenger (CSA), Volvo 60 , Chris Stanmore-Major , CAN

IRC (IRC – 10 Boats)
1. Pata Negra, Lombard IRC 46, Andrew Lis , Southampton, Hampshire, GBR
2. Xpatriate, Xyacht XP44, Peter Grueterich , Riverside, CT, USA
3. Rye, X 55, Kevin McLaughlin , Fairhaven, Ma, USA
4. Hermes, Pogo 12.50, Morgen Watson , Calgary, Alberta, CAN
5. SHK Scallywag, Dovell 100, David Witt , Hong Kong, Hong Kong, HKG
6. maremosso, Pogo 50, Guido Wenzl , Munich, BAV, GER
7. Raucous, Open 40, Henry Rourke , Lugano, Ticino, CHI
8. Esprit de Corps IV, Volvo 60, Gilles Barbot , Montréal, Québec, CAN
9. Weddell, Grand Mistral 80, Afanasy Isaev , Gosport, Hampshire, GBR
10. Challenger, Volvo 60 , Chris Stanmore-Major , Lunenburg, NS, GBR

Double Handed (IRC – 1 Boats)
1. Raucous (Double H), Open 40 , Henry Rourke , USA

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