11th Hour Racing in for Bermuda Race

The Ocean Race 2022-23 entrant 11th Hour Racing Team (USA) has left Concarneau, France bound for its home base in Newport, Rhode Island. The 60-foot IMOCA Mālama will be located at Fort Adams from early June until the end of July.

Onboard Mālama is skipper Charlie Enright (USA), joined by newcomer to the team Francesca Clapcich (ITA), along with Simon Fisher (GBR), Justine Mettraux (SUI), and media crew member Amory Ross (USA).

Upon arrival, the team will be preparing to compete in the 2022 Newport Bermuda Race, a 635-nautical mile dash from Rhode Island down to the North Atlantic island which starts on June 17.

“This year’s IMOCA race schedule is focused on short-handed or solo sailing, as most teams are building up towards the single-handed Route du Rhum at the end of this year,” commented Enright. “We seized on the opportunity to enter the Newport Bermuda Race as a chance to test our onboard systems and boat handling in a race environment with five crew onboard.”

IMOCAs are traditionally designed for short-handed sailing – with one or two sailors onboard. The team has spent the past two months training onboard Mālama with five people as they build up to the start of the crewed round the world race in January 2023.

“It’s ten years since I last entered the Newport Bermuda Race and I’m looking forward to lining up at the start opposite Castle Hill,” said Enright. “With so many boats on the startline, and the fanfare at Castle Hill, you feel like you’re in the Kentucky Derby!

“There’s a huge buzz around the start and everyone in the town gets behind it as it is a sign of the start of summer. The backdrop is spectacular and starting or finishing any race in Newport is always special – we can’t wait to get going.”

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