2023 Bermuda One-Two: Singlehanded

After starting June 2, the 2023 Bermuda One-Two completed the singlehanded leg from Newport, RI to Bermuda, with the final finisher arriving June 7. Twenty-four boats started with Cole Brauer’s Class40 First Light taking line honors, with the 29-year-old as the first woman to finish first since the inaugural edition in 1977.

The last boat to finish was Windswept Rick McCally from Barrington, RI. This is Rick’s tenth Bermuda One-Two. Rick’s boat suffered a broken boom on the second day.

The race got underway in wonderful weather but that changed by late night. Three boats returned home for various reasons and one withdrew but continued to on to Bermuda.

The wind, after a calm period, switched to the North East which made for an uncomfortable Gulf Stream crossing as the wind against the current produced a short wave period with steeper heights. Winds were 20-30 knots for a lot of the leg and well over that for some of the boats.

While the wind died down into the teens nearing Bermuda, it overall was a fast trip with lots of carnage. One boat split his mainsail in two, one had it’s life raft swept off the deck, several boats had almost total electronics failure, one had to hand steer due to the loss of it’s autopilot, and one had both rudders delaminate (returned home).

A record of four female skippers started with the two finishers as Brauer on First Light won Class 1 and was runner-up overall on handicap. Nathalie Criou on her Figaro 2 Envolee finished third on elapsed time and corrected 2nd in Class 1.

Long time skipper Gust Stringos on his Morris Justine 36 Bluebird finished 1st corrected in the fleet and 1st corrected in class 3. Jim Hammitt on his Sigma 41 Reveille finished 1st corrected in Class 2.

The boats pickup a crew member in Bermuda and then race back to Newport doublehanded starting on June 15.

Results: http://www.bermuda1-2.org/2023/2023B12SHScoringTOT.pdf