Fast and slow Marion Bermuda Race 2023

The 2023 Marion Bermuda Race was not for the faint of heart as conditions ranged from fast-moving squalls to completely still air; the mostly light winds tested both patience and skill for the 32 teams that set sail on June 16 from Buzzards Bay in Marion, MA.

In an unusually slow race, the final boat did not cross the finish line off of St. David’s Lighthouse in Bermuda until 07:45 EDT on June 23— with more than 163 hours of elapsed sailing time under her keel.

What ended up being one of the slowest Marion Bermuda Races for the majority of the fleet was also the fastest for the very front of the pack. Richard Moody’s Boudicca (above) crossed the Marion Bermuda Race finish line off of St David’s Lighthouse on June 19.

Boudicca, having sailed a total of 705 miles in just 2 days, 17 hours, 16 minutes, 14 seconds, beat the previous record set in 2011 by the 76-foot Briand sloop Lilla, owned by Simon and Nancy DiPietro, which was 2 days, 20 hours, 58 minutes, 45 seconds.

Thirteen boats retired during various points of the race due to either equipment issues or lack of wind. Some returned to Massachusetts, others continued under engine power to Bermuda. Among these was the Spirit of Bermuda, which was also the only boat in the Sail Training Class. Therefore, no awards were given in that class.

Race information – Results – Tracker

Line Honors, Top 3
* indicates Celestial class

1. Boudicca, Richard Moody (Jamestown, RI) – Reichel-Pugh 66, 65:16:14
2. Lyric, Jay Hansen (Jamestown, RI) – X-Yachts X 49, 115:21:49
3. The Rover, Steven Yang (Westbrook, CT) – Swan 44 MKII, 117:14:11

Corrected Time, Top 3
* indicates Celestial class

1. Boudicca, Richard Moody (Jamestown, RI) – Reichel-Pugh 66, 65:16:14
2. Defiance, Phillip Pacheco and Dylan Medina (Annapolis, MD) – Pierson Composites Navy 44 MKII, 77:35:34 *
3. Mara, Alex Tarakhovsky (Newport, RI) – Able Apogee 50, 79:16:29

Winners By Class
* indicates Celestial class

Performance Class
1. Boudicca, Richard Moody (Jamestown, RI) – Reichel-Pugh 66
2. Lyric, Jay Hansen (Jamestown, RI) – X-Yachts X 49
3. Scylla, Aneas Dodd-Noble (New Jersey) – Sirena Marine Azuree 46

Founders Class A
1. Mara, Alex Tarakhovsky (Newport, RI) – Able Apogee 50
2. The Rover, Steven Yang (Westbrook, CT) – Swan 44 MKII
3. Arkana, Bradford Gibbs (Newport, Rhode Island) – Jeanneau SunFast 3300

Founders Class B
1. Defiance, Phillip Pacheco and Dylan Medina (Annapolis, MD) – Pierson Composites Navy 44 MKII *
2.Yaquina, Charles Samuelson (Padanaram, MA) – Beneteau First 42 *
3. Integrity, Aidan Johnson and Jaden Tabak (Annapolis, MD) – Navy 44 MK II STC *

Founders Class C
1. Silhouette, David Caso (Duxbury, MA) – Cherubini 44
2. Wind Chime, Thomas Greaves (Boston, MA) – Bristol 35.5 CB
3. Yankee Girl, Thomas Vander Salm & Johnathan Bixby (Marblehead, MA) – Morris Justine *

Special Awards:

Bermuda Ocean Cruising Trophy – Pinaccle, Peter Torosian (Atkinson, MA) – Tartan 4100

Sponsored by Sail Magazine and awarded to the skipper who has the best finish time in consecutive Marion Bermuda and Newport Bermuda Finisterre Division Races.

• Goslings Founders Trophy – Boudicca, Richard Moody (Jamestown, RI) – Reichel-Pugh 66

Awarded to the yacht with the best overall corrected time.

• Blue Water Sailing Club Board of Governor’s Trophy – Boudicca, Richard Moody (Jamestown, RI) – Reichel-Pugh 66

Awarded to the yacht with the shortest elapsed time on the course.

• Celestial Trophy presented by Celestaire – Pinaccle, Peter Torosian (Atkinson, MA) – Tartan 4100

Awarded to the celestial navigator who is judged ‘best’ according to the panel of Celestaire Judges.

• Navigator’s Trophy and Beverly Yacht Club Polaris Trophy– Defiance, Phillip Pacheco and Dylan Medina (Annapolis, MD) – Pierson Composites Navy 44 MKII

Awarded to the navigator of the first-finishing celestial yacht.

• L. Bryon Kingery Jr. Memorial Trophy – Silhouette, David Caso (Duxbury, MA) – Cherubini 44

Awarded to the first-finishing short-handed yacht, with 3 or 4 people aboard.

• Double-Handed Trophy – Ventus, Henri Brink and Leon Brink-Bredella (Boston, MA) – Hanse 415

Awarded to the first-finishing yacht of 2 sailors.

• Beverly Family Trophy – Leviathan, Dennish Walsh (Mattapoisett, MA), Queen Long Stevens Custom 47

• Awarded to the first family crewed yacht – with either 5 or more or all but one member of the crew being members of a single household or family.

• Offshore Youth Challenge Trophy – Defiance, Phillip Pacheco and Dylan Medina (Annapolis, MD) – Pierson Composites Navy 44 MKII

Awarded to the yacht with at least 4 youths aboard.

• Bartram Tophy – Integrity, Aidan Johnson and Jaden Tabak (Annapolis, MD) – Navy 44 MK II STC

Awarded to the best-performing yacht from a US Service Academy, maritime college or ROTC program.

• Ancient Mariners Golden Teapot – Yankee Girl, Thomas Vander Salm & Johnathan Bixby (Marblehead, MA) – Morris Justine

Awarded to the crew with the highest average age.

• Hickley/Morris Mini Class Trophy – Yankee Girl, Thomas Vander Salm & Johnathan Bixby (Marblehead, MA) – Morris Justine

Source: MBR