Slow Start for Montego Bay Race

Miami, FL (February 3, 2017) – Eleven teams started the 33rd Pineapple Cup – Montego Bay Race at 2:05 ET today under sunny skies in very light 3 to 5 knots of breeze. The R/P 74 Wizard was first across in the IRC division, just edging out the Mills 68 Prospector and TP 52 Heartbreaker, while Frers 62 Merrythought slipped across slightly ahead of Santa Cruz 52 Renegade.

“It was an extremely challenging start in light air, but the boats are on the way and the wind will pick up as they carry on,” reports Hugh Piggin, Race Director. “The forecast is for a solid east, northeasterly breeze and once they make the turn around Eluethera it will be champagne reaching and running conditions.”

Race tracking will update every hour. The first finishers on the 811 nm course are expected late Monday night February 6.

Race details – Tracking – Entry list

About the Pineapple Cup
Established in 1961, the Pineapple Cup is a classic 811-mile “beat, reach and run” ocean race that has been dubbed “the best ocean race in the world” by its devotees, including three-time winner and media mogul Ted Turner. The 33rd edition starts in Florida on Friday, February 3. The race is hosted at the start in Miami by Biscayne Bay Yacht Club and at the finish in Montego Bay by the Montego Bay Yacht Club. The course record is 2 days, 10 hours, 24 minutes and 42 seconds set in 2005 by Titan 12, a 75’ Reichel/Pugh designed maxi boat. For more information, please visit http://pineapplecup.com

Source: Julianna Barbieri