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June 20, 2008

Records may fall in Newport Bermuda Race / Photo

Journal photo / Frieda Squires
The lawn was covered at Castle Hill -- a prime vantage point overlooking the mouth of Narragansett Bay -- for the start of the Newport to Bermuda sailboat race today. Keep track of the boats' progress via the race Web site.

NEWPORT – Among the 200 boats on the starting line for the Newport Bermuda Race today, three of them – The Monster, Rambler and Speedboat – could set a new record, even though forecasters are calling for light air.

The brand-new 100-footer, Speedboat, is the favorite to win line honors in Bermuda, says Ken Read, skipper of il Mostro, The Monster, a Volvo 70 built for Puma Ocean Racing to compete in the Volvo Ocean Race.

“Speedboat is a Volvo 70 on steroids,” said Read. The new maxi was designed by Juan Kouyoumdjian. It is owned by Alex Jackson and skippered by Mike Sanderson. Its professional crew is loaded with Teamorigin's America’s Cup Team with navigator Stan Honey.

Speedboat and The Monster will attempt attempt to the unofficial open-class record set by
Hasso Plattner’s the MaxZ 86 Morning Glory in 2004. Plattner finished in 48 hours, 28 minutes and 31 seconds.

George David’s Reichel Pugh 90-foot Rambler will be going after the traditional record of 53 hours, 39 minutes, 22 seconds set by Roy Disney in 2002 on Pyewacket.

Final entries have dwindled from 218 to 198 entries, according to race spokesman Talbot Wilson. "One boat sank on delivery, another was t-boned on its mooring, one had an electrical fire and other crews have dropped out for business or personal reasons," he said. "Yet this is still the second largest fleet in the 102-year history of the race. The special, centennial race in 2006 had 263 starters and the previous record was 182. Organizers from the Cruising Club of America and the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club are positive about the final turnout."

-- Journal sports writer Tom Meade

Posted by Jack Perry  at 6:45 PM | Permalink

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