Bermuda race centenary

A dozen maxis expected for the 2006 race, meanwhile the search is on for the original Lipton Cup

The Provisional Notice and Conditions of Race for the centennial Bermuda Race, Newport Bermuda 2006, is now online here. The 16 June start marks the 45th sailing of the race first sailed from Gravesend Bay by three small yachts in 1906. The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club and the Cruising Club of America, co-organisers of the race since 1926, predict a record fleet.  
 
 “We are expecting to smash the participation record of 182 boats set in 2002 by an impressive amount, by 30 to 40 boats,” said Andy Cox, Commodore elect of the RBYC.  “A dozen conventional 80 to 90 foot maxis should be on the line with scores of other boats in the 50 to 80 foot range. The Swan USA office told us they are swamped with calls about charter opportunities. We’ll have a record number of Bermuda entries, too, including the charter of Boomerang II by a good group of racers.”
 
In the 35-50ft range the turnout of Swans will be bolstered by the Swan 45 fleet coming up from their World Championship in Key West, sailing in new Gulf Stream Series and in the Bermuda Race for the Swan East Atlantic Championship. European Swans shipped to Florida on a Dockwise ship will be picked up in Bermuda to return to the Med in time for mid-summer racing.
 
Berths can be reserved through the Dock Master by phoning at 441 799 5290, or by email at marina@rbyc.bm.  Yachts staying at the RHADC should contact dockmaster@rhadc.bm.

Meanwhile the search is on for the event's Lipton Cup...

When Thomas Fleming Day and members of the Brooklyn and Royal Bermuda Yacht Clubs organised the first Ocean race to Bermuda, Day appealed to Sir Thomas Lipton to put up one of his famous cups as the prize.

Lipton responded with his usual "zeal and generosity,” according to Day, and gave the trophy “to encourage the building and racing of good boats.” The first Bermuda Trophy came right out of the Victorian Age. It is an elaborate affair, with a silver base topped by a winged seahorse rising out of the waves, balancing a silver boat with a winged mermaid goddess at the helm and a trident baring merman sounding his horn on the stem.

The little yawl Tamerlane, 31ft on the water and 38ft 3in overall, owned by Frank Maier and commanded by Day himself, ultimately took the Cup.

Where is the Cup today? Hopefully it is in some family trophy case or in the halls of a yacht club up East. What a joy it would be to see it at the Centennial Celebration in June. Not as a trophy to replace the spectacular Lighthouse Trophies coveted by so many and won by so few, but to stand as a symbol for the building and racing of good boats and the challenge of a good ocean crossing.

If anyone knows the whereabouts of this Trophy, please contact Talbot Wilson, the Newport Bermuda Race Press Officer here.