Organizers of the Newport Bucket Regatta are counting on the spectacular display of vintage aircraft to attract the local community to the waterfront in celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Bucket Regattas, held in Newport and St. Barth’s.
The ninth annual Newport Bucket Regatta, which will be held Saturday, August 27 and Sunday, August 28, will include a grand finale of legendary WWII airplanes buzzing the skies from 4:30 to 5:00 p.m. on both days.
The Texas Flying Legends, who are making a debut in Newport, will feature six rare WWII vintage aircraft including Last Samurai, one of only two Japanese Zeros still flying in the world; the FG-1D Corsair Whistling Death; the P-40K Aleutian Tiger; two P-51D Mustangs Dakota Kid II and Little Horse; and the Mitchell B-25 Bomber Betty’s Dream. A public viewing will be available at the Quonset Air Museum from noon to 7 p.m. both days of the Airshow and will include access to the planes and pilots along with a viewing of the launching (approximately 4 p.m.) and recovery (approximately 5 p.m.).
Newport Bucket 2010
The Newport Bucket is the sister regatta to the St. Barth’s Bucket held each spring and is known for a legendary combination of thrilling superyacht racing and memorable shore-side celebrations. With 20 yachts registered to compete in Newport, including J Boats Velsheda and Ranger, the 37 meter Dubois/Fitzroy Moonbird, 42 meter Frers/Royal Huisman Hyperion and 35 meter Fontaine/Holland Jachtbouw Whisper, the regatta will once again host some of the world`s finest racing yachts, fiercely competing for the highly-sought-after tin bucket award.
The extremes of crossing the Atlantic Ocean will be experienced very
Phaedo
differently by crews on the longest and shortest yachts competing in the upcoming Transatlantic Race 2011 (TR 2011). This adventure challenge will add 2,975 nautical miles to its participants’ log books. The TR 2011 starts off Castle Hill in Newport, R.I. (on Sunday, June 26; Wednesday, June 29; and Sunday, July 3) and expects to greet its first finisher off Lizard Point in South Cornwall (UK) sometime in mid-July, depending on many things, not the least of which are the lengths of the boats making the crossing.
On the one hand there is the Perini Navi designed Maltese Falcon, at 289
Maltese Falcon in Perini Cup 2009
feet, one of the largest privately-owned sailboats in the world. On the other there are two Class 40s, which at 40 feet are specially designed for short-handed offshore and coastal racing. These extremes are punctuated by the fact that luxury charter yacht Maltese Falcon is every bit the world cruiser, with stem-to-stern luxury a given, while the Class 40s seem relatively stark in comparison. But each team at either has its reasons for undertaking the TR2011 challenge intends to succeed, if not win.
The yacht’s three self-standing rotating carbon fiber masts, which carry 15 sails with a combined sail area the size of three and a half tennis courts (25,833 square feet), are of such an imposing height–190 feet, in fact—that recent visitors to Newport have experienced “the Falcon” at almost eye level as they’ve crossed the 206’ high Claiborne Pell Bridge, which serves as the gateway to Narragansett Bay and its adjacent Newport Harbor.
Captain Chris Gartner calculated that logging 500-mile days would make Maltese Falcons voyage about six days, but longer is more likely. “If we do it in less than 12, I would be very happy,” he said, noting that the World Sailing Speed Record Council will ratify a new Newport to Lizard Point race record based on the fastest yacht’s elapsed time.
Sumurun
While Maltese Falcon will be dry and comfortable and sailing with a large crew, the two Class 40s will be roughing it with minimum comfort, eating freeze-dried food and sailing with anywhere from two to six onboard.
Concise 2
Team Concise was set up four years ago by owner Tony Lawson (Haslemere, UK) specifically to encourage and develop young British offshore sailors and will be entered in the TR 2011’s challenge for the Youth Trophy. His team of six (the maximum for the Class 40) will be skippered by Ned Collier-Wakefield (Oxford, UK).
“We sail six-up when allowed simply to give the largest number of young sailors a chance to do these big races,” said Lawson, explaining that the Class 40, built to a box rule and considered the world’s fastest growing offshore class, is designed for short-handed sailing, but several of the events on the class’s calendar are fully crewed. “So far, Concise teams have won the Class 40 World Championships, broken the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race record for a 40-foot boat, and twice set a new Class 40 course record at the RORC Caribbean 600.”
Dragon, at 40 feet, will be the shortest yacht competing. (Photo credit Billy Black)
Sailing double handed in the Class 40 division will be Michael Hennessey on Dragon. “I would be thrilled with anything less than 12 days. I’m realistically expecting 13 to 14 days, and upper end who knows? It’s up to the weather gods.” As for plotting Dragon’s course relative to the rest of the fleet scheduled for the June 29 start (that includes Maltese Falcon), Hennessey said, “We’ll be most conscious of where Concise 2 is, as she is our pace horse, if you will.”
There are 26 entries sailing in the TR 2011, with the U.S. fielding 10 teams, Germany six, the UK four, and South Africa, St. Barth’s, Italy, Monaco, China and Lithuania one each. The yachts will be tracked with Yellowbrick Trackers, self contained units that transmit the position of each boat at regular intervals using GPS and Iridium (a global satellite phone network). Synchronized position reports will be available to the public by using the Race Player Application at the www.transatlantic.org website.
Everyone who visited IMPETUOUS on the day we were there was truly impressed by this custom 120’ Crescent yacht, built in 2004, and her delightful crew. IMPETUOUS is a superbly maintained yacht that warmly welcomes guests of all ages and is ideally equipped for charter families and friends.
Captain Jim Lynn explained that IMPETUOUS is constantly being upgraded by a conscientious owner and it shows. The furniture is newly upholstered, newly varnished tables glisten and fresh wallpaper adds a contemporary flair. The AC is fully upgraded and there is iPod accessibility throughout the yacht with interfaces (within cellular range) for wireless Internet accessibility.
The gracious main salon is designed in golden tones with plush furnishings that beckon relaxation. We proceed past the formal dining area to reach the spacious eat in galley equipped with both counter stools and generous banquette seating. This is a great place for the kids to help make the pizza or gathering together for a late night snack.
Marvelous aromas are in the realm of Paul Stevens, Chef extraordinaire, who is endowed with gourmet cooking talents and a keen sense of humor. He busily prepares a selection of delicacies that include delectable dates wrapped in bacon stuffed with goat cheese.
A handsome spiral banister of braided leather leads to the staterooms on the lower deck. The stately master features ample built in storage, a huge shower and aromatic walk-in cedar closet. The guest staterooms are luxurious and the forward V-berth is placed comparatively low for comfortable access. Cedar closets fragrance the rooms and ensuite facilities are lovely and spacious. This very kid friendly yacht also has an adorable twin stateroom to delight any child.
IMETUOUS has a pocket exercise room with a story. Here the wall features a meticulously hand painted photo reproduction of the Owner in his race car. Captain Jim Lynn explains, “he was one of the first Americans to race with the Porsche racing team back in the 1950s. Shortly after the picture was taken he drove into the wall doing 170mph and miraculously walked away from it. He won a lot of huge races across Europe, he placed second in Le Mans, he was first in Sebring, he won the Mille Miglia in Italy, and he won the Nuremburg Ring in Germany.
About fifteen years ago he went around and found all of his old (race) cars, had them completely restored, and maintains them in one of his garages. He is also doing vintage races, two years ago at the Porsche race reunion. We took the yacht up there and it was quite amazing. He won first place best in show, racing the same car that he raced back in the day.”
His story left little mystery as to the name IMPETUOUS, and indeed there is an infectious aura of spontaneity and excitement on board this superb yacht, which is presently available for charter in New England.
Competitors and spectator enthusiasts are gearing up for Storm Trysail Club’s (STC) 24th Block Island Race Week presented by Rolex. The five-day regatta, scheduled for June 20-24, has just announced that it will be hosting the J/109 East Coast Championship along with the previously announced 2011 IRC East Coast Championship and the J/122 National Championship. The regatta will also include the debut of the new J/111 class and some serious racing for a large PHRF fleet. With 119 boats already registered boats and expectations of 30 to 40 more, Block Island Race Week
2009 – Al Minella’s J/109 RELENTLESS leads the fleet.
promises a very exciting week of racing.
Along with the anticipation of meeting the tough competition coming out for this year’s Block Island Race Week, crews and spectators have many reasons to participate in the island event this summer. To ensure that Block Island Race Week lives up to its reputation as one of America’s most popular Race Weeks, the
View from Southeast Lighthouse, built in 1875
Storm Trysail Club is expertly organizing an action packed fourth week in June for sailors and their families who converge on the quaint island to enjoy a full week of exemplary views, great company and fierce competition. The traditional around-the-island distance race will also be included, with a Rolex watch awarded to the top IRC boat.
Racing headquarters for the 2011 Block Island Race Week presented by Rolex will be located at The Oar Restaurant, while evening festivities and award ceremonies will be held next door in the event tent. A Rolex watch will be raffled off at the end of the event along with a trip to the Bitter End Yacht Club to benefit the Block Island Rescue Squad, Block Island Maritime Institute and the Block Island Early Learning Center.
A dazzling 2011 Leopard 44 will be available for charter out of Tortola, BVI beginning this November. This innovative sailing catamaran features a powerful engine, excellent electronics package, bimini hard top, high capacity water and fuel tanks, electric windlass and more.
The acclaimed brand won the Cruising World Boat of The Year and Sail Magazine Best Boats awards in the Cruising Multihull and Overall Import Boat of the Year categories. The Leopard 44 is ideally designed to delight bareboat charterers with excellent seaworthiness, cruising performance and spacious accommodation.
The most significant modification on the new Leopard 44 is the addition of the open forward cockpit with direct access from the saloon. This feature offers increased visibility, ventilation, and increased living space in an ergonomic and safe design. This lounging area has a fixed overhead bimini for protection against the elements. The forward door with large portlights in the windscreen allows for through ventilation in the saloon, even during a tropical downpour, where the forward bimini prevents water entry.
Jeanneau 54 DS 2010 just entered the charter market and now is available out of Newport R.I. The Jeanneau 54 is a stunning luxury yacht designed as the flagship of the Jeanneau fleet. This beautiful, spacious yacht is fully air-conditioned and features contemporary interiors of rich woods, teak, sumptuous leathers and first-class amenities. This seaworthy monuhull accommodates eight guests in four cabins.
Organizers of the Newport Bucket Regatta are counting on the spectacular display of vintage aircraft to attract the local community to the waterfront in celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Bucket Regattas, held in Newport and St. Barth’s.
The Texas Flying Legends, who are making a debut in Newport, will feature six rare WWII vintage aircraft including Last Samurai, one of only two Japanese Zeros still flying in the world; the FG-1D Corsair Whistling Death; the P-40K Aleutian Tiger; two P-51D Mustangs Dakota Kid II and Little Horse; and the Mitchell B-25 Bomber Betty’s Dream. A public viewing will be available at the Quonset Air Museum from noon to 7 p.m. both days of the Airshow and will include access to the planes and pilots along with a viewing of the launching (approximately 4 p.m.) and recovery (approximately 5 p.m.).
spacious. This very kid friendly yacht also has an adorable twin stateroom to delight any child.
