Bay Boats Prove Victorious 2014 Newport Bermuda Race
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his year’s Newport Bermuda race began June 20 with a picturesque spinnaker leg and nearly 30 Chesapeake Bay boats on the start line. Read the unique perspectives of four local skippers who each finished in one of the top spots for their respective class. Actaea, Modified Hinckley Bermuda 40 Yawl First place Class 1, winner of the St. David’s Lighthouse Trophy The winning amateur boat, Actaea, beat 96 other entries in her division. This was the 10th consecutive Newport Bermuda Race for skippers Mike and Connie Cone, who have campaigned out of the Sassafras River for the past 25 years. Mike says, “Based on information from Commander’s Weather service, I knew that the winds were going to be fluky. We experienced two bad lulls, and then on Tuesday night we sat in a parking lot. We could see 12 lights, so we knew that we had a chance at winning if we could just solve the conundrum of how to get moving before everyone else. We had aboard George
by Beth Crabtree Fallon, who is the best light air sailor I know, and he was the one to solve the conundrum. “The current was carrying us to the east, so we put up our ultra light headsail, a 109 percent jib, and turned the boat around. We had just a little air, but George got us moving approximately 1.1 to 1.2 knots to the northwest. We were going the wrong way, but we were moving. Then we tacked over, and we were headed northeast, going just under one knot. We got the boat up to about three knots, then pointed her toward Bermuda.” With a chuckle Mike continues, “We were a geriatric crew. Our average age was mid 50s. The youngest was 37, but then the age jumped to 52. Our greenest crewmember had already logged 3000 to 4000 miles on Actaea. But because we’ve worked together as a crew so steadily, we all know one another’s strengths, and we’re able to compensate for one other’s weaknesses.” He adds, “Connie and I believe older sailors handle light air better.” “And we dine better too. Nothing is freeze dried,” says Connie, who is a
talented helmsman and steers Actaea for the start and finish of most races. “Actaea has had a streak of success since the Governor’s Cup in 2010, so I knew if we applied ourselves, we could win our class,” says Mike. That was my goal. Having achieved that goal, I’m floating at 50,000 feet.” Connie adds, “Someone asked if I’m on cloud nine, and I replied that I’m on cloud 9000!” They’ve certainly earned the right to be flying high. Learn more about this very interesting racing duo in this month’s Chesapeake Racer Profile on page 84. Flyer, Cal 40 Second Place St. David’s Lighthouse Division Class 1 under ORR Owner and skipper Doug Abbott, who sails out of Tred Avon YC and Miles River YC recalls, “The wind was generally light and easterly for most of the race. A front was moving slowly between the Gulf Stream and Bermuda. Once you crossed it, the winds were steadier and out of the southwest. The problem was getting to and crossing that front. Our navigator, Jay Weaver,
##2014 Newport Bermuda Race start. Photo by Daniel Forster/PPL
74 August 2014 SpinSheet
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