The first Marion-Bermuda Cruising Yacht Race in 1977 saw 104 starters cross the line. The going was slow in light southwesterly winds and most of the officials at the finish line thought Chee Chee would cross first. But her position was not accurate and Silkie took line honors, first on corrected time and first short-handed.
The next race in 1979 saw 128 starters plunging into 25-knot southwesterly winds. The struggle with nature caused two dismastings and 14 DNFS. Silkie took the short-handed trophy for a second time, while Gabriella took first to finish and first on corrected time. The new "Beverly Family Trophy" was created and awarded to Asteroid.
Years later, the start of the 1989 race suffered several postponements due to the lack of wind. However, once the race was underway, 163 vessels, the biggest fleet in the history of the Marion-Bermuda Race, cleared the starting line and headed for that pleasant rendezvous in Bermuda. On Monday, Warren Brown's War Baby crossed the finish line after 72 1/2 hours at sea, breaking the standing record.
The 2009 race was a nightmare. Of the original forty-eight entries, three did not start, and 15 retired in the face of confused seas and strong westerly winds early in the race. "We saw everything out there except hail and locusts," said Rick Higgins aboard Hotspur.
19 races ran, over 26,000 nautical miles sailed. In 2015, the 20th running of the Marion Bermuda Race will commence. Join us, and become a part of Marion Bermuda history!
Save the Date: June 19, 2015!
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The First Marion Bermuda Race, by C. Barns Davis
"I was 19 years old in the summer of 1977 and crewed aboard Abraxas in the first Marion to Bermuda yacht race. I had lots of coastwise experience cruising, as well as some offshore experience aboard the Tabor Boy, including a passage to Bermuda, but this was my first blue water yacht race. It was fate...
I received a call early in the morning on the day of the race from a friend of mine who was operating the launch at the Beverly Yacht Club. He informed me that one of the boats, Abraxas, had lost a crewmember due to a family emergency. He suggested if I wanted to race I had better get to Marion right away. I put some gear in a bag, left a note for my parents, and drove the 30 miles from my home in Duxbury to Marion as fast as I could.
When I arrived at the Yacht Club, I hopped on the launch my friend was running and he took me straight out to Abraxas. She looked fine to me from the launch; engine running, jib hanked on, crew busy preparing for her imminent departure. As the launch came alongside, I asked if they were still looking for crew. The owner and mate came to the rail and asked me what experience I had. In hindsight, it might have been prudent of me to ask the same of them - but I was young and eager to get to sea. They invited me aboard, and before I could stow my bag I was already casting off mooring pennant!"
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Photos from the race are available for viewing or purchase via Spectrum Photo. Images are available from the 2013 race, as well as 2011, 2009, 2007 and 2005. Thanks for the great shots, Spectrum Photo! |
Rob McAlpine and Bob Kostyla -
Texas-based skipper Rob McAlpine had a pretty unusual experience in the 2013 Marion-Bermuda race- his boat went, and he didn't! "When it became likely that business was going to prevent me from making the race itself, I immediately looked to Bob [Kostyla] to take over as skipper," said McAlpine, "I never gave any consideration to the idea that the boat wouldn't go simply because I couldn't make the race. There were months of planning and commitments by all of the crew involved. If one of the other crew had had to back out at the last moment I certainly would not have scratched the boat." 
"I have done six Marion Bermuda races 1999, 2001, 2007-2013," said Kostyla, who sailed the races with a combination of friends and family- particularly, his son. "Those races truly held to the friends and family aspect which distinguishes the Marion Bermuda race," he said. As for the 2013 race, "Rob had pulled together a crew of strangers who not only became good friends after only a few short per-race days, but were still good friends after we stepped onto the docks at the RHADC. Sailing skills are of course important, but I don't think you can over estimate the importance of compatable personalities .......both for enjoying the race, but also for a safe passage."
"At home we call Marion-Bermuda "the Flogging of The Varnish Hogs"," said McAlpine, "because of the beautiful, well-loved boats that participate. While small, our Hinckley SW-42 fits in well with this group...the emphasis in the Marion-Bermuda race is to come and have a great time racing your cruising boat to Bermuda and cruising back. The race suits our boat, and it suits our sailing philosophy. I enjoy meeting the other skippers and crew, including the fine ladies and gentlemen from the Naval Academy. Everyone is united by a genuine love of offshore sailing."
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A Call To Action- Share With Us!
Did you have a particularly unique experience preparing for or during the Marion Bermuda Race? Do you have any interesting sailing photos that just have to be seen by our community of over 3,000 fellow sailors? If so, don't hesitate to send us your images, stories, and ideas to Editor@MarionBermuda.com, we would love to feature them in an upcoming newsletter or post! And, don't forget to find and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn too.
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