Spirit of Bermuda
The 112-foot Spirit of Bermuda was the sole yacht to compete in the 2013 Marion Bermuda Race Classic Yacht Division after the 94-foot Fife ketch Belle Aventure withdrew from the 645-mile crossing from Massachusetts to Bermuda.
Spirit of Bermuda was also the largest yacht in the event, which included 37 boats of various sizes. This was the second year in a row that_ Spirit of Bermuda_ raced as the only classic.
Spirit of Bermuda crossed the finish line in Bermuda at 2:43 a.m. on June 19, five days after leaving Massachusetts. “We started the race as 32 separate individuals from all over the globe,” the crew wrote in their public log. “Many of us were complete strangers. We all stepped way outside our comfort zone. Just like the objective of the Bermuda Sloop Foundation, we united over a common purpose. We worked together to accomplish our goal. And in the process, we became a team. More than that, we became a family.”
The Sea Sprite 34 Roust — the smallest boat in this year’s race — finished at 7:38 a.m. on June 19 and took home the Founder’s Cup and the Double-Handed Trophy. The Columbia 50_ Hotspur II_ earned the Beverly “Polaris” Trophy for celestial navigation, and the Stellar 52 Etoile took home the Commodore Faith Paulsen Trophy for an all-female crew as well as the Ancient Mariner’s Golden Teapot for the crew with the highest average age
The Marion Bermuda Race is a volunteer-organized event that has been held since 1977. This year’s race began on June 14. Learn more at www.marionbermuda.com.
