2023 Marion Bermuda Race Wrap-Up
The 2023 Marion Bermuda Race was not for the faint of heart. The fleet saw conditions ranging from fast-moving squalls to completely still air; the mostly light winds tested both patience and skill for the 32 skippers and their crew that set sail on June 16th from Buzzards Bay in Marion, Massachusetts. In an unusually slow race, the final boat did not cross the finish line off of St. David's Lighthouse in Bermuda until 7:45 EDT on Friday morning — with more than 163 hours of elapsed sailing time under her keel.
Richard Moody's Boudicca Wins Line Honors in 2023 Marion Bermuda Race
In the early morning light on Monday, Richard Moody’s Boudicca crossed the Marion Bermuda Race finish line off of St. David’s Lighthouse, having sailed a total of 705 miles in just 2 days, 17 hours, 26 minutes, 27 seconds.
This incredible performance beats the previous record, set in 2011 by the 76-foot Briand Sloop Lilla, owned by Simon and Nancy DiPietro, which was 2 days, 20 hours, 58 minutes, 45 seconds.
Boudicca is a King Marine Reichel-Pugh 66 skippered by Richard Moody, based out of Jamestown, Rhode Island. Boudicca sailed in the performance class, a new addition to the Marion Bermuda Race for 2023 that looked to expand race eligibility to more performance-focused cruising vessels. The new class has four entries this year.
Race Update: Sunday Morning
Overnight, Richard Moody’s “Boudicca” smashed through the halfway mark of the course and as of this morning has just 200 or so miles to the finish. At the current pace, they’re on track to take down the previous course record, set by Simon and Nancy DiPeitro’s “Lilla” in 2011. The current record is 68:58:45 (2 days, 20 hours, 58 minutes, 45 seconds). “Boudicca” is expected to make her finish off of St David’s Head very early tomorrow (Monday) morning.
The rest of the fleet continues south, with most boats approaching, if not already in, the Gulf Stream as of Sunday morning.
Updates from the racecourse
Mahina Kai, Oyster 54 Skippered by Wayne Haubner:
While the first day of the race is characterized by the activity of the start, the second day is about leaving the continental shelf behind, and arriving at the gulf steam current. We just passed --- on the depth display, and expect to hit the gulf stream tonight.
As the race moves along, the pack spreads out. Although there are 32 boats in the race, since last night we are now alone, and it may stay that way until the final hours before our arrival in Bermuda.
Read more:http://svmahinakai-saloon.blogspot.com/
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