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2024 Mustang Survival Annapolis to Bermuda Brings the Drama

annapolis to bermuda sailboat race

A storm in the Gulf Stream created some drama for the 18 entrants in this year’s Annapolis to Bermuda Ocean Race sponsored by Mustang Survival

The 753-mile Mustang Survival Annapolis to Bermuda Ocean Race kicked off June 7 with an 18-boat fleet that represented a diverse collection of sailboats between 30 and 156 feet in length. The challenging course offered both inshore and offshore racing, with the fleet navigating its way down the Chesapeake Bay before heading into the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The A2B is a technical race that involves navigational skill and a variety of abilities, and no matter the weather, always proves to be a challenge.

annapolis to bermuda sailboat race

For the 2024 running, boats hit the line with beautiful breeze, blowing 10-15 knots off the Bay’s western shore as the fleet raced down toward the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. The breeze stayed behind them the entire time, picking up as they got closer to the open water. Once boats exited the Bay, however, things got a bit squirrelly.

On Monday, the wind began to intensify. Coupled with big swells and patchy thunderstorms, there were moments when the race seemed intent on bringing a damp, miserable experience for sailors. Tuesday, conditions worsened and gusts were steadily in the 40s, with Team Iris reporting a top out of 54kts.

annapolis to bermuda sailboat race

Line honors went to John Haiges and the crew of Verissimo , a J/160 out of Riverton Yacht Club in New Jersey that finished Tuesday around 4pm. This is Haiges’ first attempt at the A2B, after a successful completion of the Annapolis to Newport last year.

“After doing the Annapolis to Newport last year, we decided to up the ante,” he says. The J/160 was originally raced out of Halifax, and won the Newport to Bermuda in the early aughts. Haiges bought the boat in 2010, and cruised the boat up and down the Eastern Seaboard. “We started just started casually racing her last year. In February, we took her down to Annapolis and got her all new rod and standing rigging. We managed to do one practice race, then said, ‘That’s all the time we’ve got. It’s time to go to Bermuda.'”

After corrections, Verissimo fell to fifth place in the ORC 1 class. First overall in ORC 1 was awarded to Allegiant , the Annapolis-based J/42 owned by Albert Bossar and Maryline O’Shea.

annapolis to bermuda sailboat race

One of the most exciting entrants this year was Pride of Baltimore II , helmed by Captain Jan C. Miles. While Pride led the fleet into the Atlantic, she had to retire early due to a crew member’s medical needs. Pride , and all of her crew members, made it safely to Bermuda.

Remarkably, the entire fleet, in fact, made it to Bermuda, where Dark and Stormies were waiting for them on the dock. After a rough night, who could ask for anything more?

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Published on August 17th, 2023 | by Assoc Editor

Annapolis to Bermuda Race: entries open

Published on August 17th, 2023 by Assoc Editor -->

Entries are open for the 2024 Mustang Survival Annapolis Bermuda Ocean Race, with the start scheduled for June 7, 2024.

This is the twenty-third occurrence of this biennial race. Founded in 1979 by members of Eastport Yacht Club, the race is 768 nautical miles and has the challenge of navigating the Chesapeake Bay, as well as the offshore run through the Gulf Stream to St. David’s Lighthouse in Bermuda.

Organized by Bermuda Ocean Race and hosted by Eastport Yacht Club in Annapolis and Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club in Bermuda. The race welcomes yachts over 30 feet in PHRF, ORC, and Double Handed classes. The Organizing Authority offers significant pre-race preparation support through seminars and networking through happy hours and other events.

Race Chair Corinne Smith, taking the helm of this event for the second time, states, “We are excited to partner again with EYC and RHADC in planning another memorable race to Bermuda! We look forward to your participation as we host several expert seminars and numerous social happy hours to assist in race preparation. The A2B Race is an adventure you will never forget!”

annapolis to bermuda sailboat race

In existence since 1979, it combines the tactics and strategy of navigating the Chesapeake Bay as well as the Gulf Steam and Atlantic Ocean.

Event details: www.bermudaoceanrace.com

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annapolis to bermuda sailboat race

Moritz Hilf rules the waves in Annapolis to Bermuda Race

annapolis to bermuda sailboat race

There was double delight for Moritz Hilf, owner and skipper of Max at the conclusion of the Annapolis to Bermuda Race.

The Pogo 50 vessel was the first to reach the island yesterday, completing the route of 753 miles down the Chesapeake Bay and on to Bermuda, to pick up not only overall fleet honours but also victory in the ORC class as well.

Hilf crew were followed in by Jane Says, skippered by Robert Dunigan , who picked up victory in the double-handed class. Other vessels who had finished by yesterday afternoon included Allegiant , skippered by Albert Bossar, Jake Kiggins’s Gallan USNA and Defiance USN A, owned by Larry Fraizer.

Bare Bones , skippered by John Tis and Himmel , were the remaining vessels to have completed the course.

Meanwhile, special guest entrant into the 22nd edition of the race Pride of Baltimore II , captained by Jan Miles, remains on course to reach the island by today, having endured difficulties after the start of the race.

The 156-foot topsail schooner’s refrigeration system completely shut down, forcing skipper Miles to signal to race organisers that they were withdrawing from the race. However, a quick on-the-water repair was possible, and the vessel to was able rejoin the fleet for the offshore portion. As of yesterday afternoon, the vessel was 78 nautical miles from the finish line.

The Annapolis to Bermuda Race has marked its return after a four-year wait. Eastport Yacht Club officials were forced to cancel the 2020 running of the biennial race because of the Covid-19 pandemic, with the closing of Bermuda’s borders the significant contributing factor behind the decision.

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annapolis to bermuda sailboat race

From Annapolis To Bermuda: Rick Irving’s Five-Day Sailing Journey (And Win) On The Open Ocean

annapolis to bermuda sailboat race

There are competitions that can take place for the better part of a week, generally with off-days — and then there is the five-day Mustang Survival Annapolis to Bermuda Ocean Race. There are no breaks in the action, no recovery days, but plenty of open ocean and challenges to make this experience a thrill for those involved — including Newtown’s own Rick Irving.

Not only did Irving sail the Atlantic Ocean in this marathon race, his US Naval Academy boat came in first in its division, the Performance Handicap Racing Fleet, which featured nine boats. Quite an accomplishment for the 2020 Newtown High School graduate and his fellow crewmen considering such an adventure alone is something special.

Irving spent nearly a month competing with the US Naval Academy varsity offshore sailing team, which also sailed to Newport and Martha’s Vineyard to participate in another race series at Edgartown Yacht Club Race Weekend, closing out a busy June at sea.

For the Annapolis to Bermuda race, Irving and his team sailed a Navy 44 which is, as the name indicates, a 44-foot-long boat. Part of a crew of ten — eight Midshipmen and two coaches —Irving’s primary role is bowman. He is responsible for forward sails and hoist jibs (secondary/upwind sails) as well as spinnakers (secondary/downwind sails).

Detangling lines with a crew and all of that ocean water to think about, and enjoying the calmness when things are going smoothly likely makes competitive sailing both stressful and peaceful on the same journey.

“It’s a lot of clearing lines and making sure everything’s running right. It’s a lot of problem-solving and a lot of things going wrong and trying to fix them,” Irving said.

His secondary role, and one that Irving said is perhaps the hardest part of sailing in the race, is being in charge of food for the crew for this lengthy voyage. Providing meals that make a large group content might be hard enough on dry land. Try five days on the water. Newfound respect for moms (and dads) in kitchens everywhere.

It is probably safe to say Irving and his sailing team members are getting an at-sea education for life as a parent trying to detangle toys, functioning on minimal sleep, keeping things afloat, and making meal time interesting for a bunch of hungry but picky eaters.

“It was pretty tough because I’ve never done anything like that before,” Irving said of his food duties. “I did take suggestions beforehand and drew on some info from previous boats. We did a lot of tortillas, just because it’s less messy, quesadillas, and cold cuts in wraps. We premade a bunch of the dinners, stuff without intense flavors because that tends to exacerbate seasickness, so it was stuff like red beans and rice and pasta with chicken. The big thing is the snacks, so that’s where I got creative and had some variety for everyone. People tend to be a lot less hungry in the middle of the ocean so it’s tough planning for meals when you don’t know who’s even going to want to eat, but we made it work.”

Perhaps like any long race — on land or water — sailing is a test of endurance with some rewarding scenery for competitors to take in along the way. Nearly a week on the waves is quite the extreme.

“Being in competition for five days is kind of rough. It takes a lot out of you,” Irving acknowledged. “Being out there with nothing around you — just open ocean — is pretty cool. It was awesome.”

The crew can have long practices but five consecutive days of sailing is uncharted territory until it comes time for the race. “There is no way to prepare for that,” said Irving, adding that it was even more of a unique experience for the freshmen who had never been in such a long race before.

With ten participants, five get to sleep while the other half makes the boat do its thing. Does not sound so challenging, does it? Well, it’s four hours on and four hours off to sleep in a stretch at night and three hours on and three off during the day in a continuous rotation for the crew during this five-day experience.

“It’s like napping,” Irving said of bedtime on a competitive sailboat. “It’s pretty tough. Three hours of hard sailing followed by three hours of sleep, three hours of hard sailing followed by three hours of sleep,” he explained.

On day five, with pretty blue water all around, Bermuda came into view for Irving and company.

“We were riding pretty high after that,” he recalled. “It was interesting because Bermuda came out of nowhere. There’s nothing around it.”

After spending four days on Bermuda island, it was off to Newport for more sailing.

Irving, who will be a junior, is working toward a degree in political science. He said the Naval Academy is one of few programs with a fleet of boats for big competitions, and that other universities visit the Naval Academy and use the host’s boats for competitions during the fall.

According to the Naval Academy website usna.edu/sailing , the Navy Intercollegiate (IC) team is consistently one of the top programs in the country and has a long history of turning out collegiate All-Americans, College Sailors of the Year, Olympians, and America’s Cup sailors. The team competes in the Mid-Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association (MAISA) and sails in over 60 collegiate events each year.

“MAISA is arguably the most competitive district in the country, and includes such schools as St Mary’s College of Maryland, Georgetown University, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, and Old Dominion University. Annapolis is situated far enough south to allow the team to practice late into the fall and start early each spring, giving Navy sailing a competitive edge during each season. The IC sailing team practices five days a week for three hours a day and competes most weekends in both the fall and spring,” according to the website.

“The IC sailing program’s fleet of racing dinghies consists of 42 racing Lasers, 50 training Lasers, 22 420s, 22 Flying Juniors, three Interclub Dinghies, four Tech Dinghies, and three Vanguard 15s. This gives the team opportunities to practice in specific boats that will be sailed in upcoming events. With such a large fleet, Navy is able to play host to a multitude of events every year, including two of the largest college sailing regattas in the Intercollegiate Sailing Association (ICSA): the Navy Fall Intersectional and the Truxtun Umstead Regatta in the spring. Both regattas feature four divisions of 20 teams with all divisions racing at the same time, which allows for some very exciting sailing,” according to the site.

“It’s a really unique program,” Irving said. “We’re a pretty competitive group.”

Practicing each day after practice is something that not only makes Irving and his teammates better but also is something they enjoy.

“It’s really cool to go out there every day and be able to get away a bit,” Irving said.

Irving played soccer and volleyball, and was on the swim team at Newtown High. Always around the water, if not on it or in it, he is helping coach the Newtown Torpedoes swim team this summer.

Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at [email protected] .

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Annapolis to Bermuda Ocean Race ToT CRCA - Cruiser 07/Jun/2024 01:35 PM 120 NM 10 Kts
Annapolis to Bermuda Ocean Race ORC ORC 1 07/Jun/2024 01:53 PM Triple AP Medium 120 NM 10 Kts
Annapolis to Bermuda Ocean Race ORC ORC Cruising 07/Jun/2024 02:02 PM Triple AP Medium 120 NM 10 Kts
Annapolis to Bermuda Ocean Race PHRF_ToT PHRF 07/Jun/2024 02:15 PM 120 NM 10 Kts
J 42 Albert Bossar & Maryline O'Shea 1.1252 08/Jun/24 - 06:23:31 0:16:30:31 0:18:34:32
X 482 Brett Mastropieri 1.1991 08/Jun/24 - 05:55:40 0:16:02:40 0:19:14:20
J/99 Kevin Sherwood 1.0973 08/Jun/24 - 08:06:16 0:18:13:16 0:19:59:38
Hanse 458 George Vorwick 1.1782 08/Jun/24 - 07:54:35 0:18:01:35 0:21:14:19
J 160 John Haiges 1.3006 08/Jun/24 - 06:33:37 0:16:40:37 0:21:41:24
Pogo 12.5 Barry Salter 1.2397 08/Jun/24 - 07:23:01 0:17:30:01 0:21:41:42
Hanse 461 Sheila & Tristan Keen 1.2090 08/Jun/24 - 08:06:46 0:18:13:46 0:22:02:22
 
Swan 44 Mike Maholchic 1.1220 08/Jun/24 - 06:46:40 0:16:44:40 0:18:47:14
Performance Cruiser Askold (Oskar) Sandursky 1.1267 08/Jun/24 - 09:23:18 0:19:21:18 0:21:48:26
10611 Tartan 34C Hattie Warwick-Smith 0.9744 08/Jun/24 - 14:08:16 1:00:06:16 0:23:29:15
Moody 44 Mk2 Gordon Miller 1.0554 08/Jun/24 - 14:11:07 1:00:09:07 1:01:29:24
 
Sunfast 3600 John Tis 63.0 / 1.0604 08/Jun/24 - 06:49:21 0:16:34:21 0:17:34:25
Jeanneau 440 Matthew Kiely 63.0 / 1.0604 08/Jun/24 - 08:10:57 0:17:55:57 0:19:00:56
Hallberg Rassy Adam Davis 120.0 / 0.9701 08/Jun/24 - 10:02:06 0:19:47:06 0:19:11:36
Outbound 44 Stephen Weinstock 93.0 / 1.0109 08/Jun/24 - 09:16:37 0:19:01:37 0:19:14:04
CS 30 Douglas Ellmore, Sr. 162.0 / 0.9129 08/Jun/24 - 11:20:30 0:21:05:30 0:19:15:16
C&C 44 Russ Matijevich 75.0 / 1.0400 08/Jun/24 - 11:35:59 0:21:20:59 0:22:12:13
 
Topsail Schooner Jan Miles 0.9930 08/Jun/24 - 07:40:25 0:18:05:25 0:17:57:49
 
  Down the Bay leg - Annapolis to Norfolk
 


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Annapolis To Bermuda Race Starts On Friday

The Mustang Survival Annapolis to Bermuda Race gets underway on Friday [June 3].

One of the longest ocean races on the East Coast of the United States, the 753-mile race, which started in 1979, combines inshore and offshore racing down the Chesapeake Bay, across the Gulfstream, and onto Bermuda.

More than 600 yachts have participated in the race since it began, and the number of class divisions ensures a competitive experience for seasoned racers and casual cruisers.

The Eastport Yacht Club in Annapolis, Maryland, is the host club for the race, while the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club will host the fleet while in Bermuda.

Mustang Survival Annapolis to Bermuda Race May 31 2022

The awards dinner will be held at the RHADC on June 11.

Three generations will be sailing together onboard Astral, with Matt Graham and his dad Dave Graham setting off for their first Annapolis to Bermuda Race. Matt’s 14-year-old son is joining them for the return trip.

We look forward to the added excitement and camaraderie,” Matt said. “My father and I did the round trip from Annapolis to Bermuda 25 years ago with friends.

It was one of the most memorable adventures of our lives, and we figured it was time to do it again. Should be even more fun in the context of a race!

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Sports | Second Storm team enjoys successful debut in…

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Sports | Second Storm team enjoys successful debut in Annapolis-to-Bermuda Race

Allegiant and stormy weather are the other class winners.

Second Storm, a Hallberg Rassy 53-footer owned by Adam Davis, was the PHRF class winner for the Annapolis-to-Bermuda Race. (Courtesy of Willy Keyworth/Keyworth Photography)

Last December, they worked together to enter Baca’s 65-foot powerboat named LookingGlass in the Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade. Their theme was “A Pitbull Pirate Parade” and the display won the Tom Stalder Award for Best Illumination.

Flush from that success, the friends asked each other out loud what they should do for an encore.

“Someone said let’s do the Bermuda race and everyone agreed that would be something fun,” said Davis, who proceeded to put together a crew.

Baca came aboard as a watch captain, while Domaniewicz served as tactician. They found five other sailors willing to make the 753-nautical mile passage from Annapolis to Hamilton. Davis and crew enjoyed a successful debut in the Mustang Survival Annapolis to Bermuda Race, winning PHRF class in an extremely tight battle.

“We are thrilled with the result because this team of sailors had never even raised a sail together before this race,” Davis said. “We absolutely loved everything about the whole experience. I personally learned a lot and feel much more confident in my sailing ability.”

Remarkably, Second Storm was the first of three boats in PHRF class that finished within nine minutes of each other after more than 100 hours of racing. The Hallberg-Rassy 53 posted an elapsed time of 4 days, 4 hours, 48 minutes and 57 seconds.

The Second Storm crew displays their trophies aboard the Hallberg Rassy 53-footer while at the dock in Hamilton, Bermuda. (Courtesy/Adam Davis)

Granuaile, a Jeanneau 440 skippered by Matthew Kiely, crossed the finish line just four-and-a-half. Bare Bones, a Sunfast 3600 skippered by John Tis, was less than four minutes behind Granuaile.

“It was a very exciting ending and really amazing that three boats could be that close together after sailing nearly 800 miles,” said Davis, who credited 16-year-old Jamie Taub with spearheading the decisive final push. “Jamie steered for the last two hours, which is when we won the race. He did a tremendous job driving the boat during that crucial closing stretch.”

Second Storm finished atop PHRF on corrected time by almost five hours over FuhGedAboutIt, an Outbound 44 owned by Annapolis resident Stephen Weinstock.

While Davis has plenty of offshore miles under his belt as a cruising sailor, he acknowledges there was a learning curve when it came to preparing for a point-to-point distance race. He and other members of the crew were attracted by the challenge of Annapolis-to-Bermuda as it combines the Chesapeake Bay passage of 130 nautical miles with the Atlantic Ocean crossing that involves traversing the Gulf Stream.

“The various elements of this legendary race are what made it so appealing,” Davis said. “You win by pushing to get the most out of the boat at all times and understanding how the current is going to help or hurt you. I think we were pretty spot-on in terms of understanding what the wind and current were going to do.”

Davis considers the Hallberg-Rassy 53 “an underrated” offshore platform even though it is fully equipped for cruising and carries no racing sails. Davis laughed when he looked around the marina in Hamilton and realized Second Storm was the only Annapolis-to-Bermuda Race participant with a dinghy.

“We had perfect conditions for the boat with beam and broad reaches the whole way. We were pushing 10 knots of boat speed quite often,” said Davis, noting that the Code Zero spinnaker blew out in 16 knots of wind. “I also think we pulled together an incredibly well-rounded team. There was not a problem that arose that we did not have the skill set to address.”

Allegiant, a J/42 co-owned by Albert Bossar and Maryline O'Shea, was winner of the ORC 1 class for the Annapolis-to-Bermuda Race. (Courtesy of Willy Keyworth/Keyworth Photography)

A total of 18 boats in four classes competed in the 23rd edition of the Mustang Survival Annapolis-to-Bermuda Race, which started June 7 on the Chesapeake Bay. Verissimo, a J/160 skippered by John Haiges, captured line honors with an elapsed time of 3 days, 22 hours, 30 minutes and 50 seconds.

Allegiant, a J/42 co-skippered by Albert Bossar and fiancee Maryline O’Shea, was the corrected time winner of ORC 1 class. Allegiant crossed the line fourth on elapsed time but corrected to 5:09:22:24 — almost three hours ahead of Aurora, an X 482 owned by Brett Mastropieri.

Bossar, an Annapolis resident, has owned the J/42 for eight years and enjoyed mixed results in offshore racing. Allegiant captured class honors in the 2019 Annapolis-to-Newport Race and was runner-up in the 2022 Annapolis-to-Bermuda Race. However, Bossar has also been forced to retire from each of those races due to breakdowns or other issues.

“I’ve always learned from the failures and rebounded stronger,” said Bossar, who works in international economic development for the federal government. “It always feels amazing to win. I feel like we maximized the opportunities the sail gods gave us in this race.”

Allegiant got out of the Chesapeake Bay in 18 hours and 34 minutes, setting the spinnaker just past Cove Point and staying on starboard gybe in 20-25 knots of wind.

“We absolutely flew down the bay. That is the fastest this boat has ever done the bay portion of a distance race,” Bossar said.

Navigator James Branson took a somewhat conservative approach in the Atlantic Ocean, plotting a course just south of the rhumb line. “We had a specific approach on how we wanted to sail through the Gulf Stream and we executed,” Bossar said. “We were dialed in the whole way with our drivers and trimmers working really hard.

The crew of Allegiant poses for a photo in the cockpit of the J/42 after winning ORC 1 class for the Annapolis-to-Bermuda Race. (Courtesy/Albert Bossar)

Bossar and O’Shea are getting married in October and have decided to take time off from work for a honeymoon prior to the nuptials. Allegiant spent just a few hours in Hamilton before departing port for a delivery to Newport, Rhode Island, where it will begin the Newport-to-Bermuda race on June 21.

“We didn’t want to choose between the Annapolis-Bermuda and Newport-Bermuda,” Bossar said. “I wouldn’t recommend it for everyone. You have to be a little crazy to attempt that double.”

Mike Maholchic has skippered an entry in the Annapolis-to-Bermuda Race seven previous times without capturing class honors. His best result came in 1998 when Nirvana, a Tartan 415, placed second.

Maholchic, president of Reisterstown-based Facility Engineering Services, had not raced in five years and had to put together a brand new crew for 2024 Annapolis-to-Bermuda. John Groskoph and Frank Cirii served as watch captains while Bob Cantwell was aboard as navigator

Groskoph has two sons — Jake and Sean — who are varsity sailors at the College of Charleston. They joined the crew and brought teammates Evan Chenard, Hadley Walsh and Miles Wolff along for the ride.

Stormy Weather had a similar passage as Allegiant, exiting the Chesapeake Bay in 16 hours, 44 minutes and 40 seconds thanks to running-reaching conditions in 15 to 18 knots of wind.

“We had a fantastic run down the bay, which was probably the key because that got us really pumped up and gave us great energy,” Maholchic said. “That is easily the fastest I’ve ever gotten out of the bay and it got the whole crew fired up.”

Stormy Weather topped ORC Cruising class on both elapsed and corrected time, crossing the finish line more than six hours ahead of Leopolis, a 42-foot Performance Cruiser skippered by Askold Sandursky. That gap grew to more than 16 hours once handicaps were factored in.

“It was really like a dream race. Everything just fell into place perfectly,” said Maholchic, an Eastport Yacht Club member who primarily resides in Bedford, Wyoming.

Stormy Weather, a Swan 44 owned by Mike Maholchic, was winner of the ORC Cruising class for the Annapolis-to-Bermuda Race. (Courtesy of Willy Keyworth/Keyworth Photography)

Annapolis-to-Bermuda Race Results

(boat name, design, owner, hometown, elapsed time, corrected time)

ORC 1 (7 boats)

1, Allegiant, J/42, Albert Bossar & Maryline O’Shea, Annapolis, 4:03:42:35, 5:09:22:24

2, Aurora, X 482, Brett Mastropieri, Hunt Valley, 3:23:27:23, 5:12:50:48

3, Bay Retriever, J/99, Kevin Sherwood, Springfield, VA, 4:12:32:57, 5:17:25:24

ORC Cruising (4 boats)

1, Stormy Weather, Swan 44, Mike Maholchic, 4:06:31:45, 5:11:56:41

2, Leopolis, Performance Cruiser, Askold Sandursky, Huntingdon Valley, PA, 4:12:48:25, 6:04:33:15

3, Caledonia, Moody 44, Gordon Miller, Austin, Texas, 4:22:15:47, 6:04:33:15

PHRF (6 boats)

1, Second Storm, Hallberg Rassy 53, Adam Davis, Leola, PA, 4:04:48:57, 4:01:48:05

2, FuGedAboutIt, Outbound 44, Stephen Weinstock, Annapolis, 4:06:01:52, 4:07:08:36

3, Granuaile, Jeanneau 440, Matthew Kiely, Severna Park, 4:04:53:27, 4:10:59:05

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Sandys Boat Club

Annapolis to bermuda race.

The Annapolis Bermuda Ocean Race provides a unique combination of inshore and offshore racing through its route down the Chesapeake Bay, across the Gulfstream, and onto Bermuda.  It enables many sailors to fulfill a lifelong ambition: a blue water passage to a coral island with white sandy beaches and legendary hospitality.

The Race covers 753 miles, making it the longest ocean race on the east coast of the U.S.

A number of PHRF and class divisions ensure a competitive experience for both seasoned racers and more casual cruisers.  A major objective of the Race is to promote the art of navigation for more sailors.  A2B provides these challenges within a framework designed for safe offshore sailing.

The fleet is limited to 50 entries which allows the committee and host clubs to be responsive to the needs of each entrant--a major objective of the race organizers.

The Eastport Yacht Club hosts pre-race social events leading up to the race start, while the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club provides participants with a wonderful venue upon their arrival in Bermuda. The Club provides dockage, a restaurant and bar, showers and laundry and is conveniently situated across from the harbor from downtown Hamilton.

Next race start June 5, 2020

annapolis to bermuda sailboat race

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Bermuda Sailing Events & Races

sail boats racing in the 35th America's Cup

Over the past four centuries, Bermuda has made plenty of sailing history. And the island’s high seas glory just keeps building, thanks to the wealth of sailing competitions that attract the world’s best sailors.

Bermuda has long been a top destination for sailing with ideal weather and water conditions, deep connections with the international sailing community, major sailing events and fun activities both on and off the water. The island’s legacy of sailing goes back centuries, when Bermuda was founded by the survivors of the shipwrecked Sea Venture in 1609. These sailors invented the Bermuda rig, which is still used in 95% of all sailing yachts today. 

sail boats passing through a channel of water off of the coast of Bermuda

Sailing Events & Yacht Races

Bermuda hosts a variety of major sailing events, including the oldest regularly scheduled ocean race: the Newport Bermuda Race. View a round-up of the island's major sailing races below.

Bermuda Sail Grand Prix

May 4-5, 2024.

Sail GP returns to the Great Sound for another 2-days of exhilarating wing-sailed foiling catamaran racing. Watch some of the world's best sailors battle the wind and the waters to take home first place in the Bermuda Grand Prix. Season Four of SailGP takes place in 14 locations around the world, with Bermuda being one of the original and most iconic destinations to host.

Annapolis Bermuda Ocean Race

June 7-10, 2024.

If you’re going to attempt the  Annapolis Bermuda Ocean Race , you’ve got to love the open sea. The race covers 753 miles, making it the longest ocean race on the East Coast of the U.S. The distance isn’t the only difficulty, however. Setting sail from Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay – known for its unpredictable winds and heavy shipping traffic – and traversing the swirling currents and wild weather of the Gulf Stream will test any crew’s mettle. Despite such challenges, the race is still open to first-timers, veterans and cruisers.

The Newport Bermuda Race

June 21 - 23*, 2024.

When the first Newport Bermuda Race took place in 1906, spectators were enthused and bewildered by the participants' desire to pull off such a brave feat. The 635 nautical miles between Newport, Rhode Island and Bermuda offer high winds and big waves – usually the kinds of things seamen do their best to avoid. But the challenge and thrills of the race have proven addictive to adventurous types. The race is nicknamed "the thrash to the Onion Patch" because of those aforementioned high winds and big waves (a potent mix sailors call "a hard thrash"), and because of Bermuda’s onetime primary export: onions. To this day, Bermudians still refer to themselves as “onions.”  Learn more about this race .

*Depending on the weather, the currents in the Gulf Stream, and the boat's size, the race takes 2 - 6 to six days finishing off St. David’s Lighthouse.

Bermuda Sail Grand Prix (SailGP)

2025 Events

Antigua bermuda race.

In the Antigua Bermuda Race, a competing fleet of luxury yachts sets sail from Fort Charlotte, Antigua to Bermuda and its alluring crystal blue waters. 

Marion Bermuda Race

Boat racing can be a high-tech endeavour in the 21st century. But the biennial  Marion Bermuda Race  takes the sport back to its roots. Founded in 1977, the race challenges yachters to make the 645-mile journey from Buzzard Bay in Marion, Massachusetts to David’s Head in Bermuda using only the stars as their guide.

Though some sailors opt to use electronic tools these days, celestial navigation is what the race is best known for – it’s the only ocean race in North America that offers a celestial class. 

Exterior view of a sail boat with island houses and greenery in the background.

10 Reasons Sailors Love Bermuda

Newport to Bermuda sailboat race

The Marion To Bermuda Cruising Yacht Race

Newport sailboats docked

How the Newport Bermuda Race Was Born

Bermuda's Great Sound from the top of Gibbs Hill Lighthouse

Discover Bermuda’s Great Sound

Royal Bermuda Yacht Club – Royal Bermuda Yacht Club

Bermuda Yacht Clubs & Marinas

row of boats along front street

America's Cup History & Facts

Bermuda in your inbox.

We want to make you excited to check your mail. Stay in the loop on events, offers and what’s happening in Bermuda.

IMAGES

  1. Navy continues Annapolis to Bermuda Race tradition >> Scuttlebutt

    annapolis to bermuda sailboat race

  2. Navy tops Annapolis to Bermuda Race >> Scuttlebutt Sailing News

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  3. Bermuda Ocean Race Update

    annapolis to bermuda sailboat race

  4. Annapolis Bermuda Ocean Race

    annapolis to bermuda sailboat race

  5. Annapolis to Bermuda Sailboat Race

    annapolis to bermuda sailboat race

  6. Navy Offshore Sailing Annapolis to Bermuda Race

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COMMENTS

  1. 2024 Mustang Survival Annapolis to Bermuda Race

    The 2024 Mustang Survival Annapolis to Bermuda Race provides a unique combination of inshore and offshore racing through its route down the Chesapeake Bay, across the Gulfstream, and onto Bermuda. ... A2B provides these challenges within a framework designed for safe offshore sailing. The race is technically challenging, physically taxing, and ...

  2. 2024 Mustang Survival Annapolis to Bermuda Brings the Drama

    By Bay Living / June 13, 2024. The 753-mile Mustang Survival Annapolis to Bermuda Ocean Race kicked off June 7 with an 18-boat fleet that represented a diverse collection of sailboats between 30 and 156 feet in length. The challenging course offered both inshore and offshore racing, with the fleet navigating its way down the Chesapeake Bay ...

  3. 2024 Mustang Survival Annapolis to Bermuda Ocean Race on Yacht Scoring

    2024 Mustang Survival Annapolis to Bermuda Ocean Race Eastport Yacht Club / The Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club Annapolis, MD, USA 07 June 2024: Online Registration Form - Closed For Entry, please contact the Event Organizers. Current Registration List. Scratch Sheet.

  4. Mustang Survival Annapolis to Bermuda Ocean Race

    After the start, bookmark the Race Tracker to follow the action all the way to Bermuda. Mustang Survival Annapolis to Bermuda Ocean Race. Friday, June 7, 2024 11:00 AM. PO Box 3205 317 First Street Annapolis, MD 21403. Phone: (410) 267-9549.

  5. Entries Open for 2024 Mustang Survival Annapolis Bermuda Ocean Race

    The Mustang Survival Annapolis-Bermuda Ocean Race has announced that entries are open for the 2024 race, with the start scheduled for June 7, 2024. NOTE: The event below, Arts Alive 25, was held ...

  6. History

    The first Annapolis To Bermuda Race was run in 1979 with seven yachts that competed informally. The organizers determined there was sufficient interest in the race and it became a popular biennial event starting in 1980. Since then the fleet has grown and now attracts both racing and cruising boats. 2022 Race Results. 2018 Race Results. 2016 ...

  7. Annapolis to Bermuda Race: entries open >> Scuttlebutt Sailing News

    Entries are open for the 2024 Mustang Survival Annapolis Bermuda Ocean Race, with the start scheduled for June 7, 2024. ... Founded in 1979 by members of Eastport Yacht Club, the race is 768 ...

  8. Annapolis2Bermuda

    Annapolis2Bermuda, Annapolis, Maryland. 2,737 likes · 367 talking about this. Official Page for the Annapolis to Bermuda Ocean Race

  9. Schedule of Race Week Events

    Annapolis & Bermuda Events — 2024 Mustang Survival Annapolis to Bermuda Ocean Race. 1800 - 2000 Finish Line Cocktail Reception St. David's Lighthouse. 08:00 - 21:00 hours Duty Desk: Lower Lounge (subject to arrival of boats) 10:00 - 20:00 hours Ship Store: Lower Lobby (subject to arrival of boats) 11:45 - 14:30 hours Lunch: Dining Room ...

  10. Annapolis to Bermuda Race Photo Gallery

    A biennial 725-mile-long sailboat race from Annapolis, Maryland, on the Chesapeake Bay to Bermuda, hosted by the Eastport Yacht Club in Annapolis. SpinSheet Annapolis Crew Party 2024 Every spring as sailing season begins, SpinSheet hosts at least three of our signature Crew Parties to connect sailors.

  11. Moritz Hilf leads Annapolis fleet towards to Bermuda

    This year's event set sail on Saturday, with 29 boats attempting to to race 753 miles down the Chesapeake Bay and on to Bermuda. It typically takes five to seven days for most sailors, barring ...

  12. Annapolis to Bermuda Race finally due to set sail again

    The Annapolis to Bermuda Race is finally poised to get under way again today after a four-year wait. Eastport Yacht Club officials were forced to cancel the 2020 running of the biennial race ...

  13. PDF 2024 Mustang Survival Annapolis to Bermuda Ocean Race Bermuda Ocean

    This changes RRS 60.1(a). 1. RULES. 1.1. The event is governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing and the 2024 Annapolis to Bermuda Offshore Safety Requirements (A2BOSRs). 1.2. For all classes, power-driven winches and mechanical or electro-mechanical steering devices are permitted.

  14. Moritz Hilf rules the waves in Annapolis to Bermuda Race

    Eastport Yacht Club officials were forced to cancel the 2020 running of the biennial race because of the Covid-19 pandemic, with the closing of Bermuda's borders the significant contributing ...

  15. From Annapolis To Bermuda: Rick Irving's Five-Day Sailing Journey (And

    For the Annapolis to Bermuda race, Irving and his team sailed a Navy 44 which is, as the name indicates, a 44-foot-long boat. ... US Naval Academy's Rick Irving, of Newtown, stands by the mast on the boat at right, during the Edgartown Yacht Club Race Weekend in Martha's Vineyard in late June. The boat, Tenacious, goes head-to-head with ...

  16. Official Documents

    Official Documents — 2024 Mustang Survival Annapolis to Bermuda Ocean Race. Safety is a primary consideration of the Race and the Committee is committed to ensuring that entrants are as well-prepared as possible for their adventure. The A2B is a Category 1 Offshore Race and generally follows the applicable US Sailing Offshore safety equipment ...

  17. 2024 Mustang Survival Annapolis to Bermuda Ocean Race on Yacht Scoring

    Yacht Scoring is a web based regatta management, regatta administration and regatta scoring system that simplifies the task of competitor registration, event management, competitor and media communications while providing results in near-real time to competitors and the World following your event on the internet. ... Annapolis to Bermuda Ocean ...

  18. Annapolis To Bermuda Race Starts On Friday

    June 1, 2022. The Mustang Survival Annapolis to Bermuda Race gets underway on Friday [June 3]. One of the longest ocean races on the East Coast of the United States, the 753-mile race, which ...

  19. Second Storm enjoys successful debut in Annapolis-to-Bermuda Race

    Mike Maholchic has skippered an entry in the Annapolis-to-Bermuda Race seven previous times without capturing class honors. His best result came in 1998 when Nirvana, a Tartan 415, placed second.

  20. Annapolis to Bermuda

    The Annapolis Bermuda Ocean Race provides a unique combination of inshore and offshore racing through its route down the Chesapeake Bay, across the Gulfstream, and onto Bermuda. It enables many sailors to fulfill a lifelong ambition: a blue water passage to a coral island with white sandy beaches and legendary hospitality. The Race covers 753 ...

  21. Bermuda Sailing Events & Races

    June 7-10, 2024. If you're going to attempt the Annapolis Bermuda Ocean Race, you've got to love the open sea. The race covers 753 miles, making it the longest ocean race on the East Coast of the U.S. The distance isn't the only difficulty, however. Setting sail from Maryland's Chesapeake Bay - known for its unpredictable winds and ...

  22. Event Registration

    Where Did You Learn About the Event? ...

  23. America's Cup 2024: Sailing schedule, format and dates as Ben Ainslie

    The AC75, or America's Cup 75, is a 75ft foiling race boat with one carbon-fibre hull (a monohull instead of catamaran or trimaran) and has been described as like a "large windsurfing board with ...

  24. FAQ

    The Annapolis Bermuda Ocean Race awards trophies for "first to finish" overall, fastest corrected time out of the Chesapeake, fastest corrected time for the ocean leg, as well as first, second, and third place finishes in each class. ... US Sailing offers a few seminars in the spring. Please check their web page. Please note that you must ...