The evening got off to a rousing – and unexpected – start when Alice in Red’s Dawn broke out the guitar.
Click here to see images from last night's prize giving.
“I’m a singer/songwriter by trade,” she announced, “and this is the first and thus far only song I’ve ever written, composed and recorded whilst actually at sea. It’s called ‘I’ll Never Go Sailing Again.’”
And with that, Dawn performed her song in front of a stunned group of sailors in the Dinghy Club restaurant – following a traditional fish fry dinner – last night to kick off Leg 1’s prizegiving evening in Bermuda. She received a thunderous applause and a standing ovation – indeed her act set the tone for the rest of the evening, albeit raising the bar pretty high for the World Cruising Club staff who had to follow her.
It was an appropriate song for an appropriate start to last night’s festivities. Dawn and her husband Martin, alongside crewmember Doug had just been formally introduced – with other newcomers Azzurra, La Chunga II and Windwalker IV – to the rest of the ARC Europe fleet, and what a way to make a mark! Alice in Red had been the only yacht to take the starting line from the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, having spent a week at World Cruising Club USA’s new homeport at Ocean Marine Yacht Center in Portsmouth, and then proceeded to beat nearly the entire 650 miles to Bermuda on a strong northeasterly that kicked up a rather uncomfortable sea in the Gulf Stream, to say the least. Hence Dawn’s inspiration for her song title.
The prizegiving began in earnest following Dawn’s performance. Lyall Burgess, event manager for ARC Europe and Atlantic Cup started the proceedings acknowledging the wonderful support the event gets in Bermuda, specifically from Gosling’s Rum, Bermuda Radio, Bermuda Yacht Services and in particular the St. Georges Dinghy & Sports Club, which has hosted both events – combined this year for the first time – for many years.
World Cruising Club’s ocean sailing events are unique in that while there is a definite competitive element – which many crews take very seriously – the focus is more on camaraderie and the ‘spirit’ of offshore sailing with family and friends that it is on out-and-out racing. In that spirit, the first prizes were awarded last night not to the winners of each class, but to those who made a special impact on the team of Yellow Shirts.
Johanem received the prize for ‘Best Log’ sent in from at sea, for their consistent posting and dry wit that brought to life what it’s like to go ocean sailing. They set the standard on Leg 1, doing their part to inspire the thousands of people who read those same blogs online.
Peter von Danzig, the crew of young German’s taking their sailing club boat back across the Atlantic (the yacht had participated in the ARC last November with a different crew), had spent the day yesterday looking for rum for their ‘POP’ last night.
“What’s ‘POP’?” asked one of the Yellow Shirts. “Party on Peter!” said Ole, the skipper. Of course!
Alas, as it was a Sunday, they struck out. No matter though, for they took the ‘Pirate Prize’ for their enthusiasm at the Pirate Party a few nights ago at the Dinghy Club, and ended up taking away two bottles of Goslings for their efforts.
Oli and Ethan aboard Mad Fish were recognized for their efforts helping in helping the Yellow Shirt staff during the refueling on Saturday and received the ‘Yellow Shirt Award’ for it. The 11- and 9-year-old brothers were ecstatic, and received two ARC Europe t-shirts in front of the crowd last night, all smiles. Craig Scott, skipper of Lone Star, added that Oli had picked up his crew in the dinghy last night to bring them ashore, further cementing their deserving of the prize.
Before the competitive awards were announced, one last special prize was awarded, and a very special one it was indeed. Each year the rallies award ‘Spirit of the Rally’ recognition to those people or yachts who best embody the spirit of ocean sailing. This year it was basically a lifetime achievement award, for Ron Horton, recipient of a signed Atlantic Cup 2013 flag and bottle of Gosling’s Family Reserve ‘Old Rum,’ was sailing in his 20th rally since 2003, and continues his incredible support and enthusiasm for the events.
“I just want to say how much fun I have in these rallies,” Ron said with tears in his eyes as he accepted the award. “It’s really thanks to the incredible hard work of these Yellow Shirts that make this possible for all of us, and I want to recognize them too,” he continued. “Thank you so much!”
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Following Ron’s emotional speech, Lyall Burgess continued with the competitive awards for Leg 1. For the first time, both Atlantic Cup and ARC Europe yachts were sailing in the same fleet, upping the competition and making for a more exciting evening. Traveling Light took the Multihull Division on corrected time. The double-handed crew of Randall and Arisan were especially impressive, given that they were one of the first boats to cross the finish line in Bermuda.
“You should have seen some of the speeds we were making on that cat!” Arisan said.
In the Monohull Division, Futura took Class B, with Oystermist and Kia Orana rounding out the top three. Kia Orana was not able to accept their prize, as they had already headed out to sea, bound for Portsmouth on the Chesapeake Bay. They departed shortly after Keep it Simple, winners overall of last year’s Caribbean 1500, who was also en route to the Chesapeake.
In Class A, the competition was close, with only a few hours separating 3rd and 2nd places. In the end Soledonna edged out Nyctea for second place, despite their poor performance at the start line.
“I timed it wrong!” griped skipper Bernard. “I really wanted to be competitive at the start, but I messed it up!” he joked. They made up the time at sea instead.
But it was Lone Star who took home the biggest honors last night in the competitive results, seizing Line Honors – and the traditional basket of Bermuda onions awarded by former commodore of the Dinghy Club Frank Virgintino – as well as 1st Place in Class A. Despite the windless first couple days at sea, Lone Star recorded on 37 engine hours and flew their light-air sails quite often en route to their victory. It shouldn’t have come as much of a surprise, with rally vets Ron Horton, Craig Scott and Jim Underwood along as crew and Caribbean 1500 founder Steve Black rounding out the team.
Kieran Higgs capped the evening off with a heartfelt speech thanking the rally crews for making it such a fun event to work on.
“This is the end of the line for myself, Andy and Mia,” Kieran began, explaining that while Lyall will follow the fleet to the Azores, the rest of the team was off to other adventures. “You’ll be put in the very capable hand of Suzana Baraca, manager of World ARC for the past couple of years, and a native Portuguese speaker, which will help in the Azores! As for us, thanks very much for making it a great event, and we’ll see you down the line on the water!”
The remainder of the Atlantic Cup fleet is set to depart today, bound for the east coast of the USA, while Leg 2 for ARC Europe begins on Wednesday.