Governor Fergusson to take part in RBYC Regatta
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The Spirit of Bermuda
Governor George Fergusson will put his sailing skills to the test during Royal Bermuda Yacht Club’s (RBYC) Anniversary Regatta to be held in the Great Sound tomorrow.
The Governor has accepted an invitation to sail with RBYC skipper Mark Watson aboard the Reichel-Pugh 74, Wizard, during the regatta presented by the Butterfield Group.
The occasion will mark Mr Fergusson’s first time sailing in local waters since being appointed as Governor last month.
“I haven’t sailed half as much as I would have liked, but have a RYA (Royal Yachting Association) coastal skipper ticket,” the Governor said. “The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club have very kindly made this arrangement — I am very grateful to them and to Mark Watson.”
RBYC skipper and Argo Group CEO Mr Watson is “flattered” to have the Governor join Team Tiburon that was the first local boat to finish this year’s 635 mile Newport Bermuda Race on a corrected time of 40 hours, 38 minutes and 24 seconds respectively.
He said: “I think it’s wonderful that the Governor wants to come out and participate in the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club Anniversary Regatta. We are flattered that he’s interested in sailing with Team Tiburon and we look forward to the race on Friday.”
Mr Watson added: “Whenever we go out we want to be safe and have a nice time and of course we want to win. We are going to be out to win ... but we’ll definitely be having a fun time along the way.”
The RBYC Anniversary Regatta is the third and final stage of the Onion Patch Series.
The Onion Patch Series comprises of the New York Yacht Club Annual Regatta, Newport Bermuda Race and RYBC Anniversary Regatta.
Since its inception in 1906 the Newport Bermuda Race has grown in stature and pumped millions of dollars into the local economy. It is estimated that this year’s race, involving nearly 2,000 sailors, will inject $14 million into the local economy.
“I do know from my time in Boston, where I had the pleasure of having Newport in my consular district, how much the race features in that part of the world — and incidentally the role it plays in encouraging people to come to Bermuda,” the Governor said. “It is one of the great classic international races of the yachting world, with a great heritage, for the US and for Bermuda.”
A total of 166 boats participated in this year’s Newport Bermuda Race, including the 118ft sloop Spirit of Bermuda.
George David’s 90ft maxi, Rambler, was the first boat to finish the race in a record time of 39 hours, 39 minutes and 18 seconds.
Mr Watson’s time was also inside of the previous record held by Roy Disney’s Pyewacket that stood for ten years.
Just hours after shaving 14 hours off the previous course record business mogul Mr David tied the knot with fellow crew Wendy Touton who was a cook aboard Rambler.
In 2010 Mr David and his wife to be were plucked to safety after their yacht, Rambler 100, capsized off the Irish coast during the Fastnet Race.
The mishap occurred just months after the 100ft maxi was the first boat to finish the biennial Newport Bermuda Race.
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Published Jun 21, 2012 at 9:05 am (Updated Jun 21, 2012 at 9:04 am)