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Spirit fails to overturn non-starter ruling

Line infraction: Spirit of Bermuda was classified with a DNS

Spirit of Bermuda applied unsuccessfully for redress for a starting line infraction which resulted in the local entry being ruled as a non-starter in this year’s Marion Bermuda Race.

The 118-foot triple-masted schooner was ruled as a non-starter because it did not cross the starting line in Sippican Harbour, Marion, Massachusetts, last Friday or turn back to do so within the specified four-hour time frame.

The redress hearing was held yesterday at the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club, where the race committee’s original ruling to consider Spirit of Bermuda as DNS (Did Not Start) stood.

Tabor Academy’s 92-foot schooner SSV Tabor Boy was the only other entry in the Classic Yacht Division and was making its debut in the biennial 645-mile race.

Kiwi Spirit led from start to finish to secure line honours while Cordelia finished first in the fleet on corrected time and also secured class D honours and the Polaris Trophy as the best celestially navigated yacht.

Abigail captured the class A title, Gallant won class B, while Pinnacle secured bragging rights in class C.

The only other local yacht entered in the race was Michael Tucker’s Farr 395, Cyclone, which finished eighth among the nine entries in class B.

A total of 39 boats competed among five divisions in the 22nd Marion Bermuda Race.

The first Marion Bermuda Race was held in 1977 and has since evolved into a true offshore challenge for cruising yachts, amateur, family and youth sailors.