Bacardi Moth Worlds 2018 Bermuda

HAMILTON, Bermuda (Apr. 1, 2018) — For the third year in a row Paul Goodison of the U.K. has won the world championship of the International Moth Class Association. Goodison, 40, achieved the feat today when the final day of racing at the Bacardi Moth World Championship in Bermuda was canceled due to lack of wind.

Goodison previously won the Moth Worlds in Japan in 2016 and last year in Italy. He became the second skipper in the 77-year history of the regatta to win three consecutive titles, matching fellow British sailor David Izatt from 1979 to 1981.

“Last year’s win was very, very special because it came straight after the Americas Cup and it was against all the guys I’d been working with and sailing against,” said Goodison, who was a member of Artemis Racing during the 2017 America’s Cup in Bermuda.

Continue reading “GOODISON COMPLETES THREE-PEAT AT BACARDI MOTH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP”

HAMILTON, Bermuda (Mar. 31, 2018) — With Bermuda firmly in the grasp of a high-pressure system racing was postponed today at the Bacardi Moth World Championship.

Principal Race Officer David Campbell-James tried to get some racing when he sent the fleet on the water around 1400 hours when the wind on Great Sound was blowing around 7 knots. But the hope for racing diminished by 1600 hours when the wind was just 3-4 knots and the fleet was sent back to shore.

“The Moth needs at least 6, preferably 8 knots to get up on its foils. If it can’t foil it’s not worth trying to race,” said Campbell-James. “It’s unfortunate for everyone involved but the weather is the one part of a regatta that is uncontrollable. Everyone’s anxious to get racing so hopefully tomorrow will be a better day.”

Continue reading “GOODISON, JENSEN DISCUSS SETUPS AT BACARDI MOTH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP”

HAMILTON, Bermuda (Mar. 29, 2018) — Day 4 racing at the 2018 Bacardi Moth World Championship Bermuda has been postponed due to light winds.

A high-pressure system has replaced the low that buffeted the island earlier in the week. While it has brought sunshine and warm temperatures, it has also strangled the wind.

“We haven’t had an average of more than 5 knots so far today and we’re expecting it to continue to drop, so we’ve postponed today’s racing,” said David Campbell-James, the principal race officer.

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HAMILTON, Bermuda (Mar. 28, 2018) — Paul Goodison of the U.K., Francesco Bruni of Italy and Rome Kirby of the U.S. hold first, second and third, respectively, at the Bacardi Moth World Championship in Bermuda.

Today’s conditions were far more manageable than yesterday’s blow out. But even though the northwesterly blew at a more manageable strength of 12-to-18 knots many competitors still suffered breakdowns that had them scrambling.

WATCH: Video Recap

Goodison’s forestay broke during tune-up which forced him to miss the first race of the day. Kirby discovered a crack in his main vertical foil just before docking out. And Iain Jensen of Australia was forced to retire from Race 6, the fourth of the day, when his mainsheet broke.

“The mainsheet broke just below the splice,” said Jensen, who finished 1-2-1 in the first three races of the day. “The worst part is that I now have two discards in my scoreline, both due to rigging failures.” Jensen holds 10th overall with 54 points.

Continue reading “GOODISON, BRUNI, KIRBY HOLD TOP SPOTS AT BACARDI MOTH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP”

HAMILTON, Bermuda (Mar. 27, 2018) — Paul Goodison of the U.K. took the early lead at the Bacardi Moth World Championship in Bermuda after winning the first two races on Great Sound.

Hosted by the Royal Bermuda yacht Club, the world championship got underway a day late after yesterday was blown out. Today was on the hairy edge as the wind blew steadily between 18 and 22 knots with gusts nearing 30 knots. The conditions were challenging for the sailors but left some exhilarated.

WATCH: Video Recap

“The conditions were on the edge, pushing everyone to the limits of what’s possible in the Moth,” said the 40-year-old Goodison, the two-time Moth world champion. “But it was fantastic. So many guys were rocking around with big smiles.”

“It was super windy and pretty hairy, but the water was flat enough to get around the racecourse,” said Victor Diaz de Leon of the U.S., unabashedly the shortest sailor in the fleet. “I’ve sailed in those conditions before but it’s rare. The Moth often makes you scared, but it’s fun when you’re scared. It was a blast.”

Continue reading “GOODISON TAKES LEAD AT BACARDI MOTH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP”

HAMILTON, Bermuda (Mar. 26, 2018) — Day 1 of the Bacardi Moth World Championship in Bermuda was postponed today due to gale force winds.

A low pressure to the southwest of the island intensified overnight and brought heavy rains in the early morning hours and northwesterly winds steadily in the mid-20s with gusts of 40 knots.

“I’ve had a number of people ask what the course is, which is disturbing,” said Principal Race Officer David Campbell-James. “But we’ve decided the chance of racing today is nil so we’ve abandoned for the day.”

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HAMILTON, Bermuda (Mar. 24, 2018) — Joshua Greenslade has won the Bacardi Moth Bermuda National Championship.

Racing for the championship was cancelled today due to very strong winds, so Greenslade won based on yesterday’s results. Greenslade finished 1 point ahead of James Doughty while Benn Smith, the youngest competitor in the fleet at 18 years of age, was 11 points further back.

“It’s a strange win, considering we only had three races, but it was fun,” said the 27-year-old Greenslade who’s a director of the Endeavour Community Sailing Program, a legacy of the America’s Cup Endeavour program. Previously, Greenslade won national championships in the Optimist Class, 420 Class and match racing.

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HAMILTON, Bermuda (Mar. 23, 2018) — Racing for the Bacardi Moth Bermuda National Championship got underway today with overseas visitors stealing the limelight from the locals.

British sailor Paul Goodison won all three races contested today, each by a large margin. He holds a 7-point lead over fellow British sailor Ben Paton, who is 4 points ahead of Australian Matthew Chew in third place.

Sailing in a building southwesterly breeze that started at 10 knots and gusted up to 30 knots as a squall came through at the conclusion of Race 3, everyone enjoyed the day on the water.

“The conditions were amazing today,” said Paton, a past coach for host Royal Bermuda Yacht Club. “I’m pretty happy with the day. I have to make a few changes to try and match Goodison’s speed, but I think it all looks promising for next week.”

Continue reading “THREE RACES COMPLETED FOR BACARDI MOTH BERMUDA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP”