Racing In Paradise

Bitter End ProAm 2007 - Video Highlights

Video from the 2007 Bitter End ProAm.  The IC24s were a big hit for the second year.  Ken Read, multiple J24 world champion, was at home in the ICs, winning by seven points over second placer, Peter Holmberg.  Ed Baird, the recent recipient of the ISAF Rolex World Sailor Award was third, three points adrift of Holmberg.

For the video, click on...

The "Holmbergs" - A Few Words

We grab a few words on video with the "Holmbergs" - Peter & John - at the Bitter End Yacht Club's Pro-Am. John is Bitter End's watersports director while Peter is freshly back to the Caribbean after his America's Cup duties with Alinghi.  They will be racing together at the Nanny Cay Nations Cup on November 17/18.

Ken Read and his crew top the IC24 fleet racing at the 2007 BEYC ProAm

The Pro-Am took on a different format this year. The Am's asked for more fleet racing in the IC24s instead of match racing and team racing...they got it...16 races in all with no discards. In the final analysis Ken Read did enough to hold off Team Homberg and Team Baird.

If you start a series with 4 bullets and then place no worse than 3rd for nine of the following 12 races you have a pretty good chance of winning the regatta. That is precisely what Ken Read and his crew pulled off. It was enough to beat Peter Holmberg who counted five bullets and five second places and Ed Baird with four bullets and five second places.

Peter Holmberg is snapping at Ken Read's heels...

Thursday morning saw more classic North Sound conditions at the 2007 BEYC Pro-Am with 14-18 knots blowing straight down the Sound...gorgeous flat turquoise water and sunshine.

Race Officer Bob Phillips wasted no time serving up four two-lap races. Ken Read, who is sporting a bit more hair than last year, went into the proceedings with a handy six point lead over Peter Holmberg. Further down the field by quite a good margin we have Ed Baird, Keith Musto and Ben Ainslie et al.

Ken Read Charges to The Top In The Bitter End Pro-Am

Although the Volvo Round the World Race is currently Ken Read's primary focus, on Tuesday he convincingly demonstrated that his small boat racing skills were still very much in place. Racing IC 24s - a modified J/24 with a luxuriously large cockpit - the former six-time World Champion jumped into a six point lead over Peter Holmberg after the first eight fleet races of the Bitter End Yacht Club's Pro-Am Regatta.

RBVIYC kids 2nd, Musto wins...Scuttlebutt Offshore

I bumped into a very upbeat Chris Watters at the RBVIYC yesterday evening. Chris, who is the YC coach sailed 'INTAC' to second place beating Peter Homberg, Ben Ainslie...this was poached from Scuttlebutt's newsletter. More details as we get them.

Sailing Stars Give IC/24 Racing "Two Thumbs Up"!

Racing In Paradise's Richard Wooldridge  hi-jacks interviews Russell Coutts, Paul Cayard, Ken Read, Dave Perry, Butch Ullmer and Rod Johnstone at the Bitter End  Yacht Club's  annual ProAm about their views  on the IC24.

The Bitter End Pro Am is the only event of its kind in the world offering amateurs and first-time sailors the rare opportunity to learn from and race with the rock stars and legends of sailing. Activities will also include a lively social schedule with fellow sailors off the water too.

Download this video for your iPod

An Interview With Rod Johnstone - Video

Richard Wooldridge, Racing In Paradise's chief slicer and dicer, speaks to Rod Johnstone, designer of the J/24, about his views on the IC/24 - the sliced and diced version of his brainchild.  Rod was taking a break from The Bitter End Yacht Club's ProAm in November 2006 where he was competing with the likes of Russell Coutts and Paul Cayard.  Racing In Paradise's fleet of IC/24s had been chartered for the event.