Despite a lack of transatlantic races to bring over a major European contingent, a still respectable field of seven competitors lined up for the third annual Atlantic Cup this past May to sail in a series of offshore and inshore races along the East Coast.
As in 2012, the three-week-long event, which is sailed in Class 40 sloops and features a $15,000 cash purse, began with a double-handed offshore leg from Charleston, South Carolina, to New York City, which was won by U.S. sailors Dave Rearick and Matt Scharl aboard Bodacious Dream. After that came another double-handed offshore leg from NYC to Newport, Rhode Island—also won by Bodacious Dream.
The regatta closed with a fully crewed inshore series on Narragansett Bay, which saw plenty of breeze and was won by Ben Poucher and Tim Fetsch aboard Icarus, with Bodacious Dream taking second to secure the overall win as well.
Nipping at Bodacious Dream’s heals throughout were Frenchman Eric Lecoq and New Zealander Conrad Colman aboard Lecog Cuisine, which took second overall. At the finish of the 231-mile NYC-Newport leg, less than five minutes separated the two boats.
“We are ecstatic,” Rearick said at the close of the inshore portion of the regatta. “Today was a bit of a challenge with the high winds, but we managed to hang on. Obviously, Lecoq Cuisine was our closest competitor, and we really wanted to best them, which we did today, so that was terrific.” For complete results, visit atlanticcup.org.
Photo courtesy of Billy Black/Atlantic Cup
