Sailing yacht BELLA PITA, a 75′ Bill Tripp design performance yacht earned her way to the top spot during a spectacular weekend in the Boothbay Region of Maine during the 8th running of the Shipyard Cup.
Sailing yacht Bella Pita charging for the finish at the Shipyard Cup. Photo Credit Billy Black.
After the downturn caused organizers to postpone last year’s event, the Shipyard Cup came back this year in grand style. Six starters made their way to the starting line; S/Y AVAILABLE (65′), sailing yacht BELLA PITA (75′), WHITEHAWK (92′), SUMURUN (94′) yacht WINDCREST (98′), and luxury yacht TENACIOUS (114′).
Classic sailing beauties Sumurun and Whitehawk battle their way to the mark. Photo Billy Black
Sharing the “Bucket Rating Rules” this year for the first time, hoards of spectator boats watched the staggered start and close finish of this rating system that matches very diverse vessels by weighting their specific predicted performances in a wide range of sailing conditions. With a start that stretches over an hour, the finish saw everyone at the line within 10 minutes of each other after several hours of sailing.
The Shipyard Cup was started in part to showcase the best Maine and the Boothbay Region have to offer, and this weekend they delivered in fine fashion. The weather was absolutely spectacular with full sun, moderate temperatures and calm mornings giving way to steadily building moderate offshore breezes. Saturday’s race was claimed by BELLA PITA with Sunday honors going to sailing yacht TENACIOUS and the winner overall honors and Steuben Glass trophy going to BELLA PITA.
The relaxed Maine style event featured a lobster bake Friday evening at the shipyard of founding organizer Hodgdon Yachts with post race cocktail parties at Wotton’s Wharf in Boothbay Harbor complete with Cold River Vodka martini bars.
Sunday’s award ceremonies capped a spectacular weekend leaving everyone making plans for next year. Race organizers have announced next year’s Shipyard Cup will be 26-28 August 2011.
Ed Roberts
Sailing yacht Windcrest at the Shipyard Cup Photo Credit Billy Black.
