Ian Gumprecht (C) of Oyster Bay NY and Mark Swanson (L) of North Creek NY, co-skippers of Roust hoisted the Founders Trophy for their sterling performance in this 645-mile classic. They sailed their little Sea Sprite 34 to first place in Class C and for first place in the entire Founders Division won the top prize for the race, the FOUNDERS TROPHY. Along the way they snagged the DOUBLE-HANDED TROPHY. His Excellency the Governor of Bermuda Mr. George Fergusson (R) and RHADC Commodore Allan Williams presented all the prizes at the ceremony.
Big Boats Rousted – Smallest Entry Takes Top Prize
Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club, Paget BERMUDA: June 19, 2013: Based on provisional results, Roust, the smallest boat in the fleet, and a boat sailed double-handed as well, has won the top prize in the 2013 Marion Bermuda Race. The little Sea Sprite 34, skippered by Ian Gumprect of Oyster Bay NY and co-skippered by Mark Swanson of North Creek NY, won Class C and overall 1st Place in the Founders Division. At the prizegiving Saturday at the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club, Ian and Mark will hoist the Founders Trophy for their exemplary performance.
Roust finished at 7:38:14 Wednesday morning. With their corrected time of 3d 17:44:35, Roust also won Class C on their way to the top prize.
Skipper and co-skipper were tired after the race and had to get towed in to the dinghy club because their engine wouldn’t start. It had worked all during the race to charge their batteries so the could use their autopilot. They chose to use the auto helm because they believe it can actually steer better than any human.
Ian and Mark said they think they probably sailed further west than any other boat and that helped them win when they carried a sustained wind from the west after the Northeast wind passed. “We never saw any real Gulf Stream current and the water never got warmer than 72 degrees.” Said Swanson. “We think we did well because we sailed hard and fast. We kept moving all the time choosing to sail a little off a chosen course to get more speed.”
Ian thought they did well because of preparation. “We had some new sails from Z Sails, and we used all of them. We added a high-clewed reacher that we used a lot and we had an asymmetrical spinnaker, too.” Ian said.
“We did well because we had a good team,” he added. “We changed headsails 2 times within 2 miles of the finish and 7 changes the day before.”
©Talbot Wilson
VERY COOL!