Hodgdon Yachts welcomed over 250 big boat racing sailors and their guests at the opening event of Shipyard Cup IX. In the relaxed Maine style, the Shipyard Cup final line-up included sailing yacht VIRAGO, (100′) S/Y ISOBEL (76′) superyacht CHRISTOPHER (150′) yacht WHITEHAWK (92) TENACIOUS sailing yacht (115′) sailing yacht WHISPER (116′) SUMURUN (94′) and S/Y SCHEHERAZADE (154′).
2011 Shipyard Cup: Sailing yacht Whisper Wins Overall - Photo by Billy Black
Race I on the 13th of August 2011. Results: it’s WHISPER!
Under a beautiful Maine sky and fair breezes the Shipyard Cup fleet saw a great day of sailing. After a one hour delay to let the breeze build to a pleasant 10-15kts, the staggered start spread the fleet out over 52 minutes. After 3 hours of racing on a delightful afternoon WHISPER grabbed top honours for the day with WHITEHAWK and SUMURUN not far behind. The finish offered a bit of excitement watching VIRAGO, SCHEHERAZADE and ISOBEL battle it out for 4th place with SCHEHERAZADE and VIRAGO exchanging leads several times in the closing meters to the finish. The final order of finishing was: WHSIPER (116′), WHITEHAWK(92′), SUMURUN(94′), VIRAGO(100′), SCHEHERAZADE(154′), ISOBEL(76′), TENACIOUS(115′), and CHRISTOPHER(150′).
SCHEHERAZADE WINS RACE II on the 14th of August 2011, WHISPER OVERALL WINNER
When the Sunday breeze built to a solid 8-10kts, first gun at 13:00 gave the start to the second and final day of Shipyard Cup racing. The staggered start saw some early strategy as Isobel followed by Whisper then Virago diverted from the track of the earlier starters in the hopes of finding a lift from the southern tip of Southport Island en route to the first turning mark.
By the time the fleet was headed for home the low cloud ceiling was reducing visibility and the air became very light. The first to emerge from the fog was yacht SCHEHERAZADE who led the fleet most of the way to top day 2 honors. The crowd of spectators, including quite a number that worked on the SCHEHERAZADE build, could not have been happier to cheer the hometown favourite.
Hodgdon Yachts President, Tim Hodgdon added: “This year’s Shipyard Cup was another fantastic event with an impressive fleet of world class sailing yachts. It was incredible to witness WHITEHAWK racing SCHEHERAZADE, both vessels from the hand of Bruce King, both extraordinary sailboats. WHITEHAWK probably the first large boat designed by Bruce at the beginning of his career, SCHEHERAZADE the last, with a tremendous portfolio in between. The two boats are 30 years apart in design, of varying styling but with equally beautiful ketch sail plans. These are two of the world’s most magnificent sailboats”.
Race Organizers announced next year’s Shipyard Cup is scheduled for 10-12 August 2012.
About Shipyard Cup
The Shipyard Cup began in 2002 with support from founding sponsors Hodgdon Yachts of East Boothbay, Maine and Boothbay Region Boatyard of Boothbay Harbor, Maine and today is a spectacular weekend long event showcasing the best of Maine and the Boothbay Region. With several billion dollars worth of boats competing for top honors, The Shipyard Cup like many other big boat races is held in the “Corinthian” tradition celebrating the “true spirit” of yachting.
About Hodgdon Yachts
Rooted in 200 years of boatbuilding tradition, the yard earned its way into the 21st Century with innovation. Today Hodgdon is a US leader in high tech composite construction while maintaining exceptional skills for world class traditional and modern interiors. This East Boothbay, Maine -USA Company’s diversification also includes high end superyacht interiors, custom sail and power superyacht construction, military and government contracting, superyacht refits and custom yacht tenders. Founded in 1816, Hodgdon is a fifth generation family run company still located in the heart of Maine’s famed Boothbay Region. New for 2011 is the launch of the Custom tender boats line and the annual Shipyard Cup with sailing superyachts 21 to 50 metres, (August 12-14 2011 Boothbay Harbor, Maine. Among some of Hodgdon’s more notable contributions to yachting in the last few decades are: ANTONISA (124’) SCHEHERAZADE (154’) AND LIBERTY (80’).
