ANTIGUANICE YACHTING INSIDER NEWSLETTER

Team Comanche has smashed the Transatlantic Sailing Record by more than a day, completing the 2280 mile sail in 5 days, 14 hours and 21 minutes. Antigua’s very own, Shannon Falcone, two time America’s Cup winner and Volvo Ocean Race sailor, helped crew the boat for the record breaking run. As you can imagine we in Antigua are very proud!

Team Comanche - Photo via www.newportbuzz.com

From Christian Winthrop of www.thenewportbuzz.com:

Comanche, the 100 foot supermaxi racing yacht owned by Jim Clark and Kristy Hinze-Clark, has shattered the transatlantic atlantic by more than a day, finishing the 2280 mile – New York to The Lizard, a peninsula in southern Cornwall, England, trip in 5 days, 14 hours, 21 minutes, and 25 seconds.

The old monohull transatlantic West to East Record was set in 2003 by Mari-Cha IV at 6 days, 17 hours, 52 minutes, and 39 seconds.

Team Comanche during the record breaking sail. © Yann Riou

With Comanche skipper Ken Read committed to TV commentating at the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series in Portsmouth, England, the world class crew was led by experienced sailors Casey Smith, Tony Mutter, Richard Clarke and Navigator Stan Honey. Due to other commitments, Comanche will also be missing regular crewmen Kelvin Harrap, Warwick Fluery, Jimmy Spithill and Ryan Godfrey.

Newporter Nick Dana, of Volvo Ocean Race fame, was on the bow.

Speaking ahead of the departure, Comanche owner Jim Clark stated “Comanche was built to break records – she has already proven her potential in major events all around the world and this looks to be a great opportunity to continue her legacy. It’s a real shame her skipper Ken Read and other key crewmembers will have to miss this ride but he and I will both remain in close contact with the guys onboard. The crew is made of some of the best sailors in the world who all have great pedigree. I have a good feeling about this attempt.”

The boat sailed with only 17 crew and with all manual powered winches and hydraulics on this record setting voyage:

Casey Smith (AUS), Boat Captain
Stan Honey (USA), Navigator
Tony Mutter (NZL), Trimmer
Dirk de Ridder (NED), Main Trim
Chris Maxted (AUS), Boat Crew
Jon von Schwarz (USA), Grinder
Juggy Clougher (AUS), Bow
Julien Cressant (FRA), Pit
Nick Dana (NEWPORT, RI – USA), Bow
Pablo Arrarte (ESP), Runners
Pepe Ribes (ESP), Bow
Peter van Niekerk (NED), Trimmer
Phil Harmer (AUS), Grinder
Richard Clarke (CAN), Runners
Robert Greenhalgh (GBR), Main Trim
Shannon Falcone (ATG), Grinder
Yann Riou (FRA), Media

Read the full article here.