The Transatlantic Race 2015 is a family affair

The Transatlantic Race 2015, will host two fathers who will share the challenge of sailing 2,800 nautical miles across the ocean with their offspring.

Bill Hubbard and his son Will Hubbard will co-skipper the Reichel/Pugh 56 Siren, which will start off Newport’s Castle Hill Light on 1st July during the second of three staggered starts and begin the journey to the race’s finish at The Lizard, the southernmost point in England.  This will be the third Transatlantic Race for the Hubbards, who previously sailed the 2005 and 2011 editions.

Will Hubbard commented, “I am incredibly lucky to be able to have this experience with him. It’s special; not too many people get to do this at all, much less a couple of times.”

Hubbard counts six Newport Bermuda Races, The Rolex Sydney Hobart Race and The Rolex Fastnet Race among the distance races that have factored into the 10,000+ nautical miles he and his father have sailed together.

In 2011, the Hubbards sailed the race on Dawn Star, a C&C 36 and edged out Carina, the 48’ McCurdy & Rhodes sloop skippered by New York Yacht Club Commodore Rives Potts, Jr. by just over 54 minutes on corrected time to claim victory in IRC Class Four.

Among the skippers in the first start will be Bob Forman aboard the Southwest 42 Jacqueline IV. With Jacqueline IV, Forman has twice won his class in the Newport to Bermuda Race, finished second in the Halifax Race and won the Annapolis to Newport Race, all with what he calls his secret weapon: his daughter Kara Foreman.

Bob commented,  “She sailed with me in the 2011 Transatlantic Race where we finished third. It was a lifetime experience, but to do it with your daughter is something really special.”

In the 2011 Transatlantic Race, Jacqueline IV took third in her class, finishing in 19 days, 21 hours and 15 minutes.

Bob added, “The wind averaged 13.3 knots for us; on our worst day we did only 73 miles and our best day we did 208 miles. This year is going to be different. The iceberg line is a lot farther south than in prior years. Unless something dramatic happens, the ‘Ice Gate’ will keep us pretty far south and put the Gulf Stream into play. The warmer temperature of the Gulf Stream can increase the wind speed by as much as 10 or 15 knots. If the wind is against the current, it will be a bumpy ride.”

For more information, visit the Transatlantic Race.

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