FEATURED REGATTAS: June 25, 2008
Rich du Moulin the immediate Past Commodore of the Storm Trysail Club, and crewman Chris Reyling limped across the Newport Bermuda finish line aboard Lora Ann, but had a pleasant surprise when they looked at the Official Notice Board.  The duo won the Double-Handed Division once again.  According to du Moulin, the 2008 race marks the fourth time in a row that he has won the division and the third time in a row that du Moulin and Reyling have won together.

Lora Ann’s corrected time was 80 hours 37 minutes and 47 seconds. Mireille sailed by Hewitt Gaynor and Jay Raymond finished second some 17 minutes later.

du Moulin and Reyling made it to Royal Bermuda Yacht Club long before Lora Ann, an Express 37, was expected to show up.  Lora Ann was towed from the finish line to Dockyard for repairs.  The two crewmen looked exhausted.  “It was a tough race.  We normally have four hours on and four hours off, but this time it was more like five to six hours on and three hours off.  We didn’t have an autopilot for most of the race.”  Reyling went on to explain that an engine light indicated that the engine was overheating.  They went to check the cooling valve and the stem to the valve broke, so they had no engine for the last 36 hours of their 100 hours 14 minutes and 41 second hour race.  With no batteries and no autopilot, they resorted to hand steering.  “It was monotonous and trying,” said Reyling.

du Moulin, a twenty time Newport Bermuda veteran, spoke for the pair saying, “we like double handing because there is more adventure.  It’s not insane like single handing because at least there is always someone who can keep an eye out for ships.”  He conceded howver, “It’s nice that it’s over and you forget about it by the next time it’s time to sign up.”