J/160 PIPE DREAM Bahamas Bound!

(Hamilton, Bermuda)-  Here is the latest report from the fun-loving crew aboard Dr. Scott Piper’s beautiful J/160 PIPE DREAM:

“Sally Browne flew in as scheduled, joining us at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club. There are 3 teams here training for the "America's Cup" which will be held here next year.  The Japanese "Soft Bank" has one Japanese on board, but we believe is training another; she is skippered by Dean Barker. "Team Oracle" is skippered by Jimmy Spithill, an Australian. Sweden's "Artemis" has two boats here. Soft Bank's chase boat is skippered by Jason's friend from New Zealand, so Jason put our dinghy in the water to watch and schmooze after the practice races. And, as there are no restrictions, later Pipe Dream also got the opportunity to be among the fleet. You will love Mary's video and photos which are attached. What an exciting opportunity to be so close!

The CCA Cruise literally circled Bermuda taking a total of 5 days. There were 11 boats, and approximately 44 people mostly from the Boston and New York yacht clubs, a great group.

Mary loved "the Bermuda shorts outfits" they wear here for dressed up occasions.  Our Bermuda Yacht Club Cruise Chairman, Rear Commodore Stephen Kempe, injured his leg on the 1st day, requiring surgery, so his son Somer Kempe took over, and did a bang-up job, keeping us all literally "in-line". His demeanor, responsibility and organization was amazing. He made his mom and dad proud and kept the 11 boat fleet safe. His experience and local knowledge was an absolute must as the entire south shore is a mine field of coral heads. Some marked with posts but the majority are not. There are no marked channels. We ate ashore every night at interesting and popular taverns.

We cruised to The Dockyards for our reception dinner that was held at "The Commissioner's House" on the veranda of the Bermuda Maritime Museum.

The next day was a tour of the "Casemates Prison".  Monday we sailed to Mangrove Bay and anchored out.  We were transported ashore for cocktails at the home of the Bermuda Station Secretary, Andy and wife Sarah Burnett-Herkes with a rum tasting presentation and history of Gosling’s Rum!  Did you know, Gosling has made special rum for The America's Cup?

Following this, we took a short walk to the Village of Somerset for a pub dinner at the "Country Squire".  Tuesday we sailed to Castle Harbor via the west end and anchored out near NonSuch Island, home of the Cahow bird, where people took a nature tour.  That evening we were transported ashore for dinner at "Tom Moore's Tavern,” the oldest restaurant in Bermuda where a past commodore, Ralph Richardson, serenaded us with trumpet and island songs and sing along.

On Wednesday, we went for hors’de’oeuvres at a beautiful home on Smith Island at a new Bermuda CCA member, husband and wife, Mark Soares and Dr. Annie Pinto for a "Swizzle Party".

We returned to St. George in time for dinner at the "Tempest Bistro". We toured St. George's and visited St. Peter's, the oldest Episcopal Church in the Western Hemisphere.

We ended the cruise back at the Royal Bermuda YC with a farewell dinner. Acknowledgements of appreciation and accolades were heartfelt and well-deserved. The cruise was a big success.

Lloyd and Sally will fly out tomorrow and Georgie and Jason will take a couple of days off to explore Bermuda by motorbikes. Thus, Mary and I will have Pipe Dream to ourselves at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club before we head out for the Bahamas in a couple of days.


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