Transatlantic Race 2011: Did Dawn Star Defeat the Carina?

Crossing the finish line in rain and fog, Dawn Star, the C&C 46 skippered by William Hubbard (New York, N.Y.), finished the Transatlantic Race 2011 at 22:03:51 UTC on July 15.  Throughout its 20 day crossing, Dawn Star sent regular blog updates – covering everything from “parking lots” in the North Atlantic to fixing problems onboard – which was continued right to the end of the race.
 
“With five miles to go, we hailed the race committee who were standing by in the Lizard Point Lighthouse waiting to mark our arrival across the finish line,” reported Hubbard.  “As we sailed into the gloomy night, we were buoyed by the possibility of a win on this long race.  As the time passed, we practiced taking bearings from the bow so we could announce our arrival across the line per the race committee's instructions.  Approaching the line, we shined a spotlight on our sail numbers to help the race committee spot us on the line.
 
When the countdown was complete, the race committee congratulated us on our finish and confirmed our official finish time.  All that remains is to see how the corrected time finishes worked out.  Did we beat Carina or did they prevail?”
 
At the start of the Transatlantic Race 2011, the crew on Dawn Star had poured a tot of rum over the side to toast Old Man Neptune in hopes the offering would help them finish ahead of the competition.  It would appear that Old Man Neptune obliged as Dawn Star edged out Carina, skippered by Rives Potts, Jr. (Essex, Conn.), by just over 54 minutes on corrected to claim victory in IRC Class Four.
 
Two boats are still contesting the Transatlantic Race 2011 – Jacqueline IV and Sasha – and both are in IRC Class Four.  Mathematically, however, neither can better Dawn Star on corrected time.

Carina had a fantastic race, but a re-start last week when the wind died across the racing area may have cost them dearly.  Dawn Star, skippered by William Hubbard (New York, N.Y.), caught them up and is currently less than 40 nautical miles from the finish line sailing in what appears to be solid south-southwest breeze.  Should the current prediction hold, Dawn Star will – on corrected time – eclipse Carina as winner of IRC Class Four.

Two Middletown residents, and his 16-year-old son Dirk Johnson Jr. are aboard the Carina. Dirk Jr. was the youngest sailor to compete in this year's Transatlantic Race.

Click here to read more about the " last week.