Photo: Daniel Forster

After the cancellation in 2020 due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, 192 boats were ready for the 635-mile Thrash to the Onion Patch in 2022. Starting under in a strong flooding tide and 10-20 knot southwesterly, the start had to be postponed for the last 2 classes when a thunderstorm rolled through. The fleet continued to see some of the best conditions in many years with the first Saturday finish to ever occur when the trimaran Mod 70, Argo, smashed the record finishing just before midnight. The monohull record set in 2016 did remain but just barely! Sadly, we did lose the life of one sailor in a man overboard situation, the first fatality in the Race’s modern history. A full review was conducted by US Sailing following the Race. While this tragedy shedded light on the extreme nature of our sport, there was still much to celebrate in Bermuda when prizes were awarded and rum drinks were toasted.