Of all my Bermuda Races, two stand apart—22 years apart, yet remarkably similar.

In 1990, aboard Bill Apthorpe’s Leda, our all-amateur crew spanned eight decades in age. We sailed with little more than a sextant, Loran, and camaraderie. Taking a bold course and nailing the forecast, we finished near the top of the fleet. It was Bill’s final Bermuda Race, and the joy on his face at the finish is something I will never forget.

In 2012, aboard Rick Burnes’ Cybele, the technology had advanced—carbon spars, full electronics, and a powerful sail inventory. Yet the spirit was unchanged: family and friends sailing together, navigating relentlessly, and finishing second in class by just minutes. For Rick as well, it proved to be his last Bermuda Race—an unforgettable way to close his chapter in this storied competition.

Those two races—each the last for a respected skipper—remind me how every crossing becomes part of the Race’s living legacy. Different eras, different boats, but the same magic: talented amateurs, multigenerational crews, lasting friendships, and the eternal challenge of the ocean.

That is the spirit we honor. It is why I am proud to serve with the Bermuda Race Foundation—to ensure this legacy endures for generations to come.