NEWPORT SHIPYARD SUPPORTS ANTIGUA BARBUDA SEARCH & RESCUE AT WOBBLY REGATTA IN FEBRUARY
Newport Shipyard, along with other sponsors Catamaran Marina, Cambusa Italian Restaurant, and Chester Yacht Services, raised over EC $7,800 (US $3,000) to support Antigua Barbuda Search & Rescue (ABSAR) at the annual Wobbly Race in Antigua in February. Newport Shipyard has been sponsoring the race for six years and sends a team of volunteers down every February to help run the event.
From L-R: J Class yacht Topaz crew members Bill Hitchins, Ian Aitchison, Captain Rom Loopik, and Mate Nat Lemieux, accept the overall Wobbly Race award in Antigua in February from Catamaran Marina dockmaster Helen Bailey.
Seven teams comprised of yacht captains and crew gathered at the Catamaran Marina on Friday, February 9, to compete in the Wobbly Race which featured a new twist on an old tradition. Instead of using the Build Your Own Boat (BYOB) format, race organizers decided to save wood and other materials in lieu of hurricane damage to Barbuda and other Caribbean islands. “We organized a ‘superhero challenge’ format instead this year,” said Jay Mulrooney, project manager at Newport Shipyard who is one of the race’s biggest champions.
“With help from Laura Quintarelli of Cambusa Restaurant and Brenda Mulrooney of Chester Yacht Services, we came up with a four-event relay style race that featured speed walking, swimming, diving, and retrieving items out of the bottom of the Cat Club’s pool without touching the water,” explained Mulrooney. “We had seven teams competing, all of whom dressed in superhero attire, and enjoyed food at Cambusa and drinks courtesy of Banks Beer.” The grand finale of the superhero challenge was a three-legged swim, which started on the beach east of the Cat Club and finished off the dock by the Cat Club marina office, all under the watchful eye of Jonathan Cornelius, Julie Esty, and the ABSAR team.
The Wobbly Regatta concluded at Cambusa Restaurant with Helen Bailey, the Cat Club’s resident dockmaster, serving as the awards ceremony’s emcee. Local favorite Halcyon Steel Orchestra played for three hours during the awards while attendees bought superhero t-shirts and raffle tickets for numerous prizes generously donated to the event. With awards given for each challenge and prizes for best costumes and top fund-raiser, every team received recognition. The cumulative top point scorer, and winner of the overall Wobbly Superhero Challenge, went to the team onboard the J Class yacht Topaz. “This is the best day of my life!” said Topaz’s charismatic mate Nat Lemieux as he accepted the award along with Topaz captain Rom Loopik and other crew members. “Seriously, it was a really fun day and we are ecstatic to take home the overall trophy,” Lemieux said.
More information about the Wobbly Regatta, along with photos can be found on www.NewportShipyard.com
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About Newport Shipyard: One of the most popular and recommended shipyards in the U.S., Newport Shipyard is a full-service marina and shipyard with over 3,500 linear feet of dock space that can accommodate yachts up to 300+ feet located in downtown Newport, Rhode Island. Its amenities include a dockside café, ship store, fitness center, courtesy vehicles and crew housing. With its friendly staff, welcoming atmosphere and event planning capabilities, Newport Shipyard also hosts many other prestigious yachting events, including the biennial Newport to Bermuda Race Crew Party, the Newport Charter Yacht Show (June 18-21, 2018) and the Candy Store Cup (formerly the Newport Bucket), an annual super yacht regatta (July 26-28, 2018). For the full Newport Shipyard experience, visit: www.NewportShipyard.com
About ABSAR: Antigua and Barbuda Search and Rescue (ABSAR) is a voluntary organization dedicated to saving lives in Antigua and Barbuda and the surrounding waters. It is an officially recognized search and rescue service in Antigua and Barbuda where it provides 24 hour coverage, 365 days of the year. ABSAR works in close co-operation with the Antiguan Coast Guard, fire and ambulance services. More information:www.absar.org