Past Skippers That Have Left Us

Anyone having knowledge of these or other skippers that have Passed Away would you please contact Roy Guay so that the information may be posted here in memory of them.

Bob Adams
- Passed away the week of 10 May 2010 in Rhode Island at the age of 70 after one year of fighting cancer.
- Bob raced in the 1989 and 1991 Bermuda One-Two in his J35 Julie.
- Bob dreamed of racing in the short handed race around the world.  He built two Open 40 boats in Russia with that goal in mind.  Bob ran out of money and sailed his boat back to the US with only one dagger board while his Russian counterpart Yazkov found funding and successfully raced his Open 40 Wind of Change in the 2000-2001 Vendee Globe Solo Around the World Race.  Ever since Bob had been trying to get his boat in racing shape.  He had planned on doing the 2009 Bermuda One-Two but the cancer diagnosis changed his plans.

Charlie Carpenter:
- Passed away 2006
- Raced in the first 7 Bermuda One-Twos
- His boat was a Southern Cross 31 called Liberty

Jerry Cartwright
- Founder of the Bermuda One-Two in 1977

Carter Cordner
- Passed away of cancer in 2000
- In 1997 Carter won both the single and double handed legs of Class IV of the Bermuda One-Two with his 32' Westsail Kamancha.

Al Fournier: - Passed away October 2003. - Al raced in the following Bermuda One-Twos: 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987 and 1991. - In '79 he sailed an O'Day Outlaw named Pantera, which is still in Bermuda, reportedly owned by a member of the St. George's Dinghy & Sports Club. - In '81 he sailed his converted Etchell's 22 El Torero (decked over and a bean bag for a bed) and took first in class in the singlehanded leg. - In '83 he sailed a Fast Forty, and lost the rudder somewhere on the way down but continued to the finish using a bucket for steerage.  He won the Mayor's Trophy for Seamanship. - In '85 he once again sailed the Etchell's and did it in 5 days, 14 hours, and 25 minutes, but probably did not place as I don't see any acknowledgement around. - In '87 he sailed a Nelson Marek '35 (formerly named City of Slidell) named Torero and again placed first in class. - In '91 he again sailed Torero winning first place in Class III.

Harry Mitchell
- Passed away: Lost at sea in 1994 while on leg 3 of the BOC approaching Cape Horn in his 40' Panic Major called MITAK.  Harry was 70 years young.
- Raced in 1993

Bertie Reed: - Passed away December 2006 - Raced in 1983, Steve Black was his return crew - Bertie's boat was 60' named Stabilo Boss - Lived in South Africa

Mike Richey - Passed away 12/22/2009 at the age of 92 after suffering a heart attack - Last lived in Brighton, UK (on the Sussex coast) - There is more information about Mike on the Jester website and TimesOnLine

Francis Stokes (obituary): - Passed away 3 August 2008 in Thomaston, ME 82 years old - Participated in at least the first 3 Bermuda One-Twos (1977, 1979, 1981) - Participated in the first BOC Challenge Solo World Race and finished 2nd in Class 2 - Participated in the OSTAR transatlantic solo races in 1976, 1980 and 1988 - Recently lived in Thomaston, Maine - Francis wrote a book called "The Mooneshine Logs" in which two chapters were devoted to the Bermuda One-Two - Francis is prominently featured in Phil Weld's Documentary "American Challenge" - Francis sold his boat a Valiant 40 Moonshine to another Bermuda One-Two alumnus, Scott Khuner, who also raced it in the Bermuda One-Two and still cruises in it with his wife Kitty

From Canadian Sailing Forum Oct/Nov 1977