Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
classes of sailing craft against one another.
Yachting enthusiasts around the world fol-
low the knockout elimination-style event
with avid interest. The
Marion-to-Bermuda
Race
and
Newport-Bermuda Race
(see
below) take place in June.
Unfortunately for spectators, the finish
lines for the island's sailing races usually lie
several miles offshore. Afterward, boats are
often moored in Hamilton Harbour; any
vantage point on the harbor is good for
watching the boats come in. Even better:
Head for any of the City of Hamilton's har-
borfront pubs, where racing crowds cele-
brate their wins (or justify their losses) over
pints of ale.
For information on all sailing events held
off the coast of Bermuda, contact the
Sail-
ing Secretary,
Royal Bermuda Yacht Club,
P.O. Box HM 894, Hamilton HM DX, Ber-
muda (
&
441/295-2214;
www.rbyc.bm),
or (for races originating off the U.S. coast)
the
New York Yacht Club,
37 W. 44th St.,
New York, NY 10036 (
&
212/382-1000;
www.nyyc.org).
MAY
Bermuda Heritage Day and Month.
Ber-
muda Heritage Month culminates on
Ber-
muda Day,
May 24, a public holiday that's
Bermuda's equivalent of Independence
Day. Bermuda Day is punctuated with
parades through downtown Hamilton, din-
ghy and cycling races, and the Bermuda
Half-Day Marathon (open only to island
residents). For the rest of the month, a
program of cultural and sporting events is
presented (the schedule will be available at
the tourist office). Any hotel in town can fill
you in on the events planned for the year's
biggest political celebration, or contact the
Bermuda Department of Tourism Office
(see “Visitor Information” under “Fast
Facts” in chapter 10).
JUNE
Queen's Birthday.
The Queen's birthday is
celebrated with a parade down Front Street
in the City of Hamilton. First or second
Monday in June; contact the Bermuda
Department of Tourism Office at
&
800/
BERMUDA
[237-6832] or www.bermuda
tourism.com for exact schedules.
Marion-to-Bermuda Race.
This 1,038km
(645-mile) sailboat race from Marion, Mas-
sachusetts, to Bermuda is held in mid-June.
See the entry for “International Race
Week,” under April, above, for details
on international sailing events. For more
information, call
&
441/295-2214,
or visit
www.marionbermuda.com.
Newport-Bermuda Race.
The world's most
famous wind-driven contest is held each
June. The record to date, which starts in
Newport, Rhode Island, is a 56-hour transit.
See “International Race Week,” above, for
advice on viewing this race.
AUGUST
Cup Match and Somers Days.
Also known
as the Cup Match Cricket Festival, this
annual event celebrates the year's bounty
with Bermuda's most illustrious cricket
match. It's often compared to American
Thanksgiving. Cricketers from the East End
(St. George's Cricket Club) play off against
those from the West End (Somerset Cricket
Club), with lots of attendant British-derived
protocol and hoopla. Tickets cost about
$10; they're available at the gate on match
day. The event is held on Thursday and
Friday before the first Monday in August.
For more information, call
&
441/297-
0374.
SEPTEMBER
Labour Day.
This public holiday, held on the
first Monday in September, features a host
of activities; it's also the ideal time for a
picnic. The high point is a parade from
Union Square in the City of Hamilton's Ber-
nard Park.
Marine Science Day.
Lectures, hands-on
demonstrations, and displays for adults and
children mark this day devoted to the study
of the sea. It is hosted by the
BBSR
(Ber-
muda Biological Station for Research, Inc.).
Call
&
441/297-1880
or visit www.bios.edu
for more information. End of September.
OCTOBER
Match Racing.
For Match Racing, pairs of
identical sailing vessels, staffed by a rotat-
ing roster of teams from throughout the
world, compete in elimination-style con-
tests throughout the month. For details on
2