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''Condor of Bermuda'' is a
* Current record holder for:
** Last British vessel to win a leg of the Around the World Yacht Race ''see''
maxi yacht
A maxi yacht usually refers to a racing yacht of at least in length.
Origin
The term ''maxi'' originated with the International Offshore Rule (IOR) rating system, which in the 1970s and 1980s measured offshore racing yachts and applied a single ...
campaigning under the leadership and funding of London-based international businessman Bob Bell. Originally called ''Condor'' but renamed ''Heath's Condor'' for the 1977–78 Whitbread Round the World Race after Bell's association with Heath's Insurance Co (London). There is no link with former British prime minister Edward Heath of ''Morning Cloud
Morning Cloud was the name given by the British politician Edward Heath to a series of five yachts which he owned between 1969 and 1983.
The yachts
No. 1
Sparkman and Stephens S&S 34, length 34 ft., year of launch 1969. Edward Heath won th ...
'' yachting fame. ''Condor'' was then later renamed ''Condor of Bermuda'', as government policy in the UK during the 1970s effectively exiled the financing of such a campaign by making the funding and domiciling of such an endeavour from the home countries a practical impossibility.
''Condor of Bermuda'' is a polished mahogany
Mahogany is a straight-grained, reddish-brown timber of three tropical hardwood species of the genus ''Swietenia'', indigenous to the AmericasBridgewater, Samuel (2012). ''A Natural History of Belize: Inside the Maya Forest''. Austin: Unive ...
race boat; and is often confused with its successor, ''Condor
Condor is the common name for two species of New World vultures, each in a monotypic genus. The name derives from the Quechua ''kuntur''. They are the largest flying land birds in the Western Hemisphere.
They are:
* The Andean condor (''Vu ...
'' (sometimes referred to as ''Condor II'' , which was of Kevlar
Kevlar (para-aramid) is a strong, heat-resistant synthetic fiber, related to other aramids such as Nomex and Technora. Developed by Stephanie Kwolek at DuPont in 1965, the high-strength material was first used commercially in the early 1970s a ...
and composite construction, and slightly larger, due to IOR The abbreviation IOR may refer to:
* Importer of record, term in import and export
* inclusive or - as opposed to XOR (exclusive OR)
* Independent Order of Rechabites
* Index of refraction
* India Office Records
* Indian Ocean Region
* Indian Ocea ...
rule changes. The two boats were colloquially known as ''The Grand Piano'' and ''Plastic Condor'' or the ''Brown Bus'' by those who had sailed on both.
''Condor of Bermuda'' campaigned from 1977 to approximately 1983.
Notable facts
* It was the first yacht to race with acarbon fibre
Carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (American English), carbon-fibre-reinforced polymers (Commonwealth English), carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics, carbon-fiber reinforced-thermoplastic (CFRP, CRP, CFRTP), also known as carbon fiber, carbon compo ...
mast in 1977 in the Whitbread Around the world Race.
* After developing a substantial lead, ''Heath's Condor'' was ultimately uncompetitive in the first leg (UK to Cape Town
Cape Town ( af, Kaapstad; , xh, iKapa) is one of South Africa's three capital cities, serving as the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. It is the legislative capital of the country, the oldest city in the country, and the second largest ...
), due to a catastrophic rig failure.
** Won the second leg (Cape Town
Cape Town ( af, Kaapstad; , xh, iKapa) is one of South Africa's three capital cities, serving as the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. It is the legislative capital of the country, the oldest city in the country, and the second largest ...
to Auckland
Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The List of New Zealand urban areas by population, most populous urban area in the country and the List of cities in Oceania by po ...
, New Zealand)
** Second in the third leg (cracked mast)(Auckland
Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The List of New Zealand urban areas by population, most populous urban area in the country and the List of cities in Oceania by po ...
to Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro ( , , ; literally 'River of January'), or simply Rio, is the capital of the state of the same name, Brazil's third-most populous state, and the second-most populous city in Brazil, after São Paulo. Listed by the GaWC as a b ...
)
** First in the fourth (final leg) (Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro ( , , ; literally 'River of January'), or simply Rio, is the capital of the state of the same name, Brazil's third-most populous state, and the second-most populous city in Brazil, after São Paulo. Listed by the GaWC as a b ...
to Portsmouth
Portsmouth ( ) is a port and city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. The city of Portsmouth has been a unitary authority since 1 April 1997 and is administered by Portsmouth City Council.
Portsmouth is the most dens ...
)
** Placed last on elapsed time due to first leg; subsequent races were amended to give yachts a better chance after a single leg mishap.
* ''Condor'' was the primary competition for Whitbread outsider '' Pen Duick VI'' – a French sponsored, uranium
Uranium is a chemical element with the symbol U and atomic number 92. It is a silvery-grey metal in the actinide series of the periodic table. A uranium atom has 92 protons and 92 electrons, of which 6 are valence electrons. Uranium is weak ...
ballasted unrecognised entrant to the 1977–78 Whitbread Around the World Race.
* Current record holder for:
** Last British vessel to win a leg of the Around the World Yacht Race ''see'' Volvo Ocean Race
The Ocean Race is a yacht race around the world, held every three or four years since 1973. Originally named the Whitbread Round the World Race after its initiating sponsor, British brewing company Whitbread, in 2001 it became the Volvo Ocean Ra ...
** Narrowest margin for victory – 1981 Sydney to Hobart (see below)
* Won line honours (first boat to finish) in the tragic 1979 Fastnet race in record time.
* Won the Sydney to Hobart (1981) which was the closest ever finish, winning by just seven seconds against '' Apollo III'' during a gruelling match race up the River Derwent.
* Damaged on a reef in Tahiti
Tahiti (; Tahitian ; ; previously also known as Otaheite) is the largest island of the Windward group of the Society Islands in French Polynesia. It is located in the central part of the Pacific Ocean and the nearest major landmass is Austr ...
in 1980. Salvaged, rebuilt, and re-campaigned. See: Marlon Brando's Island, Tetiaroa.
* Won Heather Cup – Auckland Anniversary Regatta
The first Auckland Anniversary Regatta took place in 1840 and has grown to become one of the largest single day regattas and is the oldest sporting event in New Zealand.condor.mp4 – YouTube
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See also
*Yachting
Yachting is the use of recreational boats and ships called ''yachts'' for racing or cruising. Yachts are distinguished from working ships mainly by their leisure purpose. "Yacht" derives from the Dutch word '' jacht'' ("hunt"). With sailboats, ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Condor of Bermuda Individual sailing vessels 1970s sailing yachts Sailing yachts built in the United Kingdom Sailing yachts of the United Kingdom Sailing yachts of Bermuda Maxi yachts Volvo Ocean Race yachts Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race yachts Fastnet Race yachts