MEDIA 2021
Photo © Rick Austin
Yeah, we're doing doing very well. We're keeping up in the mix. We're basically, you know, tack for tack. We're covering each other. It's fun. Yeah, the boat’s really, really doing very well under these conditions, we don't normally race under ten knots. We’re from Newfoundland. This is very unusual.
Ray Rhinelander - Captain of Bella J
Bella J Represents
at Chester Race Week 2021
CHESTER NS - AUG 13, 2021
After sailing 600 nautical miles to Chester Nova Scotia, Captain Ray Rhinelander and the crew of the J/133 Bella J make a very impressive showing at the Chester Race Week 2021.
Yeah, we're doing doing very well. We're keeping up in the mix. We're basically, you know, tack for tack. We're covering each other. It's fun. Yeah, the boat’s really, really doing very well under these conditions, we don't normally race under ten knots. We’re from Newfoundland. This is very unusual.
Ray Rhinelander - Captain of Bella J
Elizabeth Shaw O’Toole Interviews Captain Ray Rhinelander
E: I'm Elizabeth Shaw O’Toole and I'm here for the 2021 Helly Hansen Chester Race Week. Today, I'm joined by Ray Rhinelander of the Royal Newfoundland Yacht Club. Ray, this is not your first Chester Race Week.
R: No, it's my second.
E: OK, your second. Now, logistically, it must have been hard to make it all work during these COVID times, but why have you and your team decided to come back for Race Week? Well, the bubble was put up, so we assumed basically make a go for it.
R: Chester’s a great place, great venue to race. Some of the best boats, some of the sailing best sailors in eastern Canada. We just love it here. It's always about the task to basically stay up with them and we just enjoy racing. It's fun.
E: So to get racing, you know, to get that fleet feel you had to come here. How has the racing been for you guys?
R: We've got a line honour in the first race.
E: Excellent.
R: Yeah, we're doing doing very well. We're keeping up in the mix. We're basically, you know, tack for tack. We're covering each other. It's fun. Yeah, the boat’s really, really doing very well under these conditions, we don't normally race under ten knots. We’re from Newfoundland. This is very unusual.
E: Mm-Hmm.
R: And this warm fog, I'm not sure where this comes from but we want some.
E: Yeah. Beautiful Chester weather, right?
R: Warm fog! I like it.
E: Yeah, very good. So the racing is the payoff for what I hear was a pretty sporty delivery. How did it go for you guys?
R: Ah 600 nautical miles, 1100 kilometers southwest set up about two weeks before our delivery window. Um, we had Commander Weather help us route, which they saved our butts a couple of times before and they did it again.
E: Mm-Hmm.
R: We put into St Lawrence a put into Louisbourg, and I have to put a little shout out to Joe Burke, Louisbourg, a lobster fisherman who saved our butt getting whatever crewmembers back to Nova Scotia drove from Nova Scotia.
E: Oh. Wow.
R: Lovely, lovely, friendly people all the way along. But yeah, we were punching and banging it for four days.
E: That's a classic ocean race like Newport to Bermuda just to get here.
R: Yeah, yeah. Just just blackness. Just no water. Bow aft. Just yeah so.
E: Well, unquestionably. I mean, we're so glad to have you guys here. As you've said, you're in the mix and you know our fleet’s glad to have you here. What can you say to those people who are a little bit further afield who've been considering coming to Chester Race Week?
R: Ahh Don't be shy. The learning experience; you basically throw yourself into the fire. But what better way to learn? You know, you got to take that up, the motivation and that drive in order to do it. If not, you just basically sit back on the sidelines and watch everything else happen.
E: Mm-Hmm.
R: So you have to do it for yourself. Yeah.
E: Yeah. Wonderful. And for the shoreside. How has your team been enjoying the social side?
R: I’m trying to rein them back?
Both: Yeah, yeah. [laughing]
R: Yeah. But then again, they're not quite... it’s unusual that they're actually out and about enjoying the weather and enjoying themselves.
E: Yeah.
R: So yeah, they’re having some fun. They’re moderated. They’re doing good. We have a beautiful little farmhouse too to reconnoiter and relax. Yeah.
E: Very good. Well, you know, we're halfway through the event. More fun today and tomorrow.
E: [to audience] Helly Hansen Chester Race Week is for everyone those hardy enough sailors to come from further afield [Ray laughs] and locals as well. So we really hope you'll continue to join us on these short videos, seeing what Chester is all about and make that plan for 2022. This is Elizabeth Shaw O’Toole signing off for day three from Helly Hansen Chester Race Week.
