Roll of Honor SY CANNONBALL
1st in Class: Newport to Bermuda Yacht Race 1988
1st in Class: Italian Championship 1989
Maxi Worlds 1987
The third edition of the Maxi Yacht World Championships was held in Newport, USA, in June 1987. These championships began in 1985 with four boats and grew to nine boats across two divisions by the time of the 1987 series. US regulars Kialoa V, Ondine VII, Matador, and Boomerang were joined in the maxi group by the Swiss yacht Milene V. The mini-maxi division saw the Italian yacht Il Moro di Venezia and Emeraude of France join the US yachts Obsession and Cannonball.
Cannonball Wins – Newport to Bermuda Yacht Race
From the Onion Patch Series off Newport, RI, to the finish in Bermuda, you get a crew’s eye view of modern day ocean racing aboard a state-of-the-art yacht. Skippered by Charles Robertson, the Maxi “Cannonball” rockets to victory in this demanding four-day race. More exciting than the outcome, however, are the details of strategy, navigation, and day-to-day life aboard a competitive deep-water racing yacht.
1988, 120 starters: IMS 78, IOR 42
IMS Winner, Cannonball, Charles A. Robertson
In the first race of the day Gianluigi Serena’s Enfant Terrible (ITA), with America’s Cup sailor Paolo Cian calling tactics, came in first ahead of former World Champion Jim Richardson’s Barking Mad (USA), while Carlo Alberini’s Calvi (ITA) took third place. Race two of the day, the fifth of the event so far for this division, saw Massimo Mezzaroma’s Nerone (ITA) lead the fleet across the finish line ahead of Calvi and Dario Ferrari’s Cannonball (ITA).
Charlie Robertson (Old Saybrook, CT) is returning after a 15-year absence with his Frers Mini-Maxi Cannonball. This is the big yellow boat he sailed back in 1988 to win first place in IMS.
Cannonball video Newport to Bermuda Yacht Race
Starring in the film: Masquerade (1988) with Rob Lowe (first 3 minutes)
A recently orphaned millionairess, Olivia, really hates her scheming step-father. Olivia finds love with a young yacht racing captain, Tim, who isn’t entirely truthful with her.
