Stark Raving Mad VII defends Swan American Challenge

IMA Member Jim Madden, owner of Swan 601 Stark Raving Mad VII (USA), is the winner of the Swan American Challenge trophy based on their performance in IRC in the 2014 Newport Bermuda Race. This is the second consecutive win of this title for Madden and his fourth race to Bermuda, having competed in each of them since 2008.

ClubSwan recognizes Swan owners competing in the world’s most important offshore regattas with beautifully handcrafted Asprey Swan Challenge trophies.
Nautor’s Swan had an extraordinary fleet competing in the 49th Newport Bermuda Race, with 24 Swans ranging from the Swan 39 to the Swan 601, a clear indication that this biennial ocean race is still one of the most accessible tests of seamanship.

The 2014 Newport Bermuda Race started on June 20th in a light and shifty breeze and will be remembered as one of the slower editions, as the 164 competing crews were challenged by the conditions throughout the 635 nautical miles of the course.

For Madden and his crew on Swan 601 Stark Raving Mad VII, this year’s race was very different from the winning one in 2012, when they finished in less than 60 hours, with speeds of over 20 knots. This year it took them 3 days 17 hrs 19 minutes and 1 second to reach the finish line in Bermuda.

“Though a long, frustrating light air race with lots of wind holes and downpours, we could not be more pleased with the result - a 1st in class 8 IRC,” commented Madden. “The crew was exceptional - focused, patient, and there were few, if any, errors. The navigation was very challenging in the first 36 hours of the race, but then we found some nice lanes around the rain clouds,” added Madden.

This is Madden’s second Swan, “and it’s been everything I’d hoped for and more. She’s fast (for a non-grand prix race boat), she’s graceful, she’s extremely well built, and she’s fun,” says Madden, who was extremely pleased with his boat’s performance in the challenging conditions of this year’s Newport Bermuda Race. While ten teams retired from the race, mostly due to small gear failures, constraints on the crew’s schedule, or lack of progress, Stark Raving Mad VII had no problems: “The boat could not have performed better. Good in light air and exceptional when the breeze came up. We're pleased to report that not a single piece of equipment broke.”

The crew's morale was kept high by strong camaraderie spirit, tough determination and of course the ever-so important amenities on board: “The crew especially enjoyed the air conditioning, and our chef was outstanding with hot cooked meals daily!”