September 29, 2011
Bad Weather Foils CMD-Powered Bermuda Challenge Attempt
CHARLESTON, S.C. –Chris Fertig attempted Boating Magazine’s Bermuda Challenge Sept. 21-22 but came up short due to severe weather. Undaunted, Fertig has vowed to try the New York-to-Bermuda run again in the spring of 2012.
The run started inside New York Harbor with a U.S. Coast Guard escort. When Fertig, accompanied by Nick Buis and Mike Anderson, reached the harbor entrance the 37-foot Statement center console was greeted with smooth surface conditions and clear skies. It was at this point that they adjusted the Cummins MerCruiser Diesel TDI 4.2L engines for a cruise speed of 40 mph and headed for Bermuda, 760 miles to the southeast. 300 miles into the trip and two hours ahead of schedule the team encountered a squall that exploded into a full gale producing high winds and building seas up to 12 to 14 feet. After running into deteriorating weather conditions for approximately four hours, at a much slower than planned pace, the team made the difficult decision to head back to the mainland. The conditions made the trip unsafe and the record time unattainable, Fertig said. By the time the team docked at Rehoboth Beach, Del., it had covered more than 700 miles in 26 hours. Despite the brutal sea conditions, the boat had averaged 1.77 mpg and still had 120 gallons of fuel in the tanks. The team members were exhausted and disappointed, but they had no complaints about their propulsion system.
“As Nick, Mike and I sat down for lunch before we headed home, we all remarked how well the boat and engines performed,” said Chris Fertig. “Running for over 26 hours in the weather we were in, the boat, engines, drives and electronics all operated flawlessly.”
Boating Magazine opened the Bermuda Challenge in 1994 to any boats 40 feet and below. It dared challengers to make the 760-mile run across the open water of the Atlantic from New York Harbor to Bermuda. The challenge was first met in 1996 when a Glacier Bay 260 Canyon Runner catamaran powered by twin 90-hp outboard engines made the trip in 37 hours. Only a year later another outboard-powered catamaran shaved the record time to 30 hours, 19 minutes. This record stood until 2002 when the current time of 22 hours, 23 minutes was set by yet another outboard-powered catamaran.
Chris Fertig’s Bermuda Challenge boat is a 37 Statement center console deep V powered by twin CMD TDI 4.2L diesel engines. His boat is the only sterndrive vessel and the only diesel vessel to attempt this challenge thus far.
“Will we try again for the record? Absolutely!” Fertig said as he was towing the boat back to his home in Virginia Beach, Va. “After the Miami Boat Show, the boat will be prepped and ready for another record attempt as soon as we see the right weather window in the spring.”
The CMD clean diesel TDI 4.2L engines that power Fertig’s vessel are the product of a strategic alliance between Volkswagen and Cummins MerCruiser Diesel. The engines are manufactured by Volkswagen in its Salzgitter, Germany, plant. They are marketed, serviced and sold under the CMD brand. The TDI engine has proven its power, fuel efficiency and reliability in the Audi Q7 automobile and its reputation is quickly growing in the marine environment as well.
The Bermuda Challenge boat will be on display at the 2011 International Ft. Lauderdale Boat Show, Oct. 27-31, and the 2012 Miami International Boat Show, Feb. 16-20, as part of the CMD on-water presence at both boat shows. Fertig and CMD will be offering rides to OEM customers and press representatives.
ABOUT CMD
Based in Charleston, South Carolina (USA), Cummins MerCruiser Diesel is responsible for designing, manufacturing and providing reliable after-sales support worldwide for marine propulsion products. It offers a broad range of power, with available ratings from 40-715 hp for recreational applications and 150-715 hp for commercial use. Cummins MerCruiser Diesel is a joint venture between Cummins Inc. and Mercury Marine and can be found on the internet at www.cmdmarine.com.
For more information, contact: Andy Kelly, CMD Marketing Communications Specialist at (office) 843-745-1172 or George.kelly@cummins.com.
High resolution photography of CMD products can be downloaded from the CMD FTP site: www.cmdmarine.com/ftp.
