Instead of aiming to win, the goal was to lose in the most spectacular fashion possible. Barely seaworthy “non-vessels”, were slapped together with any and every type of building material, including an antique bed, a refrigerator and a cello case. The winner is the boat that sinks fastest – a true “non-race”. While boats were sinking, Bermuda’s quirky and creative sense of humour rose to the surface.
The "race" was cancelled by organisers in 2018, but the event has grown to mean so much more than seafaring satire. The island’s population will flood to Mangrove Bay in Sandys Parish to see off the Cup Match holiday in style.