Cuyler Morris and family aboard Morris 45 Firefly dominated their class at the 2007 Antigua Race Week. Firefly swept the five race series and came away 1st in the Cruising I Division and 3rd Overall in the fleet of more than 200 boats. Firefly earned line honors the last day.
With easterly breezes of 12- to 16-knots on the water and clear skies overhead, the 40th running of Stanford Antigua Sailing Week held April 29-May 4 attracted a truly international fleet of nearly 200 yachts of all sizes and descriptions. The conditions proved to be more than perfect for Cuyler Morris and wife Cindy and kids Sam, Sofia and Thomas. The Morris Family is enjoying a week of racing sandwiched between a winter-long Caribbean cruise. And they’re doing it in style. With the kids on the rail and the bimini up for sun protection, the crew ignored pleas from many skippers in their 16-boat Class to slow Firefly down or to take the kids in to the harbor for ice cream.
Always the competitor, Cuyler said of the fourth race, “We had some trouble at the opposite ends of the race our first beat wasn’t great and we had some issues getting around the last windward mark but we sailed well in the middle.”
The Morris family was joined by Morris General Manager Will Ratcliff and his son Connor. Yachting World Editor David Pugh and Cruising World editor Herb McCormick also took in a day of sailing with the group during the fun filled week.
On May 8, Firefly and family departed the Caribbean for the trip north. They plan an extended stop in Annapolis to sight see in DC before heading for home. They expect to return to Bass Harbor by mid-June.
Firefly will go on the market in June. For more information:
www.morrisyachts.com/news or call
207-244-5509
Celebrating 35 years of boating building, Morris Yachts was founded in 1972 by Tom Morris. Today, Morris Yachts is America’s premier builder of series, semi-custom and custom sailing yachts from 34-70ft. Morris Yachts have a demonstrated reputation for luxury, performance and great value. The firm currently produces two semi-custom lines: the Ocean Series, which ranges in length from 34 feet to 62 feet and the newer M-Series, which ranges from 36 to 52 feet. The Ocean Series is intended for full-force cruising with a high level of customization available and the sturdiest of systems installed. The M-Series is geared toward sporty performance and ease of operation. All Morris Yachts sport classic American lines and Bristol fit and finish. More than 190 of the Ocean Series yachts have been launched since the company’s inception. And in a scant two and a half years, more than 52 of Morris’ stunning new M-Series yachts have been launched, are in build or are on order.
In 1996, his son Cuyler joined Tom and the family business has expanded into a complete yacht service organization including brokerage, chartering, and custom yacht construction. Indeed, in just the last 10 years, Morris has seen annual revenues grow from $400,000 with 20 employees to $14 million and 108 employees. That growth coincides with the tenure of Morris’ son Cuyler, first as Service Manager, then as President. Tom now holds the official title of Ambassador-at-Large.
At their deepwater marine facilities in Bass Harbor and Northeast Harbor, Morris Yachts’ skilled craftsmen and engineering staff can handle routine maintenance or the most sophisticated and complicated restorations and rebuilds. The Bass Harbor facility has a 35-ton travel lift with the capacity to handle boats up to 65 ft., state-of-the-art spray paint bays, and indoor heated and cold storage for up to 100 boats, sail or power. New boat brokers are also based in Bass Harbor. Morris Service Northeast Harbor offers a full array of services haulout (23-ton travelift), full electrical, mechanical and machinery capabilities, plus varnish work. Northeast Harbor is also where the brokerage offices and boats are located and is the home base to a growing fleet of charter boats. Transient slips, indoor heated or non-heated storage and outside storage is also available for Morris customers. For more information Morris Yachts 53 Granville Rd Bass Harbor, Maine 04653, 207-244-5509; sales1@morrisyachts.com; www.morrisyachts.com.
