Stephen Colbert To Race To Bermuda

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Feb 13th 2011 at 10:01AM

Stephen Colbert is full of intriguing moves lately. We mentioned recently that one of his infamous portraits is being sold at auction in March. Next he's trying his hand at being a yachtsman. Colbert will take part in the biennial OnDeck Charleston Bermuda Race on May 21. He will command a crew sailing a 65-foot racing yacht from Charleston, South Carolina to Bermuda and he's bringing his show along for the ride. The race organizers have appointed him the Honorary Captain of the Fleet. Colbert said in a statement: "The ocean has had a free ride too long. Well, it has to deal with me now. Brace yourself, Atlantic!"

This isn't such a strange move for Colbert. He's a Charleston native and competed in the race in 2005. In a 2005 interview with David Letterman he described that adventure saying that he is not a sailor, but "when your wife says you can go away for a week, you go." That time he was aboard a 45-foot ketch. He described the experience of going through the Bermuda triangle saying that the boat lost its power, toilets, sails and more. Colbert's boat came in dead last that time. In fact, BerNews says that Colbert's boat did so poorly that it reached Bermuda two days after the awards ceremony festivities were over and they had to listen to the event on the radio. Here's hoping he finishes stronger this go round.

If you've got a hankering to race like Colbert you can charter a boat for the event from Ondeck Racing. They are offering a Farr 65 Ocean Racing Yacht for $31,000 (individual berths are $2300) or a Shipman 63 Luxury Yacht for $34,000.

Tags: charleston to bermuda race, sailing race, stephen colbert, yacht race