For those who may remember, Bob Connell was the navigator for the record breaking run in 1974 for the Miami to New York record. 22 hours and 41 minutes.

Other crew on that run was Doc Magoon, owner driver and Gene Lanham, throttleman. The boat was a 40 foot Cigarette powered with Mercruiser / Stan Irwin engines. They were Mercruiser engines if the run was successful and if they had an engine failure, they were to be known as Stan Irwin engines.

Bob Connell was also a famous sailboat racer navigator. He was 72 and died at his home in Rhode Island. He was co owner of Newport Shipyard and crewed on many 12 meter America's Cup boats. Sports Illustrated described him as "Built like a brick lighthouse."

May he rest in peace.