76th Block Island Race shortened
by Storm Trysail Club 31 May 12:47 PDT
June 19-23, 2023
Class 8 ORC start © Rick Bannerot, Ontheflyphoto.net
The 76th Annual Block Island Race was more of a Long Island Sound Race this year as Storm Trysail Club Race Committee decided the morning of the start to shorten the 186 nm course to 116 nm due to light winds.
While the first class did start on time at 1400 on Friday, May 26th, the wind kept dying and shifting, so the Race Committee went into a 20-minute postponement for Class 2 followed by another 20-minute AP for Class 3.
Finally, for the start of Class 4, the northeasterly wind filled in and the subsequent 5 classes were off. 55 boats competing under ORC or PHRF racing started the race with six teams retiring before the finish.
John "JT" Troy, Race Chair, said multiple discussions with experts from all areas started on Wednesday looking to try and make the best of the situation. "Despite the conditions, we were very pleased to see that 90% of the boats finished."
Just shy of 20 hours, Scott Weisman with his R/P 45 Pterodactyl crew were the first to cross the finish line (0:19:52:10). Unfortunately, they corrected out to 0:23:03:38, far off the podium but at least their heads hit the pillows back on land first.
It was Vice Commodore Andrew Weiss with his Italia 11.98 who corrected out on top of the ORC fleet (0:20:53:50) to walk away the William Tripp, Jr Memorial Trophy. His Christopher Dragon crew are long-time Long Island sound sailors but said even this one was tough for them.
"In conditions this shifty and light, we had to work really hard to find breeze and were changing sails all day and night," said Weiss. "It was an exhausting race physically and mentally."
Kevin Marks and John Fallon, winners of both the overall PHRF Terrapin Bowl and double-handed division, echoed the same sentiment after finishing in just over 24 hours in the J99 Velocity2.
"I attribute our success to my co-pilot and chief 'naviguessor' John Fallon," said Marks. " His strategic plan considered where the tidal currents would be and where the next new wind might be. We also know that pushing through and logging miles during the midnight-to-dawn period was critical to the final performance."
Where the wind might have been lacking, the awards party at Stamford Yacht Club on Sunday made up for it. The food and beverages from our friends at The Real McCoy Rum, Regatta Craft Mixers, and Harbor Point Wine and Spirits kept the sailors smiling under the sun while enjoying the live music and camaraderie.
Full list of results.
George Lauder Trophy, Best performance by a Vintage boat (25 years old +): CHARLOTTE - Richard West
Commodore's Grail Trophy, Best Performance PHRF Double-handed: VELOCITY 2 - Kevin Marks and John Fallon
Governors Race West Trophy, Best elapsed time in the ORC Fleet: PTERODACTYL - Scott Weisman
William Tripp, Jr Memorial Trophy, Best corrected time in the ORC Fleet: CHRISTOPHER DRAGON XII - Andrew and Linda Weiss
Terrapin Trophy, Best corrected time in PHRF: VELOCITY 2 - Kevin Marks and John Fallon
Governors Race East Trophy, Best elapsed time - PHRF: FIREBALL - Bill and Jackie Baxter
Gerold Abels, Best Performance ORC Double-Handed: NOT AWARDED
Roddie Williams Team Race Trophy: STC RED - Christopher Dragon XII/Cougar/Lora Ann
Tuna Trophy, Best ORC combined scores in the Edlu (40%) and the BI Race (60%): NOT AWARDED
Commodore's Trophy, To the boat that has won a handicap class by the smallest margin of time over the 2nd and 3rd place boats: ZIG ZAG - Andrew Clark
Harvey Conover Memorial Overall Trophy, awarded to the boat that haswon her class and, in the judgment of the Flag Officers and Race Committee, had the best overall performance: VELOCITY 2 - Kevin Marks and John Fallon