Edgartown Race Weekend ready to host 40 teams
by Barby MacGowan 19 Jun 06:44 PDT
June 20-22, 2025
Edgartown Race Weekend © Stephen R Cloutier
Edgartown Race Weekend's 88th 'Round-the-Island Race ('RTI) is scheduled for Saturday, June 21 and will see 40 boats at the 8:00 am start off Edgartown's Outer Harbor.
Revered as one of the nation's oldest distance races, the 'RTI could possibly be the most spectacular in terms of venues and finest as far as what it offers sailors looking for smart competition and a good time.
"It's a relatively quiet year," said Co-Chair Hal Findlay, explaining that this year's race ends one day before Block Island Race Week starts, making it difficult schedule-wise for some to participate in both. "Nevertheless, we have some impressive teams, and whether you see 40, 50 or 60 boats surrounding you as you're sailing around Martha's Vineyard, it doesn't take away from the one-of-a-kind sailing experience that the 'RTI offers."
Circumnavigating Martha's Vineyard, the 'RTI's 55-mile course passes in sight of seven historic lighthouses and the dramatic coasts of Martha's Vineyard (including the jaw-dropping cliffs of Gay Head) and Nantucket. Sailors finish by early-to-late evening after mastering the challenges of tide, current, and wind.
"This year's event looks to have good weather and decent breeze," said Co-Chair Cindy Alten-DeLotto," which everyone is happy about."
The scratch sheet foreshadows healthy competition in all classes: thus far, five for PHRF Spinnaker and one each for PHRF Spinnaker Double-Handed, PHRF Non-Spinnaker, and Multi-hull. (A ninth class for the 157' Schooner Arabella is for exhibition only.)
In PHRF Class 2, where Hal Findlay's Oyster 66 Serendipity is registered, the 72' foot Cutter Sloop Isabel, the largest boat in the racing fleet, is surely to serve up some stiff competition. It is owned by former U.S. Secretary of State and Massachusetts Senator John Kerry (Boston, Mass.) who acquired the yacht last year. "This is her first race," said Kerry, who is better known for competing here in his smaller classic yacht Lark, with which he won the 'RTI's coveted Venona Trophy in 2020. "The crew are a group of friends, most of whom raced on Lark and enjoyed the weekend. Three islanders - Nevin Sayre, Felix Colon and Chace Lewis - are in the crew plus three friends."
In Class 1, the Community Boating Center (CBC) of New Bedford's Youth Offshore Team will compete aboard the Baltic 50 Crazy Horse. "There will be three coaches aboard, including CBC's Assistant Director Andy Chin, with a balance of nine or so crew comprised of the youth that have come up through the organization's offshore program. "Most of them are in their early 20s and none have done the 'RTI before," said Chin. "We are using it as a training session for future offshore races such as the Halifax to Marblehead Race this year and the Newport to Bermuda Race next year."
In Crazy Horse's same class will be another team focused on youth sailors: the J/V 66 Temptation/Oakcliff, with Art Santry (Oyster Bay, N.Y.) at the helm and EYC member Bill Weeks crewing along with "first class sailors" developed by Oyster Bay's Oakcliff Sailing Center.
"I have been a member of the EYC for 40 plus years and have raced one designs and crewed on big boats for most of the regattas during that time, including with Art's father and more recently with Art on the previous Temptation/Oakcliff," said Weeks. "Art has now taken on the J/V 66 as the new Temptation. He is very excited about trying to break the 'RTI record. I recently lost my son to cancer, and this has given me something positive to focus on."
An array of new and veteran teams populates the remaining classes, including first-timer Ryan Scudder (Centerville, Mass.), in Class 2, with his new (as of last December) Dehler 30 Styrka. Scudder's focus is on "building skills with the new boat and refining crew dynamics."
Among the returning teams are Rick Egan's (Osterville, Mass.) Corbeau, in Class 1, and Mike Powers (Teaticket, Mass.) and his crew onboard Artful Dodger, a Tartan 3300 in Class 5. Egan, who will have his brother, two sons, and his nephew sailing with him, has competed with family in the 'RTI at least ten times, going "back into the "80's with various boats." Powers, when asked what he likes about 'RTI, replied, "What is not to like? A magnificent racing venue. A town with great bars and restaurants. A club that welcomes and embraces the crews, and a proper Race Committee that exhibits great judgment."
Among the sponsors of Edgartown Race Weekend are Mount Gay Rum, Martha's Vineyard Coffee Company, Regatta Craft Mixers, TC Outfitters, and J Boats.
For more information on Edgartown Race Weekend, visit www.rtirace.org or contact Margaret Passafiume, , (508) 627-4364 x18.