2011 Block Island Race Week News
Allen Clark/PhotoBoat.com
T U E S D AY • J U N E 2 1 , 2 0 1 1
Patience is Rewarded By late morning on Monday, it seemed likely that there wouldn’t be any sailing on the first day of Block Island Race Week XXIV presented by Rolex. During a prolonged postponement, plenty of jokes and sailing stories (some perhaps somewhat enhanced) were told on the docks. With spirits soaring but flags sagging, roving reporter Clete Vanger had plenty of time to chat it up with the J/44 fleet. The big questions of the morning were: 1) What new crew uniforms would the crew of Jim Bishop’s Gold Digger (Jamestown, RI) be modeling on the runway at Payne’s Dock; and 2) How many Don Raves are there? Rumors were also circulating about the crew of Jeff Willis’ Challenge IV’’s (Huntington, NY) new “svelte approach,” achieved though a rigorous off-season workout and spinning program (Spin harder, guys). Bill Ketcham’s Maxine (Greenwich, CT) wins the “best looking crew” category thanks to their cute female factor (wrist splints, bandages and ice packs included), but pink shirts on the guys…not sure about that Fairfield County look at such a manly event. The Resolute crew (Huntington Bay, NY) looked dapper in their new blue T-shirts, from Grandpa Rave down to little Ryan and 4-year-old Erin. The Glory crew (New London, CT) are the cleanest cut of the class, but what would you expect from our US Coasties?
As the wait for wind continued, one crew tied new lacing into forward lifelines while others whipped the ends of lines, played softball on the lawn at The Narragansett, swam or worked on their tans…one ambitious crew even headed out for some man overboard drills. As a breeze began to build, the Race Committee lowered the AP flag at 1230 and the prospect for at least one race was good. The crew aboard the Rolex media boat elected to spectate on the Red Circle, and the action did not disappoint as signals commenced promptly at 1330 in about 8 knots. The pin end appeared to be favored, and the IRC 1 class was up first. The U.S. Naval Academy Sailing Squadron’s J/V 52 Anema & Core (Annapolis, MD) had a spectacular start, with Richard Oland’s Southern Cross 52 Vela Veloce (St. John, NB) just to windward. The pin end looked good to most of the nine boats in IRC 2. Jack LeFort’s Tripp 41 After Midnight (Stuart, FL) was forced to pinch to make it, but soon found clear air on the left side. Heidi & Steve Benjamin’s Custom 41 High Noon (Norwalk, CT) chose the middle of the line, finding a fast lane on the right side. The breeze freshened as the Farr One-Design class (four Farr 30s and four Farr 40s) started, and there was plenty of jockeying for position in the Swan 42 class with three of 13 boats over early. In heavy traffic at the IRC 3 start, Brian Prinz’s Tripp 40 Mk2 Spectre (East Haven, CT) bore off down the line and hardened up right at the pin. This gutsy maneuver paid off, and Spectre had a great start in