2011 Block Island Race Week News
Allen Clark/PhotoBoat.com
M O N D AY • J U N E 2 0 , 2 0 1 1
Attention all Block Island Race Week competitors and guests. Today we begin the twenty-fourth Block Island Race Week. On behalf of our presenting sponsor, ROLEX USA, and Storm Trysail Club’s officers and members, it’s my pleasure to welcome you to New England’s finest sailing venue, Block Island, which is celebrating its 350th year in 2011. The local community and Storm Trysail Committees have been working feverishly preparing for what is sure to be another memorable week of competitive racing and catching up with old sailing mates. It’s our wish that you all enjoy the next five days, and bring away with you the fond memories of the week. Once again, we will host one-design and handicap racing sailors from around the country on three different Race Circles. Our Race Committees will again be staffed with the finest and most experienced Race Officers, committed to excellence in race management. They will again work under the watchful eyes of our On-the-water Co- Chairs, past Commodore Dick Neville and David Brennan, both of whom have serious years of race management under their belts. The Duty Office and The Tent remain at The Oar restaurant, as they have since 1997. We are so grateful for our continuing relationship with Steve and Rita Draper, the owners of The Oar and longtime residents on Block Island. Running an event of this size on an island away from home requires local partners. Over the 1 Storm Trysail Club 2011 Block Island Race Week News • Monday
years, the Drapers have been generous partners and instrumental to the success of this event. This is also true with Rally and Fran Migliaccio of the Block Island Boat Basin, and Cliff and Sands Payne of Payne’s New Harbor Dock. They have been critical to our success, as they have all simplified the task of organizing all the docking spaces of our fleet of Race Committee support boats and made them easily accessible for loading and unloading all the necessary race equipment. Our sponsors have yet again provided us with the support necessary to orchestrate another first class event. Events such as this one simply cannot happen without a loyal group of sponsors. Considering that BIRW is run exclusively by STC member volunteers, and that entry fees would only pay for a small percentage of our total costs, I hope everyone understands and appreciates the contribution they make and the value that these companies bring to this event. Please thank them for their sponsorship, and support them with your purchases. Lastly we thank you, the competitors, for your continued support of this and all Storm Trysail events. Sincerely, Nick Langone, Vice Commodore & Chairman