In BIRW’s early years, the event was smaller, it operated out of Champlin’s circle, and mostly everyone knew each other. Those were the days before carbon fiber, high-tech sails, and onboard electronics that would put the Navy to shame. It was also the era when a certain doctor’s presence was known on the Island.

Now, this was totally a tongue-in-cheek situation where everyone at Race Week was in on the gag and played along. The Duty Office in those days was in the basement of the Champlin’s office on the left as you walk up the hill from the circle. One of the Duty Office volunteers was a woman named Jane Mansfield. Yes, she was blonde like that other Jayne Mansfield, but she was a slip of a woman. It was her sense of humor, however, that was massive.

In the Duty Office there was a microphone wired to a number of speakers around the circle...a PA system servicing the marina. Jane would make announcements as appropriate throughout the week, and then some. Repeatedly, there were calls for Dr. Willi Faraguli to come to the Duty Office for one reason or another. This “honorary” albeit fictitious STC Member was even listed in the STC Yearbook with a NYC address—as was his equally fictitious wife Farrah! As the story goes (thanks Penny Langone who was there and watched/heard it all), Dr. Faraguli was a world-renowned OB/GYN and also an ornithologist – technically he was Professor Dr. Willi Faraguli, Jr. Despite that specific focus, he was called upon to “address” various “medical” issues throughout the week.

On ‘Round-the-Island Race Day, STC organized a luncheon for spouses at the Lighthouse accompanied by an announcement that Professor Dr. Faraguli would be leading a bird watching tour in the cemetery starting at 1000.

The Good Doctor’s notoriety was so widespread that one Race Week a woman from the mainland brought her prized African parrot to the Duty Office for the now-famous ornithologist to inspect. Upon approaching the Duty Office asking for him, Jane stuck her head out the window explaining that, “Unfortunately, Dr. Faraguli had passed away.” But that didn’t stop Willi from returning to BIRW and being listed in the STC Yearbook.

It should also be mentioned that the quick-witted Jane also made announcements to the boat basin ranging from “Rich du Moulin, your mother’s on the phone for you,” to “Vinny Monte-Sano, you left your underwear in the cemetery.”  BIRW misses Jane Mansfield; however, the good Doctor has resurfaced here and there and, who knows, maybe he will take the ferry to New Shoreham this June. And if you should hear an announcement “Calling Dr. Willi Faraguli” this Race Week, look around and see who answers the page.