BLOCK ISLAND RACE WEEK TIMES

29th Race Week Tuesday Edition

North Sails Race Day

June 22, 2021 - Storm Trysail Club - Block Island, Rhode Island USA

Welcome to The 1BI.

All the news from Block Island Race Week presented by Margaritaville.

Welcome to Block Island Race Week presented by Margaritaville and the 1BI, our digital daily newsletter. Each day, we will bring you the latest news, photos, videos, and highlights from the racecourses and the docks. We look forward to sharing your stories with fellow competitors and fans watching the racing from afar. Feel free to send story ideas to [email protected].

Cover Photo: Steve Cloutier/ Storm Trysail Club

Three Races Completed on the PHRF, One-Design, and ORC classes.

Photo: Steve Cloutier/ Storm Trysail Club

North Sails Race Day Recap

Light breeze but 3 races completed for all divisions

Block Island, RI - The fog lifted overnight so the Race Committee sent the 158 teams for Block Island Race Week presented by Margaritaville out to their assigned race circles for North Sails Race Day to get some "points on the scoreboard" today.


Even though Tropical Depression Claudette is passing well to the south of Block Island, a few storm clouds began to form on the horizon soon after the races started and the swell from the storm forced the boats to battle 8-10 foot swells on the race courses throughout the day.


Finally commencing their regatta, after yesterday's abandonment due to fog, the White and Blue fleets managed to complete three races in light 5-10 knot breeze and the Green Circle (Performance Cruising and Multihull) completed a 12-mile distance race.


In the ORC Division, Hap Fauth's Maxi 72 BELLE MENTE, Austin and Gwen Fragomen's Botin 44 INTERLODGE, John Cooper's Mills 43 COOL BREEZE, and Ashley Maltempo's and Bill Wiggins' J/ 121 WINGS top each of their classes for the day.


"Last year with Covid, we didn't travel at all," said Robin Team, skipper of the J/122 TEAMWORK. "We were a 15 months without any racing. So we were ready, eager and raring to go today after yesterday. Three great races in light air and we are heavier boat but we'll take anything we can get to get across the starting line at this point." Team and his crew ended up third in the ORC D for the day.


Thunder and lightning could be heard around 1300 to the southwest just as the boats started their second race but fortunately aside from some passing rain, they were able to keep racing throughout the day even through influential shifts and big waves.


The Green Fleet started off the east shoreline with a crowd of spectators taking in the sights. One family of four from Los Angeles, who coincidentally vacations on Block Island the same week as the Race Week every year, commented "We love to come down with and watch the boats every year from the beach. The kids think they are all pirate ships."


Another couple from Florida who summer on Block Island were getting educated on the rules of the race from another local resident. "I don't think I have ever seen this many boats out there!" she declared.


This is one of the biggest Block Island Race Week fleets in over a decade. Whether it's the pent up energy post-COVID or just the welcome atmosphere of the Island, the abundance of competition in all the varying conditions makes for great racing.


"We have 13 boats in our class all with very close ratings and tight competition," said the skipper THE CAT CAME BACK, Mike Campbell. Their team is one of five Swan 42s in ORC C and had two top five finishes for the day. "Looking forward to the rest of the week and hopefully having breeze," he concluded.


As the system passes through this evening, Storm Trysail Club's Race Committee is hopeful for the return of sunny skies and sea breeze to continue to get off races. Stay tuned all week for the latest coverage on social media (@BIRaceWeek), blockislandraceweek.com, and Yacht Scoring.

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RACE WEEK

SCHEDULE

Wednesday June 23

0900

0930

1100

1700 - 1900

Industry Partners Race Day

Announcements

Harbor Start

First Warning

Daily Awards and Social

Button Purchase Required

Thursday June 24

0900

0930

1100

1700 - 1900

Mount Gay Race Day

Announcements

Harbor Start

First Warning

Daily Awards and Social

Hosted by Mount Gay. Button Purchase Required.

Friday June 25

0900

0930

1100

1700 - 1900

Margaritaville Race Day

Announcements

Harbor Start

First Warning

Daily Awards and Social

Hosted by Margaritaville. Button Purchase Required.

Tears happen, but they shouldn’t leave you without a key piece of race inventory.

The North Sails Certified Service team will be available during Block Island Race Week for all your sail care needs to help keep you on the water. 

Connect with the team, headed by Justin Backus, inside the Block Island Maritime Institute, across from race HQ or call 203-912-6534.

GET YOUR RAFFLE TICKETS

Support Block Island and Win Prizes

Each year, Storm Trysail Club tries to leave Block Island a little better than we found it with a donation to an organization that benefits the residents or environment of the small island. Starting 2001, the Storm Trysail Club’s BIRW Raffles have generated over $100 thousand that has been directed to the services and charities serving the Island and its residents, from the Block Island Rescue Squad, which has been called into action for one reason or another by virtually every BIRW; the Block Island Medical Center, which has patched-up more injured sailors over the years than can be remembered; and the Block Island Conservancy, a membership organization concerned with preserving the open spaces of Block Island.

This year, we will find an equally worthy organization by which your contributions will be most appreciated!

The grand prize this year will be a 3-night stay at the new Margaritaville Resort Times Square opening this June!

TOP FINISHERS FOR DAY 1

Presented by Helly Hansen

Place, Yacht Name, Sail, Owner/Skipper, Results, Total Points

J 44 (One Design - 5 Boats)

1. Vamp YCC, USA4404, Kenneth Luczynski - 1 -1 -2 ; 4

2. Glory, USA4411, Merrill Cline - 2 -2 -1 ; 5

3. Palantir 5, USA4401, June & Amanda Kendrick - 3 -3 -4 ; 10

J 105 (One Design - 13 Boats)

1. Boat 63, USA63, Bruce Stone / Nicole Breault - 7 -1 -1 ; 9

2. Honey Badger, USA568, Brian M. Nelson - 4 -2 -3 ; 9

3. Deja Voodoo, USA130, William Zartler - 1 -7 -2 ; 10

J 109 (One Design - 14 Boats)

1. Gossip, USA274, Group W - 3 -1 -1 ; 5

2. Big Boat, USA360, William Rogers - 4 -2 -2 ; 8

3. Emoticon, USA200, Jonathan Rechtschaffer - 2 -3 -4 ; 9

J 111 (One Design - 7 Boats)

1. Ramrod, USA106, Rodrick Jabin - 1 -1 -1 ; 3

2. Bravo, USA60909, Andrew Ward / Sedgwick Ward - 2 -3 -3 ; 8

3. Fireball, USA16, Bill & Jackie Baxter - 4 -4 -2 ; 10

ORC C (ORC - 13 Boats)

1. Cool Breeze, USA60432, John Cooper - 8 -1 -1 ; 10

2. Tio Loco, USA4243, Henry Brauer Steve Madeira - 5 -2 -3 ; 10

3. Peacemaker, USA52875, Leo Vasiliev - 2 -3 -7 ; 12

ORC D (ORC - 8 Boats)

1. Wings, USA68750, Ashley Maltempo / Bill Wiggins - 1 -1 -1 ; 3

2. Escape Velocity 2, USA93586, Ben Chigier - 2 -2 -4 ; 8

3. Teamwork, USA52939, Team Syndicate - 3 -3 -5.5 ; 11.5

ORC A (ORC - 2 Boats)

1. Bella Mente, USA45, Hap Fauth - 1 -1 -1 ; 3

2. Gladiator, GBR11152, Tony Langley - 2 -2 -2 ; 6

ORC B (ORC - 5 Boats)

1. Interlodge, USA4415, Austin and Gwen Fragomen - 1 -3 -1 ; 5

2. Rigadoon, USA103, Jim Grundy - 4 -1 -2 ; 7

3. Temptation - Oakcliff, USA50069, Arthur Santry - 2 -4 -3 ; 9

PHRF 1 (PHRF_ToT - 9 Boats)

1. Zephyr, USA70059, MIDN 1/C Keegan Steele - 1 -1 ; 2

2. Christopher Dragon XI, USA39, Andrew & Linda Weiss - 3 -2 ; 5

3. Coyote, USA56600, William Clemens - 2 -5 ; 7

PHRF 2 (PHRF_ToT - 16 Boats)

1. Arcturus, USA43851, George Pawle - 4 -2 ; 6

2. Seabiscuit, USA40, Kevin McNeil - 2 -4 ; 6

3. Dark Energy, USA864, Laura Grondin - 6 -1 ; 7

PHRF 3 (PHRF_ToT - 12 Boats)

1. Dirty Harry, USA40561, Jack McGuire - 1 -1 ; 2

2. Rumor, USA19, John Storck, Jr - 4 -2 ; 6

3. Audacious, USA32445, Ken Madeiro - 2 -5 ; 7

Performance Cruising 1 Spin - Rule 26 (PHRF_ToT - 12 Boats)

1. Incognito, USA1, Joe Brito - 1 -2 ; 3

2. Lora Ann, USA40789, Richard du Moulin - 3 -1 ; 4

3. Grand Plan, USA12834, Ted Ruegg - 2 -6 ; 8

MultiHull - Pursuit (Pursuit - 4 Boats)

1. Nemo, USA6604, Todd Slyngstad - 1 -1 ; 2

2. Thirst, USA55007, Seamus Hourihan - 2 -3 ; 5

3. Jammy, USA5504, Thomas Lee - 4 -2 ; 6

Performance Cruising 2 Spin - Pursuit (Pursuit - 14 Boats)

1. Dragonfly, USA52162, Skip Young - 1 -2 ; 3

2. Morpheus, USA51850, James Gregory - 2 -3 ; 5

3. Reef Points / Laura, USA6905, Bill Titus - 6 -1 ; 7

Performance Cruising 3 Spin - Pursuit (Pursuit - 14 Boats)

1. Participant II, USA39, G. John Krediet - 1 -1 ; 2

2. Island Spirit, USA1350, Robert Closter - 2 -5 ; 7

3. Rush, USA3883, Henry duPont - 4 -4 ; 8

Performance Cruising Non-Spin - Pursuit (Pursuit - 9 Boats)

1. Banjo, USA1, Rodney Johnstone - 1 -1 ; 2

2. Venturesome, USA52687, Bob Zannetti - 4 -2 ; 6

3. Roi Soleil, USA2234, Stacy Aslan - 3 -6 ; 9