BLOCK ISLAND RACE WEEK TIMES
June 19, 2023
30th Race Week Day 1 - North Sails Race Day
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
In this Issue
IMPORTANT SAFETY ANNOUNCEMENT!
THE LONG DRIVEWAY INTO THE CHAMPLIN'S MARINA & ALL ROADWAYS ON PROPERTY
MUST BE KEPT CLEAR FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES.
All four tires MUST be off the road to be considered a parking place. If any of your tires are touching the road/driveway, this is not a permitted parking place. Please do not “create” parking places by parking on the lawn, etc. Thank you for your assistance.
Today started off beautiful for the sailors of Block Island Race Week.
Photo: Steve Cloutier
Perfect Conditions, Great Racing, Fierce Competition
By Chris Crawford
Block Island Race Week’s 30th edition, presented by Margaritaville, had “champagne conditions” for the first day of racing, North Sails Race Day, on all three race circles.
Racing got off on time after boats poured out of the Great Salt Pond spit from Champlin’s Resort and Marina, the Boat Basin and Payne’s Dock to form the infamous “boat parade” heading for the start lines.
From the crew on Ohana, the words to describe the day were “beautiful, stunning, amazing day of racing,” said Yori Petunous. “Despite a finish ‘toward’ the rear,” he quipped with a laugh and a smile. “The crew will be ready for day 2,” he promised as they moved off the afternoon dock for a bit of “island time.”
The same response came from Bella Mente navigator Ian Moore. “For us, it serves as a great opportunity to race on a course against experienced competition,” he said as they tune up the 74-foot boat after many major modifications. “We’re learning what the boat can and can’t do and we’re excited to be able to test the boat against a great collection of great racers.” They plan to enter the boat in the Maxi World championships in Italy and look forward to the remainder of the week on the water. “This is just fantastic to have coastal conditions.”
Moore said he has fallen in love with the island. “This place is a bit magical,” he said with a broad grin. “I got out on a bike for a bit and every turn is spectacular.”
“We had a great day,” noted owner John Griefzu of Growth Spurt, a Stamford, Conn. based J/109 who is vying for their North American Championship. “We won the first race today and I think we’re ahead on points,” he noted. The last time they raced for the championship a power boat hit them right before the final race and scuttled their chances to win first place. “This year we have grown championship beards,” he said through laughter.
Entropy, Paul Hamilton and Patricia Young’s, Swan 42 out of Jamestown, RI raved about the race course saying: “We had three really tight, well-run races today,” according to tactician Ben Greenfield. “The Storm Trysail Club is top-notch, so professional. Today was efficient and a whole lot of fun,” he noted as he stepped onto the dock. “Can’t wait for Tuesday.”
As the way sailboat racing sometimes goes, there were a number of protests pending at the time of publication, so some results maybe in flux. It goes to show that the first day of racing was a push out of the gate. Tomorrow, the 174 boats will head into Regatta Craft Mixers for day two of racing.
“We are looking forward to another day like today according to the forecast,” said Race Director Dick Neville. “With even more wind predicted for Wednesday.”
Tears happen, but they shouldn’t leave you without a key piece of race inventory.
The North Sails Certified Service team will be on island and available during Block Island Race Week for all your sail care needs to help keep you in the race.
Connect with the team, headed by Justin Backus, inside the Block Island Maritime Institute, down the street from Race HQ or call 203-912-6534.
Results Presented by Helly Hansen
A quality sailing kit is essential to keep you protected from the varying elements at Block Island Race Week, so Storm Trysail Club is happy to have Helly Hansen signed on as the Official Clothing Supplier for Block Island Race Week presented by Margaritaville.
They will be onsite during the event with any of your technical sailing gear needs at the Team1Newport regatta store.
North Sail Race Day Award Winners
Place, Yacht Name, Sail, Owner/Skipper, Results, Total PointsORC 2 (ORC - 10 Boats)
1. Entropy, USA4235, Paul Hamilton / Patricia Young - 1 -1 -1 ; 3
2. Impetuous, USA4206, Paul Zabetakis - 2 -2 -3 ; 7
3. Tio Loco, USA4243, Henry Brauer Steve Madeira - 6 -3 -2 ; 11
ORC 3 (ORC - 14 Boats)
1. THE ROCC, USA64, Al Minella - 5 -3 -2 ; 10
2. Bravo, USA60909, Andrew Ward / Sedgwick Ward - 2 -5 -3.5 ; 10.5
3. Teamwork, USA52939, Team Syndicate - 1 -4 -6 ; 11
J 44 (PHRF_ToT - 6 Boats)
1. Kenai, GBR5598T, Chris Lewis - 1 -1 -1 ; 3
2. Palantir 5, USA25244, June & Amanda Kendrick - 4 -3 -2 ; 9
3. Beagle, USA4408, Willets Meyer - 3 -4 -3 ; 10
J 109 (PHRF_ToT - 13 Boats)
1. Growth Spurt, USA261, John Greifzu, Jr. - 1 -2 -3 ; 6
2. Big Boat, USA360, Bud Rogers - 2 -6 -2 ; 10
3. Gossip, USA 274, Group W - 4 -3 -5 ; 12
J 88 (PHRF_ToT - 6 Boats)
1. Gaucho, USA16, Dave Tufts - 3 -1 -1 ; 5
2. Deviation, USA24, Iris Vogel - 1 -2 -2 ; 5
3. Whirlwind, USA56, William Purdy - 2 -4 -3 ; 9
J 105 (PHRF_ToT - 25 Boats)
1. Deja Voodoo, USA130, Bill Zartler - 1 -1 -3 ; 5
2. MAYHEM, USA67, Doug and Amy Stryker - 3 -8 -1 ; 12
3. Arbitrage@Trifecta, USA116, Bruce Stone Nicole Breault - 6 -4 -2 ; 12
ORC 1 (ORC - 7 Boats)
1. Menace, NZLNZL10, HOWARD SPENCER - 1 -1 -3 ; 5
2. Stark Raving Mad IX, USA47003, Jim Madden - 2 -3 -1 ; 6
3. Settler, USA8668, Thomas Rich - 4 -2 -2 ; 8
PHRF 1 (PHRF_ToT - 9 Boats)
1. Tink, USA4, Jack LeFort - 3 -1 -1 ; 5
2. Zephyr, USA70059, MIDN 1/C Rick Irving - 2 -2 -2 ; 6
3. IRIE 2, GRE55, Brian Cunha - 1 -3 -3 ; 7
PHRF 2 (PHRF_ToT - 9 Boats)
1. Seabiscuit, USA40, Kevin McNeil - 1 -1 -2 ; 4
2. #bigsandwich, USA11235, George Harrington - 4 -2 -3 ; 9
3. Dragonfly, CAN50500, Keith Amirault - 2 -7 -1 ; 10
PHRF 3 (PHRF_ToT - 7 Boats)
1. XLR8, USA8001, Brad Porter - 1 -1.5 -1 ; 3.5
2. Boondoggle, USA52309, Scott Kirkpatrick - 2 -3 -2 ; 7
3. Obsession, USA587, Gary Schwarting - 4 -1.5 -4 ; 9.5
PHRF 4 (PHRF_ToT - 7 Boats)
1. Arabesque, 31550, Robert Bruno - 1 -1 -3 ; 5
2. Dirty Harry, USA40561, Jack McGuire - 2 -2 -1 ; 5
3. Incommunicado, 83350, Tracey / Polk - 3 -5 -2 ; 10
J 80 (PHRF_ToT - 5 Boats)
1. Scamp, USA1150, J.R. Maxwell - 1 -1 -3 ; 5
2. The Party Tree, USA3, Party Tree Racing - 2 -4 -2 ; 8
3. Hokus Pokus, USA730, Donald Suter - 5 -3 -1 ; 9
Performance Cruising 3 Spin - Pursuit (One Design - 15 Boats)
1. Kyrie, USA79, Beth Berry - 1 ; 1
2. Masquerade, USA52070, Andrew Burton - 2 ; 2
3. Laura, USA6905, Bill Titus - 3 ; 3
Performance Cruising 4 Non-Spin - Pursuit (One Design - 11 Boats)
1. Venturesome, USA52687, Bob Zannetti - 1 ; 1
2. High Note, USA40878, Gary Nackman - 2 ; 2
3. Maccabi, 76, Andrew Genser - 3 ; 3
Performance Cruising 5 Spin - Pursuit - Open (One Design - 1 Boats)
1. Bella Mente, USA45, Hap Fauth - 1 ; 1
Multihull - Pursuit (One Design - 2 Boats)
1. Phoenix, 172, Thomas Reese - 1 ; 1
2. Friends, USA35, Alan Burnett - 2 ; 2
Performance Cruising 2 Spin Rule 26 (PHRF_ToT - 14 Boats)
1. UPBEAT, USA103, Jeff Johnstone - 1 ; 1
2. Grand Plan, USA12834, Ted Ruegg - 2 ; 2
3. Lora Ann, USA40789, Richard du moulin - 3 ; 3
Performance Cruising 1 Spin - Rule 26 (PHRF_ToT - 13 Boats)
1. Acadia, USA45002, Erik Asgeirsson - 1 ; 1
2. Secret Affair, US42942, Mark Greenawalt - 2 ; 2
3. Wicked 2.0, USA30, Douglas Curtiss - 3 ; 3
Tuesday, June 20
Regatta Craft Mixers Race Day
8:30 am
9:00 am
5:00 - 7:00 pm
8:00 - 10:00 pm
Block Island Race Week Through the Years
In this 3-part series, we take a deep dive into past Race Weeks as we head into our 30th edition.
Daily Weather Briefings
Presented by McMichael Yacht Yards and Brokers with Chelsea Freas detailed the forecast each morning. This is emailed by 8:30am each morning to all competitors. Add your email below if you want to also be added.
More Resources from Local Organizations
The Committee for the Great Salt Pond Boater's Directory
Dedicated to keeping the waters in the Great Salt Pond pristine, it’s shorelines scenic, and always open to boating, recreation and aquaculture for all, this group has assembled some boater friendly links for download.
Champlin's Marina and Resort Block Island Directory
From "B" is for Babysitter to "W" is for Walking & Hiking Trails, this is a great place to find things to do for the whole family while on Block.
Block Island Tourism Council's What To Do Directory
This comprehensive lists has all of the businesses on the island organized by topic with addresses.