Best Place on Earth

By Chris Crawford

"Best place on earth," quipped four Navy sailors almost in unison, returning from a first-place finish on ZEPHYER in the Blue fleet race in "beautiful, stunning conditions."  

Young captain Rick Irving noted that the boat was just two weeks from having been out of the water on boat stands. "We had to clean bird nests out of the boom to get her ready, but we made it, and all the stress getting it up here was worthwhile."

"What a great reward this was for all we put into it," added Renee Bonner as she beamed from the cockpit. 

A second Navy boat POSEIDON did not fare quite as well. Nick Gibbons smiled and summarized the day as "about an 8, we can do better" as the two boats were tied together at the slip with not a of bantering between them. Competitors indeed.

 Through-out the fleet of 177 racing boats the praise for the Storm Trysail Club organization was resolute. "Impeccable, very exciting, extraordinary, not a good race, a great day for racing," were but a few of the effusive comments made from racers from along the docks. It was another perfect day for 1420 sailors on the Sound with everyone raving about the management of the race courses.

BLUE YONDER's Don Dwyer who raced on the navigator course called the day "extraordinary. The race is so well laid out, it is genuinely competitive and tactical and that makes for exciting sailing." We flew five different sails and can't wait to get back at it tomorrow."

TIO LOCO skippered by Henry Brauer thought conditions and winds were better today sailing on the McMichaels White circle. "Coastal racing is so much fun and today was very competitive. We clocked winds at 16 knots which made it fun. Whoever is designing these courses is doing a great job."

The GMT Composites Performance Cruising Green Fleet takes on one distance race per day and the boats could be seen reaching along the shoreline after their 11am start. Even a shark made an appearance on the Race Course today! #FinsUp The 58 boats have a choice between a pursuit start where given a staggered starting time based on their rating and the other is a Rule 26 start when all boats start together and are handicapped after the finish. 

Sailing his new Beneteau SE 27, HAWKSBILL, David Wilson has brought together a crew of young sailors and some naval officers stationed in Newport, Rhode Island to learn the sport and the boat together. 

"It's a learning experience for everyone on the water," he said after racing. "But no matter the results, we are having a great time enjoying our time on and off the water." 

When told that Wednesday might be the Round The Island race, Trimmer Kevin Cosello of GROWTH SPURT a J/109 sailing for the National Championship, said "We'll be ready. "I don't know how you beat these days we're having here, the conditions, the weather, the food. It's been incredible." Meanwhile, back on TIO LOCO,  discussions were underway on what additional sails might be needed for the eventual Regatta Craft Mixers Round the Island race, no matter the day. The Race Committee has since announced the intention to race around the island tomorrow. 

"Out here," said Brandford with the look of contentment spread across the faces of grandkids, son's, daughters and others in the cockpit, "we get to forget about work, Block Island affords us a great getaway. It's simply so much fun and so well run."