The 1BI: BLOCK ISLAND RACE WEEK TIMES
Day 2
June 24, 2025
Regatta Craft Mixers Race Day
Cover Photo: Steve Cloutier/ Storm Trysail Club
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Photo of the Day
Dire Wolf gets under way in today's racing.
Photo: Steve Cloutier
Day 2 Turns Up The Heat On Regatta Craft Mixers Race Day
Regatta Craft Mixers Race Day turned up the heat at Block Island Race Week—literally. The Island was not spared from the heat wave sweeping the East Coast this week, but that did not put a stop to the action out on the water. With heavier wind than Day 1, the day began on time and featured champagne sailing conditions for the windward-leeward and navigator courses.
In the ORC 2 class, Henry Brauer and Steve Madeira’s Swan 42 Tio Loco swapped first and second place finishes with Thomas Rich’s GP 42 Settler in the day's two races. “It would be hard to find better sailing conditions anywhere in the country than we had today,” Brauer said. “We feel good for the rest of the week. The team has come together and gelled very nicely.”
Teamwork, a J/122 owned by Robin Team, came out on top of both races in the ORC 3 class. “We’re having great winds and Chamber of Commerce weather. What else could you ask for in a regatta?” Team added. “It’s our fifth BIRW and we love it.”
Meanwhile in the Performance Cruising 2 class, it is a neck-and-neck race for the overall leader. Kevin McNeal’s Seabiscuit leads George Harrington’s #bigsandwich by one point after four races. “Really great competition this week. Our fleet is incredibly tight,” said Harrington. “We’re doing good and we’re having fun!”
Full results for today’s racing are available via the link below and on YachtScoring. The heat is set to break slightly tomorrow for Risk Strategies Race Day. As always, The 1BI will be your one-stop-shop for updates on all the BIRW action!
Regatta Craft Mixers knows that the best cocktails use high-quality mixers, so they take their quality very seriously.
We are excited to showcase their mixers at Block Island Race Week. If you want to make the best drinks, you need @regattacraftmixers!
What Keeps Them Coming Back:
Heritage
Every day this week, we will focus on one thing that keeps sailors coming back to Block Island on this 60th anniversary.
Thanks to Mark Sertl from Das Blau Max who shared with us his treasured 1982 Race Week News from our sister regatta formerly run on the even years. These were printed each night on the island and featured recaps, photos, and Local Knowledge. Click the image above to read this issue from 42 years ago. Anyone recognize the J/24 skipper in the left photo? Hint: He is sailing this week and has not just done a few laps around Block Island but a few laps around the World...
Day 2 of the 31st Block Island Race Week is in the books! As sailors settled into their groove for the week, many reflected on the history and heritage of this storied regatta. For 60 years, BIRW has built a reputation for serious racing and serious fun.
“The legacy of Block Island Race Week is that it brings sailors together from all over,” remarked Ron Johnstone of J Boats fame. He and his family have been sailing in BIRW since its inception in 1965. This year is Rod’s 23rd BIRW and he has sailed in each one in a different J Boat—this year aboard the J/99 Jazz. Boats of various designs from the renowned designer now make up over half of the total boats in the BIRW fleet.
Jazz Photo: Steve Cloutier
“Block Island is by far our favorite event, I describe it as an island getaway with 1000 of your best friends,” says Mike Fillman of Party Tree. Like many other competitors, Block Island itself plays a huge role in the regatta’s heritage for Filman and the Party Tree crew. “Our boat was native to Block Island and spent its summers in New Harbor on a mooring. The previous owner used it as a daysailer. Our first BIRW a man sailed past us on a Laser and called out ‘that's my boat!’”
When it comes to the racing, strong competition for mostly amateur crews is a major part of BIRW’s heritage and what brings sailors back according to Rich DuMoulin of Blitzen. “My first Race Week was in either 1965 or 1967 and we have likely over 100 combined Race Weeks between us on our crew.
For veterans of the regatta, the North Light Society offers a chance to show their participation in BIRW’s legacy. Members of the prestigious club have their name listed on the Society’s webpage and receive a pin for their year designation: white (5 Race Weeks), red (10 Race Weeks), or blue (15 Race Weeks).
More than anything, though, the heritage of BIRW is about the friendships built around the sport of sailing. “It’s all about the friends you meet and see over and over again,” according to Ben Hall on Impetuous. “Half our crew has been racing together for 35 years. We come out to the Island and get a house together, and it’s just a great time.”
“I starting sailing BIRW with my dad on the original Christopher Dragon. This year my crew and I are here at Race Week with Christopher Dragon XII” said Storm Trysail Club Commodore Andrew Weiss. “I couldn’t be more proud to be the commodore of this amazing club and contribute to this regatta’s incredible legacy.”
This week is keeping in line with all these traditions, with longtime BIRW competitors and newbies alike sharing laughs and stories of the day under the tent following the day’s racing. Tomorrow’s 1BI will show off how BIRW has evolved over 60 years. Stay tuned for more!
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.
They will be onsite during the event with any of your technical sailing gear needs at the Team1Newport regatta store.
Regatta Craft Mixers Day Award Winners
ORC 1 Open
- FOX - USA 55052 - Victor Wild - 1, 1, 1, 3
- Summer Storm 52 - USA 520 - Andrew Berdon - 2, 2, 2, 6
- Jax - USA 2022 - Øivind Lorentzen - 3, 3, 3, 9
ORC 2
- Tio Loco - USA 4243 - Henry Brauer & Steve Madeira - 2, 1, 5, 8
- Gemini II - USA 45454 - James Coffman - 4, 3, 1, 8
- Zammermoos - USA 4224 - David Fass - 3, 4, 2, 9
ORC 3
- Teamwork - USA 52939 - Robin Team - 1, 1, 2, 4
- Dov - USA 61878 - Jeff Johnstone - 3, 3, 1, 7
- Christopher Dragon XII - USA 2277 - Andrew & Linda Weiss - 6, 2, 3, 11
PHRF 1
- Fireball - USA 16 - Bill & Jackie Baxter - 1, 1, 2, 4
- TINK - USA 4 - Jack LeFort - 4, 2, 1, 7
- Bravo - 60909 - Sedge/Andrew Ward - 2, 5, 3, 10
PHRF 2
- Seabiscuit - USA 40 - Kevin McNeil - 3, 2, 1, 6
- #bigsandwich - USA 11235 - George Harrington - 2, 3, 3, 8
- Goat Rodeo - USA 52218 - Todd Johnston - 1, 5, 4, 10
Multihull - Pursuit (PHRF Division)
- Jammy - USA 5504 - Thomas Lee - 1
- Flight Simulator - USA 187 - Thomas Reese - 2
Non-Spin - Pursuit (PHRF Division)
- Delphinus - USA 33033 - Johan Hedlund - 1
- Jayhawk - USA 50265 - Nathan Ray - 2
- Samba Blue - USA 50836 - Sue and Mark DiSanti - 3
P/C Spin 1 - Rule 26 (PHRF Division)
- Secret Affair - US 42942 - Mark Greenawalt - 1
- Summer Grace - USA 12235 - Kevin Kelley - 2
- Scylla - USA 60739 - Markus Lahrkamp - 3
P/C Spin 2 - Rule 26 (PHRF Division)
- Blitzen - USA 46 - John Storck Jr - 1
- Rascal-Team Vineyard Vines - USA 61297 - John & Molly Baxter - 2
- Save the Sound - USA US 167 - Douglas McKeige - 3
P/C Spin 3 - Rule 26 (PHRF Division)
- Incommunicado - 83350 - Tracey / Polk - 1
- Cathexis - USA 114 - Bryan & Kara Schapperle | Peter Anderson - 2
- Sunshine Daydream - 69 - Chris Fesenmeyer - 3
Spin - Pursuit (PHRF Division)
- Exuberance - USA 51506 - Richard Spitzenberger - 1
- SNOW BIRD - USA 498 - T. J. Buckley - 2
- Querencia - USA 12985 - Frank McGowan - 3
PHRF 3
- Expresso - USA 30 - S. Longo / H. Bullen / M. Duncan - 2, 3, 1, 6
- Boondoggle - USA 52309 - Scott Kirkpatrick - 5, 1, 2, 8
- XLR8 - 8001 - Brad Porter - 3, 2, 3, 8
PHRF 4
- Arabesque - USA 31550 - Robert Bruno - 2, 1, 1, 4
- Mighty Puffin - USA 269 - Steve Thurston - 1, 2, 2, 5
- Scamp - USA 1150 - J. R. Maxwell - 3, 5, 3, 11
J/105 East Coast Championship
- Deja Voodoo - USA 130 - Bill Zartler - 1, 1, 5, 7
- Madame - 630 - Justin Walling - 3, 9, 1, 13
- Arbitrade - USA 98 - Bruce Stone & Nicole Breault - 6, 5, 2, 13
J/109 East Coast Championship
- Mistral - USA 71 - Dan Nash - 3, 2, 1, 6
- Picante - USA 126 - Sean McNeill & Rob Nye - 2, 1, 4, 7
- Vento Solare - USA 266 - Bill Kneller - 5, 3, 5, 13
Wednesday, June 25
Risk Strategies Race Day
8:30 am
9:00 am
5:00 - 7:00 pm
Daily Weather Briefings
Chelsea Freas shares the detailed forecast each morning. We post her video and PDF forecast to the WhatsApp and website.
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.