Vineyard Race Success for J/Crews!

(Stamford, CT)- The Labor Day weekend's 238nm Vineyard Race was a dream come true for many J teams participating in one of America’s classic race tracks. The course stretches from Shippan Point in Connecticut, through the swirling currents of the Race or Plum Gut at the eastern end of Long Island, past Block Island, and on to the light tower at the entrance to Buzzard's Bay, to return leaving Block Island to starboard en route to the finish in Stamford Harbor. It was a tricky race, beginning with good breezes at the start on Friday evening and with teams fighting to maintain momentum later in the race as they re-entered Long Island Sound going from east to west in lighter going and foul currents.

That J/teams won six classes is simply unheard of for a brand to win so many classes in any single event.  Nevertheless, it demonstrates the ability for the teams to sail their boats at a high-level of performance across a wide-variety of conditions for long periods of time, be that reaching, VMG’ing downwind, or beating to weather in a gale.  As noted before, the double-handed teams sailed exceptionally well, taking honors in both IRC and PHRF divisions.

Starting with the “classic” Vineyard Course, it was a duel to the finish for the top two J/120s in IRC 6 Double-handed class.  Hewitt Gaynor’s MIREILLE won class by a mere 14 minutes corrected time over fellow 120 sailor Gardner Grant on ALIBI.  Just behind them in fourth place was Mike Piper’s J/111 EAGLES DARE.

The sailors in IRC 9 Class were probably not surprised by the complete sweep of the podium by J/109 teams. David Rosow’s LOKI from Pequot YC won followed by two Stamford YC teams, Bob Siegel’s PAX 3 in 2nd and Cao Deambrosio & Chris Nicholls’ RHIANNON III in third.

Similarly, anyone coming up against the fire-breathing veterans sailing J/44s in IRC 11 class knew they were in for a tough night or two.  The J/44s took three of the top four positions with Len Sitar’s VAMP winning followed by Chris Lewis’ KENAI in third and Joerg Esdorn’s KINCSEM in fourth.

In the PHRF 7 ToT Doublehanded class, the J/122 WILY SILVER FOX skippered by Chris Hall took second in class.  As a first-time double-hander in the Vineyard Race, this outstanding performance by Chris and crew is quite an achievement!  Perhaps there are future plans for the WILY SILVER FOX in offshore double-handing races in the northeast!

For some of you watching the evolution of offshore youth teams racing J/105s, perhaps none is more remarkable than the consistently high-level of finishes than American YC’s Junior Big Boat Team sailing their J/105 YOUNG AMERICAN.  Did we tell you they won, again?? If not, we do need to tell you, “yes”, they won…again.  Winning PHRF 8 class, no less.  That’s a helluva track record for a bunch of kids!  Coach Becker from American YC is mighty proud of them for facing innumerable obstacles sailing and navigating their boat, much less even climbing onto the podium!  Another up and coming team is Pequot YC’s Junior Offshore Team on their J/105 TRUANT (great name, isn’t it?), taking 5th in class.

The J/120 theme also continues for PHRF 10 class.  Winning was Greg Leonard’s HERON followed by Marcus Cholerton-Brown’s SUNSET CHILD in 3rd overall.

Finally, the Seaflower Reef race course had a few J teams participating, adding to the overall silverware & pickle-dish haul by enthusiastic J owners.  In PHRF 4 class, it was Todd Aven’s J/92 THIN MAN that took 2nd while it was J/109s again cleaning up in PHRF 5 class.  In this case, it was Chris Ercole’s SWEET CAROLINE from Hempstead Harbor YC taking the gold with Don Dwyer’s GUARDIAN J from Essex YC in 4th position.  For more Vineyard Race sailing information


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