Vineyard Cup weekend featured races

Posted July 13, 2006

Among the many programs and events that filled the inaugural three-day Vineyard Cup Weekend, July 7-9, were sailboat and windsurf races.

Winner in the Vineyard Cup Heritage Division was Vela, skippered by Havilah Hawkins. Onawa, sailed by Lars Guck, led all in the Grand Prix Division.

The first-ever Island Opti Cup race was held on Lagoon Pond, Friday. Winds were very light for the 40 sailors. Courses were triangular in the morning and windward/leeward in the afternoon.

Winner in the Green Fleet was Sam Shannon. Greg Fligor was second and Olivia Berman, third.

Six gigs competed in the Pilot Gig races on Saturday.

In the 2X2 team racing competition, Team Rockstars (Conor Lodge and Christian Wiley, Andrew Speilvogel and Chris Carrier) was unbeaten and finished first. Team Bond and Team Blue were tied after four races and sailed a tie-breaker won by Dylan O'Brien and Lili Carrier, Elise Swartwood and Chesley Wiseman. Team Blue settled for third: Ellery Whitworth and Carl Speilvogel, Max Conely and Seneca Craig.

The Windsurfing long distance race was held Sunday, in 15-10 knot winds and was open to all windsurfers. Fourteen reported to the starting gate off East Chop and sailed to a turning mark off Big Bridge then back to Vineyard Haven Harbor, a distance of some eight miles.

First to complete the sail was Nevin Sayre of Vineyard Haven, followed by Steve Besse also of V.H. Then came Bruce Metzger of Marblehead, Dennis Rawley of Salem, Jeremiah Malina of Middleborough, Chris Johnson of Newport, R.I., Gary Harcourt of Oak Bluffs, Andy Weiner of Oak Bluffs, Stina Sayre and Solvig Sayre of Vineyard Haven.

The first East Coast Junior Windsurfing Championship was held in the Lagoon July 8 and 8. Winner in the under 19 division was Chris Johnson of Middleton, R.I. Second and third were Lauren Gineo of Newport and Benjamin Josephs of Sugarloaf, N.Y.

In the under-17 division, Mic Igoe of Chicago was first, followed by (2) Jeremiah Malina-Piersciouek of West Dennis and (3) Ryan Kaszynski of Duxbury.

Solvig Sayre of Vineyard Haven led all in the under-15 division. Second was Caleb Grey, also of Vineyard Haven, and third, Kaylan Ballantyne of Pocasset.