A total of 43 boats, representing the best of the Martha’s Vineyard sailing community, are set to charge the line in the 37th annual Moffett Race on Saturday, September 6. Organized by the Holmes Hole Sailing Association (HHSA), the end-of-season event gets underway shortly after 11 am in outer Vineyard Haven Harbor.
Sailing conditions should be familiar to much of the fleet, with the National Weather Service predicting southwest winds of 10-15 knots with gusts to 20, seas 2–3 feet, and only a slight chance of thunderstorms.
The race has steadily gained in popularity since 1977, when Lucia Moffett asked the HHSA to establish a race in honor of her late husband, George Moffett, a successful competitive sailor who was instrumental in organizing the association.
The defending champ is Bill Coogan, who won last year on corrected time in his Cape Dory 25 Flying Bugster.
Past winners include well-known Island sailors including Stephen Besse in Apres, Jerry Goodale in Stormalong, Alan Wilson in Chantey, Dan Culkin in Magic Time, and Harry Duane, the only winner to triumph twice in the same boat, Andiamo II. Two years ago, Mr. Duane’s grandson Jared Hammond piloted Andiamo II to an emotional victory in the Moffett Race.
Racing is followed by an awards party at the Vineyard Haven Yacht Club.