The final three 2015 races of the Holmes Hole Sailing Association were held on Thursday and Sunday. The final awards for the season were announced at an annual potluck dinner, held Wednesday night.
The last race week of the season began on a windless Thursday, Sept. 3. The day found several Holmes Hole sailors on the town dock staring at the glassy harbor and discussing whether or not to hold the race. After the group dithered for a while, our Chappaquiddick sailor announced he was going out, “having come all the way over here.” At that point everyone got on board, both literally and figuratively, although two motorless boats had to be towed to the start. Within a few minutes there was a whisper and a rustle, and a serviceable 5- or 6-mph breeze materialized, and a shortened, serene, and dreamlike race ensued from Nun 6 to Nun 4 and back under mildly overcast skies. The breeze died completely shortly after all boats were properly moored.
Masquerade, a Morris 36 sailed by Michael Loberg, once again took a first in the A Division, and Artful Dodger, a Tartan 3500 from Falmouth skippered by Mike Powers, was second. Phil Hale’s J/100 Tango came in third.
For the B Division, Isabella, a G&B Bella sailed by John and Lisa Stout, won the (coffee) Cup, edging out Woody Bowman’s catboat, Julia Lee. Avanti, a Cape Dory belonging to David Lott, took the third spot.
Sunday of Labor Day weekend was full of sailing challenges and surprises. At the start of the 10 am race, there was plenty of sun, but very little wind. What breeze there was fluctuated and changed direction on each leg of each race. It seemed that in the course of the day the wind circled the compass twice. There were also some baffling and frustrating windless holes on both the morning and afternoon courses, both of which were shortened. At one point in the afternoon a flotilla of about seven boats was stalled together, bouncing around between the two Chops for 20 minutes or so. Inexplicably, a breeze came up from a completely different direction, and off they went. “A sailor’s life is a hard life” — also often confusing.
The three stalwarts who showed up for the A Division finished as follows: Tango was first, Escape, another J/100 sailed by Tom and Laurie Welch, came in second, and Masquerade was third.
Of the eight starters in the B Division, Stormalong, a Pearson 31 skippered by Commodore Jerry Goodale, took the top spot. Penelope, Mo Flam’s Alerion 28, was second, and Isabella took third place.
A few more boats entered the 2 pm race: three in the A Division again, with Escape besting Tango this time. Of the 12 boats in the B Division, the spritely Gloria, a C&C 24 skippered by Roger Becker, swept both divisions not only on corrected time, but on elapsed time as well. Stormalong took a second, and Trinity, a C&C 37 with David McDonough at the helm, was third.
It was very heartening and heartwarming to welcome Dan Culkin’s Vixen 29, Magic Time, back to the fleet after a season of enforced rest. Magic Time neatly took a fourth spot in her first and last appearance of the season. She has been missed this year.
The Holmes Hole Sailing Association had an exciting and gratifying season with some highly contested races and some lyrically beautiful sails. The association is made up of both year-round and seasonal residents, and there is always a lively exchange of theories, information, and sailing lore on Thursday evenings. If you wish to join for next season, the website to sign up is holmeshole.org.
