Edgartown Yacht Club’s three-day Edgartown Race Weekend proved to be a solid test for the mix of friends-and-family teams who raced side-by-side with high-profile racers during two days of inshore ‘Round-the-Buoy Races that were followed by the ‘Round-the-Island Race.
Weather conditions ran the gamut from sunshine and a nine to 12 knot southwesterly breeze on day one to drenching rain and blustery conditions on day two, and, finally, light air for the start of the 57-mile race around Martha’s Vineyard.
The event organizers expanded the awards for the ‘Round-the-Island Race to recognize the first through third-place finishers, on corrected time, amongst all J/Boats in all classes. With a strong turnout of 16 boats, Douglas Curtiss of Branford, Conn., on the J/111 Wicked 2.0, placed first among all J/Boats, followed by Eliot Shanabrook of Watertown, on the J/109 Hafa Adai, and Stephen McManus of Annapolis, Md., on the J/120 Saykadoo.
Vesper, Jim Swartz’s custom IRC52, took ‘Round-the-Island Race line honors overall and to claim the Commodore’s Concord Cup.
“I’ve raced all over the world,” Mr. Swartz told The Times Wednesday, “and the ‘Round-the-Island Race on Martha’s Vineyard is one of the most challenging, and for sure the most beautiful race there is.’
Clay Deutsch of Newport, R.I., on Just A Friend, was the winner of the Venona Trophy awarded to the overall winner for best corrected time in the Spinnaker division. Taking division honors in, respectively, PHRF N/S and Double-handed, were Twanette Tharp of Edgartown on Glisse and Paul Stafford of Greenwich, Conn., on the Alerion Express 38 Iniki.
For full race results, including winners of Thursday and Friday ‘Round-the-Buoy Races, visit rtirace.org/raceresults.shtml.