Great sailing weather delights August Holmes Hole racers

The Vineyard Haven Yacht Club has extended an invitation to all sailors to participate in the Jewett cup race on Saturday, August 13.

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The August 4th race took place under lovely conditions. Photo by Ann Wyman.

By Ann Wyman

A total of 19 boats, including guest boat Colt, started and finished the Thursday race last week in what was likely the finest evening of racing so far this year. Clear blue skies and water greeted the fleet, and a delightful 8-knot breeze hung in for the hour and a half needed for everyone to complete the triangle.

In the A Division, first place was Tom Welch’s Escape, a J100.  Because  Escape finished first in three consecutive races, that boat will begin sporting a 10-second handicap. Such is the magic of the mysterious handicap system in leveling the race course.  Second place was Mary Worrell sailing a Vineyard Haven Yacht Club Sonar, and third place went to Stephen Besse’s J-120 Apres.

In the B division, first place went to Julia Lee, Woody Bowman’s 21-foot Catboat. Second was Bow Van Riper’s Tyche, and third, Heimkehr, an Alerion sailed by Mead and Ann Wyman. Again, their handicap pushed their placement ahead of two boats that actually finished in front of them.

On Sunday, 18 boats showed up for a light air course, which was two times around the triangle from the inner harbor to West Chop to East Chop and back. The wind picked up for the second round.  A guest boat, Snake Eyes, joined the fleet. A new boat, Jubel, an Alerion Catboat, made her first appearance with Holmes Hole.

Five boats competed in the A division. Donald Tofias won first place in Racehorse, a W37. Second went to Adam Hayes in Bliss, a J-35C, and Tom Welch’s Escape, with her new handicap, came in third.

The B division sported 13 boats plus the guest. Mo Flam’s Alerion, Penelope, won first place, followed by Jerry Goodale’s Stormalong, a Pearson 31, and Bow Van Riper’s Vineyard Haven 15, Tyche.

The Vineyard Haven Yacht Club has extended an invitation to all sailors to participate in the Jewett cup race on Saturday, August 13. The race will be a pursuit-style race, with awards for first rounders of any of the marks along the course. An entry fee of $20 is requested from non-yacht club members and includes drinks after the race. For entry info and forms go to Registration for VINEYARD HAVEN YACHT CLUB : VHYC JEWETT BOWL RACE

HHSA races are held on Thursdays and Sundays. All are welcome. For further information, please visit holmeshole.org.