And the last shall be first

Holmes Hole sailing is underway.

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Roger Becker sailing Gloria on Sunday.

The inaugural week of Holmes Hole Sailing Association turned out to be exactly what everyone was dreaming of last February: Thursday evening presented an 11-knot southwest breeze under fair skies, and Sunday’s sound race was almost the same, but the west southwest wind notched up a bit. 

Thursday was the first time the main fleet started at 5 rather than 6, so adjusting to new ferry patterns is part of the program this year. The Governor waits for no man (or boat), apparently, as Tom Wescott sailing Tamu discovered on the beat toward West Chop. Silhouette, an Alerion 33, sailed by Beck and Wendell Colson, finished the triangle in the shortest time, 44 minutes, but through the magic of handicapping came in third. Gloria, a C&C 24, skippered by Roger Becker (magic handicapper), came in second on corrected time. Woody Bowman, although last over the line, sailed his 21-foot Catboat, Julia Lee, into first after time correction. 

Sunday’s race was sailed in honor of Jim Dixon, whom we lost last month. Jim sailed his Alerion 28, At Last, in the HHSA races, for many years and with skill and enthusiasm, and is missed sorely by the fleet. Against heavy odds, he managed to complete last year’s schedule, and that handsome man was just delighted to have a summer of sailing that he didn’t necessarily expect. 

The first Herreshoff (H-12) race was this picture-perfect Sunday, and attracted six competitors. At the finish line, Phil Hale was third sailing Whirlwind, and Crown Dance, skippered by Edward Miller, came in second. Tom Hale’s Leap of Faith lived up to her name, crossing the line first. 

For the main fleet, Escape, a J100 sailed by Tom and Laurie Welsh, completed the sound race in the shortest time: 1 hour, 29 minutes, but ended up in last place. And Julia Lee, once again last across the finish line, won the race. Angelina, an Alerion 28 owned by John Stout, took the second spot, and Michael Loberg’s Masquerade, a Morris 36, was third. Remarkably, after all the times were corrected, everyone finished within a half-hour after a 10.6-mile race. What a lovely start to the summer on both the solstice and Father’s Day.