The Holmes Hole Sailing Association continued its summer season of handicap sailboat racing from Vineyard Haven Harbor with a Thursday night race on August 14 and a Sound race on August 17.

Thursday night was overcast with the threat of rain, and a 7 to 10-knot southwest wind. Seven boats posted for the start at red nun 6 outside the Vineyard Haven Harbor breakwater. The fleet sailed a triangular course from red nun 6 to red nun 4 at West Chop, then to green can 23A at East Chop, and back to the finish at nun 6. The first leg was a run downwind. After rounding the nun, the boats reached to the can on the starboard tack. Rounding the mark at the can, the homeward leg was a beat to windward.

Finishing first was Mary Worrell in the Sonar, Second Wind. In second was Roger Becker in the C& C, Gloria. In third was Frank Sutula in the J 28, Magic Twanger. Fourth was Jerry Goodale in Stormalong, fifth was Dan Culkin in Magic Time, sixth were John and Lisa Stout in Isabella and seventh was Ernie Menedenhall in Rocinante III.

On Sunday, it was a mostly sunny summer day with a predominant southwest wind, more west than south of 10 to 15 knots. Eleven boats posted for the noon starting gun at red nun 6 outside the Vineyard Haven Harbor breakwater.

The race committee set an 11.5-mile course in Nantucket Sound which took the fleet from the starting line to buoy RG at the West End of Hedge Fence, then to green can 15 at the West End of L’Homme Dieu Shoal, then to red bell 2 off Waquoit Bay and returning around the buoys in reverse to Vineyard Haven Harbor. On this course, the east-west cross current is always a major strategic factor for the skippers, and Sunday saw east setting water through the first half of the course and west setting tide for the balance.

The fleet made for buoy RG on a broad reach and run. After rounding the mark, the vessels hardened up and made for can 15 sailing full and by on the port tack. After rounding the green can, the fleet ran downwind to the red bell at Waquoit. The return to can 15 was a beat to windward. After rounding the can, the fleet reached back to buoy RG on the starboard tack, and beat to the finish line in the Harbor.

In the A Division, first went to Mike Loberg in the Morris 36, Masquerade. In second was Roger Becker in the C& C 24, Gloria. In third was Solitude, a Swan 36 sailed by John Amabile. In fourth was Phil Hale in Mischief. A guest boat, Apogee, sailed with the fleet in good order.

In the B Division, first place went to Art and Caroline Spengler in the Nonsuch, Raven. In second was Bob Harris in the Vineyard Vixen, Magic Time. In third was Sandy Alexander in the Seabird Yawl Falcor. Fourth were Tom and Laurie Welch in Eastaway, fifth were John and Lisa Stout in Isabella, sixth was Alan Wilson in High Tide and seventh was Jim Pringle in Myfanwy.

The summer racing series continued with a Thursday night race on August 21 at 6 p.m. and a Sound Race on August 24 at noon. New members are actively encouraged, as are guest boats. Anyone interested should contact Diane Hartmann at 508-693-4592.