The Holmes Hole Sailing Association’s summer season of handicap racing from Vineyard Haven harbor continued Thursday night, July 1, a beautiful evening with a pleasant 5 to 10 knots of west-southwest wind. Fourteen boats posted for the 6 p.m. start at red nun 6. The course took the fleet to nun 4 at West Chop, then to green can 23a at East Chop and back to nun 6. The first leg was a broad reach on the port tack. After rounding the nun, a run downwind ensued, with the close reach on the starboard tack for the final leg to the finish.

Finishing first was Dan Pesch in the Gannon and Benjamin sloop Sparrow. In second was Bo Van Riper in the Vineyard 15, Tyche. In third was Kathy Logue in Rocinante III. Fourth was Bob Jewett in Andiamo II, fifth was Roger Becker in Gloria, sixth was Dan Culkin in Magic Time, seventh was Jerry Goodale in Stormalong, eighth was Phil Hale in Wicked, ninth was Mike Loberg in Masquerade, 10th was Mathew Thomas in Grasshopper, 11th was Mo Flam in Lumia, 12th was Mary Worrall in Second Wind, 13th was Stephen Besse in Après and 14th was David Lott in Avanti.

On Sunday, July 4, a warm day with eight knots of southwest wind at the noon start, increasing to 10 to 15 knots during the race. An 11.5-mile course 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. On Sunday, it was setting and building to the east throughout the race.

The fleet sailed a broad reach on the port tack to buoy RG. After rounding the mark, the sheets were trimmed for a dash to can 15, sailing full and by on the port tack, a fast point of sail between a close and a beam reach. After rounding the can, a downwind leg to the Bell at Waquoit Bay with the current was followed by a beat to windward into the tide back to can 15. By the time the fleet reached the can, the tide was roaring, making the timing of the tack around a formidable strategic challenge. After rounding the can, another full and by leg on the starboard tack to RG was followed by a beat to the finish.

Finishing first in the A division was Bob Jewett in the Soling, Andiamo II. In second was Phil Hale in the Soling, Wicked. In third was Mike Loberg in the Morris 36, Masquerade. Fourth was Kathy Logue in Rocinante III, fifth was Andy Berry in Isobar, sixth was Steve Besse in, Après, seventh was Geoff Gibson in Latonka. Eighth was Ed Cerullo in Undine, ninth was Jerry Goodale in Stormalong and 10th was Irving Gates in King Kiwi. Grasshopper retired.

In the B division, first was Alan Wilson in the Marshall 22, High Tide. In second were Tom and Laurie Welch in the Vineyard Vixen, Eastaway. In third was Rebecca Colson in the Nonsuch 26, Silhouette. Avanti retired.

For a night race on Thursday, July 8 it was a warm evening with a 10 knot south-southeast wind. Ten boats posted for the 6 p.m. start at red nun 6. The course took the fleet to nun 4 at West Chop, then to green can 23a at East Chop and back to nun 6. The first leg was a run downwind. After rounding the nun, a reach on the starboard tack took the fleet to East Chop, where a beat to the finish ensued.

Finishing first was Geoff Gibson in the wooden sloop, Latonka. In second was Bob Jewett in the Soling, Andiamo II. In third was Steve Besse in the J-120, Apres. Fourth was Roger Becker in Gloria, fifth was Bow Van Riper in Tyche, sixth was Jerry Goodale in Stormalong, seventh was Kathy Logue in Rocinante III, eighth was Mo Flam in Lumia, ninth was Ed Cerullo in Undine and 10th was Dan Culkin in Magic Time.

Sunday, July 11 was a warm hazy morning with a moderate north wind. Local sailors know that on a warm summer day, the north wind is a dying wind and it lived up to the expectation on 7/11. Twelve boats came to the line for the 10 a.m. start. The race committee called for a triangular course from nun 6 to red nun 4 at West Chop, then to green can 23a at East Chop, and back to red nun 6 in the harbor, twice around. The first leg was a beat to windward. After rounding the mark, a close reach to West Chop ensued with a tedious run downwind back to nun 6. The first go around was sailed in good order, but by lap two, the breeze died causing the slower boats to drift and limp to the finish.

Finishing first in the A division was Steve Besse in the J 120, Après. In second was Matthew Thomas in the Soling, Grasshopper. Third was Roger Becker in the C& C 24, Gloria. In fourth was Geoff Gibson in Latonka.

In the B division, first was Diane Hartman in the Tartan 27, Triumph. In second was Bow Van Riper in the Vineyard 15, Tyche. In third were Tom and Laurie Welch in the Vineyard Vixen, Eastaway. Fourth was Mo Flam in Lumia, fifth was Rebecca Colson in Silhouette. Sixth was Dan Culkin in Magic Time, seventh was Richard Glaser in Arrant Rose and eighth was Alan Wilson in High Tide.

The afternoon race at 2 p.m. started with a delay for lack of a breeze. When it was started, the fleet was met with light, fluky wind, shifting and dying. The fleet sailed a triangular course from nun 6 to red to green can 23a at East Chop, then to red nun 4 at West Chop, and back to red nun 6 in the harbor, twice around. The course was shortened to one leg after the start because of lack of wind.

Finishing first in the A division was Steve Besse in the J 120, Après. In second was Phil Hale in the Soling, Wicked. In third was Matthew Thomas in the Soling, Grasshopper. Roger Becker in Gloria was fourth. In the B division, in spite of a valiant effort by Eastaway, no boat made the three-hour time limit and the race was abandoned.

Finishing first on July 15 was Bob Jewett in the Soling, Andiamo II. In second was Mo Flam in the Alerion 20, Lumia. Third was Steve Besse in the J-120, Après. Fourth was Dan Culkin in Magic Time and fifth was Bow Van riper in Tyche.

Racing continues on Thursdays and Sundays. New members and guest boats are welcome; call 508-693-4592.