A familiar face on the Vineyard Haven waterfront, Steve Besse, 60, of Vineyard Haven and Guilford, Conn., was this year’s winner of the 32nd annual George Moffett Race on Saturday. Forty sailboats raced off East Chop in Nantucket Sound.

Mr. Besse sailed a 40-foot boat called Apres, a J/120. He was not just the first, but in a handicap race, he also was the first to cross the line. Mr. Besse is noted for being the first and last windsurfer to sail around the Island.

On Saturday, his wife Pam, son Seth, sister Anne Besse-Shepherd and her husband, James Shepherd, assisted. Ben Reeve was also aboard. They completed the race in two hours, 30 minutes.

Brian Roberts came in second with a H-4 Starfish, a Hinckley 42. George Delaney of the sailboat Ardent came in third.

The other leaders were: 4, Phil Hale in Mischief; 5, Peter Goodale in Stormalong II; 6, Doug Heil in Pearly Baker.

The weather was sloppy. Winds that started out of the east lightened and went flat, while occasional light showers made the race particularly challenging for sailors. The sailors raced to a government buoy off Edgartown and back. The race committee cut the race in half in an effort to offer help. The last sailboat to cross the finish line completed the race in four hours and 21 minutes.

Participation in this year’s race was affected by the weather. A total of 53 boats were registered in the contest; eleven did not start and two did not finish.