By JOHN AMABILE

The Holmes Hole Sailing Association commenced its summer season of handicap sailboat racing from Vineyard Haven Harbor with a tune-up race on June 18.

Sunday was a beautiful late spring day with a quirky three to ten knots of backing, filling and shifting north/northeast wind. Eleven boats posted at red nun 6 to sail a course from the start to red nun 4 at West Chop, then to red bell 2 in Vineyard Sound, then to buoy RW NW in Nantucket Sound, then to green bell 23 near Oak Bluffs, and into the harbor for a finish at red nun 6. The fleet started in good order, beating to windward to the first two marks. After rounding red bell 2 in the sound, a close reach on the port tack with a favorable east setting current to RWNW was followed by a broad reach to green bell 23 and a downwind run to the finish.

Finishing first was the Shields sloop helmed by Phil Hale. In second was Peter Goodale in the Kirby 25, Stormalong II. In third was Brian Roberts in the sloop, Aileen. Fourth was Dan Culkin in Magic Time, fifth was Roger Becker in Gloria, sixth was Jerry Goodale in Stormalong, seventh was Mo Flam in Penelope, eighth was Charlie Felder in Blu J, ninth was Rebecca Colson in Silhouette, and tenth was Ernie Mendenhall in Rocinante III. Trinka joined the fleet as a guest boat.

The summer racing series was scheduled to continue with a night race last night, June 23 at 6 p.m. and two Harbor races at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 26. Anyone interested should contact Diane Hartmann at 508-693 4592.