The Holmes Hole Sailing Association sponsored the 34th running of the George Moffett Race on Saturday, Sept. 10.

Forty boats came to the line near East Chop in Vineyard Haven harbor. The fleet was divided into two groups with the slower boats starting at 11:20 a.m. and the faster boats at 11:30 a.m. It was a beautiful late summer day with a building northeast wind which shifted east during the race and topped out at about 12 knots. The race committee, in the Vineyard Haven Yacht Club boat Vigilant, selected an 18.1-mile course, suitable for the wind and the building west setting current in Nantucket Sound.

Race named for a Holmes Hole Sailing Founder. — Toby Condliffe

After the race, the sailors convened at the Vineyard Haven Yacht Club, which, at the direction of Sally Culkin, generously hosted a reception for the grateful skippers and crews, who were treated to chowder, refreshments and race results.

On corrected time, and winner of the Moffett Cup Trophy, were Kathy Logue and Ernie Mendenhall in the Tartan 34, Rocinante III. Ernie and Kathy are longtime Holmes Hole racers from West Tisbury and have been close to the prize over the years. This year they brought it home.

Second place went to Doug Heil in the J 24, Pearly Baker. Third was J. Hammond in the Soling, Andiamo II. Fourth was Paul Young-Hyman in the Sonar, Eclipse. Fifth was Ged Delaney, a past winner and perennial top 10 finisher, in the Avance 33, Ardent. Sixth was Roger Becker in the C& C 22, Gloria. Seventh was a past winner and Holmes Hole commodore Dan Culkin in the Vineyard Vixen, Magic Time. Eighth was Andy Berry in the Cal 33, Isobar. Ninth was Phil Hale in the Shields, Wicked. Tenth was Geoff Gibson in Latonka.

The race is named for one of the founders of the Holmes Hole Sailing Association, George Moffett, a veteran sailor who donated Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary to the Island. This year’s running was a memorable, summer-ending event.