The conditions for Holmes Hole sailors reached a Platonic ideal this week. The weather was clear both Thursday and Sunday, with an eight to nine mph from the WSW or SSW.
Sunday’s Sound Race brought a total of 17 sailors to the windward start in the two divisions. After rounding Nun 6 in the harbor, the course led to a mark off Falmouth, back to West Chop, over to East Chop and then back to Nun 6, a distance of 6.3 miles.
Escape, a J/100 sailed by Tom and Laurie Welch, took the first spot in the A Division. In second place was Phil Hale’s Tango, another J/100. Second Wind, a Sonar skippered by Mary Worrell, came in third.
At Last, an Alerion 28 with Jim Dixon at the helm, led the B Division fleet of 10. Just five seconds behind came Trinity, a C&C 37 sailed by David McDonough (yet another tribute to expert handicapping). Another Alerion 28, Mo Flam’s Penelope, finished in third place.
The jubilant Sunday traffic in the harbor combined with ferries coming and going lends a certain hectic excitement to the Sunday races. It might be said, too, that many of the power boats scoff at the speed limit in the harbor, and have little concern for the effect of wake on a sailboat, but the atmosphere is generally a happy one.
Thursday, August 13, was certainly a contender for “the most beautiful day of the summer.” Twenty-three boats materialized for the evening race, filling the harbor with billowing sails. The friendly breeze made for a perfect triangular sail around the course, with just enough challenge on the windward leg. At the finish the harbor was bathed in pink.
The first three boats in the A Division finished within 37 seconds of each other. First was Masquerade, a Morris 36 with Michael Loberg at the helm. Second Wind, a Sonar skippered by Susan Waldrop, came in second, and another Sonar, 456, sailed by Mary Worrell took third.
For the B Division Isabella, a Gannon and Benjamin Bella skippered by John and Lisa Stout, came in first. David Lott aboard Avanti, a Cape Dory, was second, with a C&C 37, Trinity, sailed by David McDonough in third.
A bonus on Thursday was the participation of nine teens and pre teens from the CitySquash program. CitySquash is an after-school enrichment program in the Bronx, and Ed and Kathy Cerullo hosted the group, plus two college-age coaches, for the long weekend. The five boys and their coach sailed aboard Apres with Steve Besse, while the girls joined Ed on Undine. Apres finished ahead of Undine, reportedly generating a certain amount of “gloating” on the part of the boys that extended well into Friday (sailors try not to gloat, but sometimes it’s irresistible).
Interest is stirring for the George Moffett Race, held this year on September 12. As with Holmes Hole weekly races, all are welcome to enter. Watch for the registration announcement at holmeshole.org.
HHSA weekly races are held on Thursdays and Sundays. All are welcome. Please go to holmeshole.org for information about those as well.
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