Over the weekend, 51 sailboats spread over six classes raced through the waters of Martha’s Vineyard for the 2022 Martha’s Vineyard Cup Regatta. Over two days, skippers and crews duked it out for a slate of available awards and trophies, all in support of Sail Martha’s Vineyard’s efforts to train the next generation of sailors.
“Sail MV couldn’t do it without you,” executive director John Kettlewell said at an awards ceremony Sunday evening, adding that Sail MV teaches between 400 and 500 kids to sail each summer.
“That’s what it’s all about. So that’s why we put on these events,” he said.
Races were held on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, sailors competed in a fleet race and Sunday saw a pursuit, in which the fastest boats took staggered starts behind slower models.
Taking home the Dana Family Cup, a trophy for the classics division boat with the best cumulative score from the weekend, was Onawa, captained by Christopher Culver.
At a party for sailors on the beach at Sailing Camp Park in Oak Bluffs Saturday, Mr. Culver said the weekend got off to a good start by placing in a time-corrected 2nd place after the first day of racing.
“It was a good course. Wind conditions and current were challenging,” he said. “Couple of the marks were tough to make.”
The Vineyard Cup Trophy, granted to the handicap non-spinnaker division boat with the best cumulative score, went to Après, captained by Stephen Besse.
“Three generations was today’s crew,” Mr. Besse said surrounded by family as he accepted the trophy.
Après also won the Donald S. Cohan Trophy for the boat with the oldest skipper and best combined corrected finishing places.
Other winners from the weekend included: Tamu in non-spinnaker class one; Après in non-spinnaker class two; Truckin’ for the best cumulative corrected non-spinnaker times from the weekend; and Leap of Faith in the Herreshoff 12.5 division.
One final trophy awarded Sunday, the Sail MV trophy for the sailor who best exemplifies the spirit of Island sailing, went to Tristan Lodge. Mr. Lodge was not present Sunday evening to accept the award, but Mr. Kettlewell praised the young sailor, noting he is an alumnus of Sail MV.
“Really that’s the spirit of Island sailing,” he said. “A local person who has worked his way up.”
At the sailor’s party Saturday, Sail MV president Dan Pesch said the weekend was one that brought Vineyard sailing back to its core elements.
“This is probably the best sailing we’ve ever had,” he said. “We’ve gotten really great turnout,” he said.
He said the race weekend was scaled back this year, eschewing large tent parties and sponsorships in favor of bringing together the Vineyard’s sailing community with good racing and two nights of small gatherings with snacks and barbecue.
“Here we are on a beach having this cookout instead of in a tent,” he said Saturday. “We have a really good race committee.”
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