The Holmes Hole Sailing Association sponsored the 33rd running of the George Moffett Race on Saturday, Sept. 11.

Forty-three 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 partly cloudy, seasonably cool late summer day with a fresh 10 to 20 knots of wind veering from north to northeast. The race committee, in the Vineyard Haven Yacht Club boat Vigilant, made the east end of the starting line and selected an 18-mile course, suitable for the wind and the strong, east-setting current in Nantucket Sound.

Line honors went to the Gannon and Benjamin built schooner, Juno, sailed by Scott DiBiaso, screaming around the square course in 2:33:31.

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, winner of the Moffett Cup Trophy was venerable Vineyard Haven sailor Jamie Weisman in his 50-foot steel schooner, Perception. Jamie bought the boat in New Zealand and brought her home to Vineyard Haven harbor via the Panama Canal and Cuba. His crew included his son Nathaniel, age five.

Second place went to Jerry Goodale, a past winner, in his Pearson 31, Stormalong. Third was Kathy Logue in the Tartan 34, Rocinante 3. Fourth were John and Lisa Stout in the Gannon and Benjamin sloop, Isabella. Fifth was Bruce Slater in the Vineyard Vixen 34, Shy Fox. Sixth was Mo Flam in the Alerion 20, Lumia. Seventh was Nick Hammond in the Soling, Andiamo 2. Eighth was Scott DiBiaso in the Gannon and Benjamin schooner, Juno. Ninth was Ged Delaney, a past winner and perennial top 10 finisher, in the Avance 33, Ardent. Tenth was Irving Gates in the Sabre 38, King Kiwi.

The race is named for one of the founders of the Holmes Hole Sailing Association, George Moffett, a veteran sailor who campaigned his yacht, Guinevere, for many years, including victories in the Bermuda and SORC Races. He was a benefactor of Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary. This year’s running was a memorable, summer-ending event.