The 94th annual Edgartown Yacht Club Regatta concluded Saturday after three days of challenging conditions in the waters off Edgartown.
Island skippers held their own against top competitors who traveled from southern New England and beyond to participate.
On Thursday, the fleet was prepared for squally weather which never quite materialized. Friday saw steady breezes, but Saturday the wind was scarce.
“I can assure you this was not a traditional regatta,” said club commodore Paul Mitchell. “Unfortunately, we didn’t get our traditional southwest breeze building in the afternoon.”
Some races took as long as two and a half hours to complete on Saturday.
“It was shifty, very light, and a lot of chop,” said John Wood, who scored an impressive win in the Optimist Red division, winning three of the eight races scored in a field of nearly 50 boats. “It’s my first time here, I like the venue,” he said. He sails out of the Coral Reef Yacht Club in Miami, Fla.
Landon Cormie of the Vineyard Haven Yacht Club sailed a consistent series to finish third in the red division, for sailors age 13 and up.
In the blue division, for sailors age 11 and 12, Leopold Seuss, also of Miami, took top honors.
Jack Spillane of the Hyannis Yacht Club won the white division for sailors 10 and under.
Aiden McFerran of the Vineyard Haven Yacht Club was best in the Optimist green division for beginning skippers. Ava Stevens and Eli Ziegler, also from the Vineyard Haven club, were second and third.
In 420 class racing, Jack Howard of the Hyannis Yacht Club was tops, winning three of nine races scored over the three-day regatta.
Tommy Styron of the Vineyard Haven Yacht Club was second with two victories.
In the adult divisions, Anne Kelly and Andy Houlahan were best of the Herreshoff 12 1/2 class in Rub a Dub Dub. Skipper Deborah Orazem was second in June Bug and Robert Mason was third in Silver Cloud. All three sail from the home Edgartown Yacht Club.
Veronica Lundgren was first in the Rhodes 19 division, aboard her boat Alyve.
In the Shields class, Ken Deyett of the Beverly Yacht club in Marion was the impressive winner with four wins and four seconds in eight races scored.
Mr. Mitchell, the Edgartown Yacht Club commodore, was the top Vineyard competitor in the Shields division. He finished third.
A fleet of 20 Wianno Seniors sailed from Cape Cod to compete. John Fallon Jr. was best in class, competing for the Wianno Yacht Club aboard Heritage.
Alex Melaney of the Vineyard Haven Yacht Club was the winner in the J/70 class.
A total of 182 boats participated.
Comments
Comment policy »