Off Edgartown's outer harbor, Shields brightly colored spinnakers skittered across the water as clouds scudded through gray skies overhead.

The Edgartown Yacht Club is hosting the Shields class national championships, a competitive regatta among one of the most active one-design classes in American sailing. A total of 20 boats are entered in the national championship regatta, with several entries from Vineyard sailors, and other competitors coming from as far away as California.

In one-design racing, all the boats, including rigging and sails, are the same, so in theory the race is won by the best sailing skill and tactics.