Block Island Race Week (as I am quickly finding out) is one
of those regattas that you should try and do.
A five-day, this event is held on a beautiful island that brings
together a plethora of yachts. Teams
like Robert Begueli’s team of New York High School team on the J-105
‘Buckaroo’ students that are here experiencing their first big boat
regatta. I met them walking around town
and had a great time chatting with Robert about his program and how they are
really bringing this somewhat exclusive sport to the younger generation that
needs to be involved to make it grow.
I am racing on one of three Flying Tiger’s that
made the trip. Jeff Freeman’s team
Renegade made the trip from Atlanta and I joined up on Saturday to sail the boat
over with Jeff and his bowman Tommy Sawchuk (really Tommy is a workhorse and
does everything). This was my first time
sailing in the area and it was a stunning start to what is shaping up to be a
beautiful week.
On Sunday Tommy and I walked around the town and
checked out the beaches. The highlight was jumping in the Atlantic
after being in the Pacific just one day prior.
Sunday afternoon we had a good practice in about
12-15kts and smooth seas. It is always
difficult to come to a big regatta with a group of people that have never
really sailed together. We know that
improving each day is our goal and enjoying a competitive regatta against the
other Tigers will make this a great experience.
The two other Tiger teams have already become our good friends and
wingmen around the local scene.
Our fleet consists of some big programs. One Melges 32 in our fleet is stacked with
more than one world champion sailor and one guy who just came from winning the
Etchells Worlds for the third time!
Congratulations on that one Steve.
The first race we had a decent start but got out
to the wrong side of the course and had some major boat speed problems
upwind. Tommy and I made some
adjustments in between races and saw them take affect in the second race as we
beat the other two boats we are gunning for.
The top boats have another gear and the competition is fierce.
What is really amazing is how many one design
fleets they have here. The J-44 class
has a sail buy program where each boat owner puts in a certain amount of money
a year and the class buys sails that are then rotated around boats. They have 8 boats this week and usually run
up to 8 regattas a year with this format.
Day two of BIRW saw us partake in the highlight,
the around Block Island Race, which was a wonderful way to see the beauty of
this little island. It was great to be
in the same starting area as all the boats and be able to see all the different
teams.
We started in about 6-9kts of breeze and as we
approached the first turning buoy we struggled to power through the chop and
swell. It was tough but we knew that
once we rounded the mark it was time for Tiger conditions. Light air downwind sailing with the new AP
Spinnaker would be our forte. We were
not disappointed as we quickly passed the J-109’s that started ahead of us and
reeled in some J-44’s that were bringing up the rear of their fleet.
Once again the Melges 32 teams were out in front
but Red Stripe (another FT-10) and ourselves were hanging in there. Around the backside of the island things got
a little weird. The boats that stayed to
close to the island suffered as the wind transitioned. A J-120 forced us to jibe away and did us a
huge favor as we caught the fresh breeze and sailed around and out in front of
Red Stripe. We are still looking to
thank the J-120 team as I asked them if we could cross but they forced us away
and then they jibed into the light air.
The next portion of the race was a tight reach
and the boats that had Code 0’s and 3A spinnakers put them up. We shad our AP jib up and held off the J-122’s
and various other PHRF boats around us.
The final leg of the race was a beat up the front side of the island to
the finish. It was a beautiful sight as
there were boats of all kinds fighting the current to the finish line.
We managed a respectable fifth place and were
happy to finish well ahead of the other FT-10’s. Today the wind is forecasted to be light and
I am sure shifty and hopefully in the Tiger’s favor.
