(Stamford, CT)- Imagine fifteen classes of offshore keelboats racing from the middle of Long Island Sound, out through the infamous "Race", out around Buzzards Tower and back, then imagine one brand of boats and their fun-loving owners that passionately enjoy the sport of sailing and you most likely have a pretty good recipe for success on a race course that provides its participants the ultimate challenge in all-around sailing. That's exactly what happened in this year's edition of the Vineyard Race. Six class wins by one brand, nearly 50% of the podium silverware went to J owners across the spectrum.Labor Day weekend's Vineyard Race is a classic American yachting event; a 238-mile course stretching from Shippan Point, through the swirling currents of the Race or Plum Gut, past Block Island, and on to the light tower at the entrance to Buzzard's Bay, to return leaving Block Island to starboard en route to the finish in Stamford Harbor. Begun in 1932, it has attracted the finest sailors and fastest boats for over 70 years, and its intricacies and challenges bring them back time after time. Those who are successful nearly always credit local knowledge of these tricky waters and a good deal of luck. The event now has three courses to accommodate the needs of various sailors, from the shorter Cornfield Point course, to the middle-distance Seaflower Reef course, to the original Vineyard course.
The formula for winning was apparently straightforward for most of the class winners. Andrew Weiss' J/122 CHRISTOPHER DRAGON was perhaps the textbook example of how to win. On the way out, most of the faster boats sailed rhumbline towards the Race. Going through the eastern end of Long Island Sound, DRAGON went just north of Plum Island and south of Gull Island, staying in stronger southerly breezes with better current. From there DRAGON sailed down the middle of channel between Point Judith and Block Island, staying further to right (south) of the fleet. After rounding Buzzards Towers at the opening of Buzzards Bay, DRAGON headed off on starboard tack for several miles offshore before tacking onto port tack and laying the Block Island mark. From there, DRAGON headed through Plum Gut between Plum Island and Orient Point and stayed just south of rhumbline headed back to finish line off Stamford's Shippan Point. For more Stamford-Vineyard Race sailing information
