The International Yacht and Athletic Club (IYAC) hosted its second annual Rhody Regatta on Saturday, June 1, and Matt Brooks’ (Freemont, CA/Jamestown, RI) 1929 Sparkman & Stephens yawl Dorade stole the show. Not only was the 52-foot classic yacht visually striking by virtue of her sleek lines drawn by Olin Stephens, but she also appeared to be “always in the right place” despite a variety of often-fickle conditions. Sailing to win its five-boat Class 3, Dorade also claimed overall victory when scored collectively with the regatta’s sixteen entries.
The Rhody Regatta, an 18-mile race around Conanicut (Jamestown) Island, raises funds for the Rhode Island Community Food Bank through donations by the entered teams.
“It was our first event this year, and we found it very interesting, very tactical,” said Brooks, describing a northerly at the start, then a large calm before the southwesterly sea breeze kicked in, allowing boats from behind to catch up with the leaders. “We thought we were boxing above our weight class, because there were some good boats in our class, but at one point, we were ahead of everyone, regardless of class. I’m just always amazed that a boat that’s almost 100 years old can still be so competitive.”
Other winners were Steve Thurston’s (Bristol, RI) J/29 Mighty Puffin in Class 1; Ed Adams’ (Middletown, RI) Beneteau 36.7 Five East in Class 2; and Tom Rich’s (Portsmouth, RI) GP42 Settler in Class 4. Top three in each class are listed below.
The Rhode Island Community Food Bank acquires and distributes millions of pounds of food per year through its 143 member agencies, including food pantries, meal sites and shelters. The Food Bank currently serves a record 80,000 Rhode Islanders each month. The IYAC serves as a favorite sailors’ bar in the heart of Newport and is an official US SAILING affiliated club, with registered members. The IYAC Race Committee runs several area regattas for everything from sportboats to Maxi yachts.
Place, Yacht Name, Type, Owner, Hometown, Results, Points
Class 1 (PHRF – 4 Boats)
1. Mighty Puffin, J/29, Steve Thurston, Bristol, RI – 1; 1
2. Pink Rose, J/70, Brendon Scanlon, Newport, RI – 2; 2
3. Triskele, VX One, Thomas Newman, Middletown, RI – 3; 3
Class 2 (PHRF – 4 Boats)
1. Five East, Beneteau 36.7, Ed Adams, Middletown, RI – 1; 1
2. MAKAI, C&C 110, Alex and Ted Hood, Newport, RI – 2; 2
3. Relentless, Beneteau First 36.7, Robert Laska, Warwick, RI – 5; 5
Class 3 (PHRF – 5 Boats)
1. Dorade, S&S 52, Matt Brooks, Fremont, CA – 1; 1
2. Incognito, J/121, Joe Brito, Bristol, RI – 2; 2
3. Chinook, C&C 30 ODR, Michael Patterson, Middletown – 3; 3
Class 4 (PHRF – 3 Boats)
1. Settler, GP42, Tom Rich, Portsmouth, RI – 1; 1
2. IRIE 2, Kerr 55, Brian Cunha, Newport, RI – 2; 2
3. Boudicca, R/P 66, Richard Moody, Jamestown, RI, USA – 4; 4
Nearing her one hundredth birthday, the S&S yawl Dorade can still show her shapely transom to many much younger boats. © Stephen R Cloutier
