On Friday, May 24, Oakcliff Sailing’s three Farr 40s and the Ker 50 Temptationcrossed the start line of the Storm Trysail Club’s 74th Block Island Race outside of Stamford, CT. They started out reaching in a gusty 15 to 20-knot breeze. Prospects looked good for Black, who initially pulled ahead of the fleet but when they rounded the first mark off Block Island at sunrise the next morning, they were neck and neck with Blue and Red wasn’t far behind.
They pushed through light and shifty conditions as they sailed back from Block Island. Blue chose to go through Plum Gut to get back into Long Island Sound. Black opted for the road less traveled and passed through the Sluiceway. Despite having a 3-knot current boost in the Sluiceway, it didn’t pay off and Blue made gains through the Gut.
A few hours later, a southerly filled in and it was a drag race to the finish line. The breeze oscillated between 15 and 20 knots sustained. The crew on Black alternated between a full main and a reef but they couldn’t keep up with Blue, who crossed the line half an hour ahead to finish at the top of the 6-boat PHRF Class 8. Complete results are posted at YachtScoring.com: https://www.yachtscoring.com/event_results_cumulative.cfm?eID=6203
The team was composed of Oakcliff Staff, Supporters, and trainees. If you want to have access to opportunities like this, or want to become an Oakcliff Sailing Supporter, log onto https://www.oakcliffsailing.org
Francis George, MarComm Manager at Oakcliff Sailing in Oyster Bay, New York, contributed to this report.
