Round the Island Race
Morning start was downwind on a gusty, hot summer day.
Morning start was downwind on a gusty, hot summer day.
Sailor readies to let out the spinaker.
Sailor readies to let out the spinaker.
Sailboats round Cape Pogue Light.
Sailboats round Cape Pogue Light.
Sailboats start and then spread out.
Sailboats start and then spread out.
Vesper, captained by Jim Swartz, is one of the fastest boats.
Vesper, captained by Jim Swartz, is one of the fastest boats.
Boats flew across the start.
Boats flew across the start.
Fifty-six sailboats of varying sizes participated in the annual Edgartown Yacht Club Round the Island Race Saturday. With a downwind morning start, a few raised their spinakers on one of the windiest days the race has seen in a few years. Sailors and their boats came from as far away as New York and Newport to participate in what is a favorite 57-mile clockwise race around the Island.
The winner of this year’s race was was Jim Swartz, of the 52-foot Vesper. Mr. Swartz completed the race in four hours and 51 minutes. George David, in his 90-foot sailboat Rambler, completed the 60-mile race in four hours, 51 minutes and 58 seconds. Rambler came in third in corrected time. Second place on corrected time went to Takashi Okura on Sled.
“It was white knuckle sailing,” said yacht club manager Bill Roman. Strong southwest winds blew close to 20 early in the day and got as high 30 m.p.h. as the day progressed. Racing began after 8 a.m. with a start a few miles from the Cape Pogue lighthouse. Racing was over for most sailors by afternoon.