Sailing
Paul Curran, 48, of Vineyard Haven, won the Pat West Gaff Rig Race last Saturday. Mr. Curran was sailing his 32-foot wooden Bahamian smack called Mary Eleanor. Mr. Curran is a long-time figure on the waterfront, along with his boat and his first mate and co-owner Jill Walsh.
“It is so good Paul won,” Mr. Lobdell said afterwards.
Harry Duane would have loved every minute of it.
The late giant in the Vineyard Haven sailing community was certainly present in spirit for the 35th running of the annual George Moffett Race last Saturday, when a robust fleet of sailboats turned out in weather that was even more robust to race in a 20-mile course from East Chop to Falmouth to Oak Bluffs to Edgartown and back. In the end, all agreed — it was a memorable day of sailing in nearly every way.
At least 48 sailboats from all over Southeastern Massachusetts are expected to compete tomorrow in the 35th annual George Moffett Memorial Race just outside the Vineyard Haven harbor. The start of the race is shortly after 11 a.m.
For 35 years this race has been seen as a sailors’ salute to the end of summer.
The start of the race is just off East Chop. Sailboats ranging from 16 to 75 feet in length will move between West Chop and East Chop and then cross into Nantucket Sound. By tradition, the course will be decided on the day of the race.
Seastreak is offering $40 roundtrip fare for Vineyard residents to the Working Waterfront Festival taking place in New Bedford on Sept. 29 and 30. This free festival is a celebration of commercial fishing culture and will feature an appearance by the singer/songwriter Gordon Bok. Additional performers include the Johnson Girls, Mary Garvey, Sharks Come Cruisin’, Jon Campbell, Ana Vinagre, Bob Quinn and more.
In addition to singing there will be demonstrations of all things seaworthy, from net mending and scallop shucking to fish filleting.
The deadline for entry into this year’s 35th annual George Moffett Memorial Race is approaching. Friday, Aug. 31, is the last day for entry forms to be mailed to the Holmes Hole Sailing Association.
While the race is still more than a week away, organizers of the event need to do their handicap work in preparation for the race on Saturday, Sept. 8. Last year there were 40 boats participating in the race.
Three beeps from the race committee horn and the group of windsurfers competing in the U.S. Junior Windsurfing Championship pull up their sails, get settled on their boards and glide to the starting line.
Two beeps and it’s two minutes to race time at the Vineyard Haven Yacht Club.
One beep and 13-year-old Geronimo Nores from Miami, FL,, along with the rest of the fleet, is at starting line.
The starting horn blows. The sailors head east towards the first marked buoy, pumping their legs up and down on their boards.