Anticipation builds for the even years

The biennial Newport Bermuda Race is held on even numbered years, and the trickle down from that offshore classic has helped to build the largest fleet in well over a decade for the 75th Block Island Race on May 27, 2022.

Hosted by Storm Trysail Club, 86 boats plan to set off on the annual 186nm race that starts and ends off Stamford, CT and takes the crews down Long Island Sound and around Block Island. Two-thirds of the fleet will also be aiming for Bermuda next month.

“We are thrilled to have a great turnout this year,” noted STC Commodore Ed Cesare. “The anticipation has been building for a while now and we wish all the crews a fun and safe race.”

Considering the pandemic cancelled the 2020 Bermuda and Block Island races, and extreme weather postponed the 75th edition in 2021, there is pent energy to drop dock lines and head for the horizon.

“We are hoping ‘the third time’s a charm’ in 2022 to complete the long awaited race,” said John Troy, Race Chair. “The weather is shaping up to be great racing conditions. With a front moving through, the sailors should have great breeze the entire race.”

Storm Trysail Club has a commitment to fostering young offshore sailors, a passion held by Oakcliff Sailing which will have nearly 70 young sailors participating on their four boats – one of which is an entirely young female crew from the Lincoln School for Girls in Rhode Island on one of their Farr 40s, Team Luna.

There is also the rematch for USMMA Maritime Academy Kings Point and the US Coast Guard Academy to battle it out on their J/44s, Comet and Glory, after a tie at last year’s Block Island Race Week. USCGA also has a J/121 Wings they are chartering for Block Island and Bermuda.

NEKA Sailing (North East Keelboat Association) has partnered with the Webb Offshore Sailing Team and are racing three boats: Group 5 (Custom Figaro 2), Desperado (Custom 40), and Peacemaker (Ker 11.5). Group 5 will be doublehanded with a coach and a Webb student. The other boats will be fully crewed with a mix of students and coaches.

The fleet is currently divided into ten classes with eight ORC and PHRF classes taking on the 186nm Block Island Course and one PHRF class opting for the shorter 135nm Plum Island Course. Ten doublehanded teams are also participating.

The course record of 11 hours 25 minutes and 01 second was set by the 100-foot Maxi Comanche in 2015.

Event information – Entry list – Tracking

Source: Kate Somers, STC