One of the oldest regional races

The 75th edition of Storm Trysail Club’s Block Island Race on Long Island Sound tried hard in 2020 to celebrate its diamond anniversary, but after postponing a month, cancellation became the call.

While not fully out of the woods a year later, over 60 boats will finally line up on May 28 for this classic distance race out of Stamford, CT. Starting and finishing off of Stamford Harbor, ORC and PHRF classes will sail either the Block Island Course (186 nm) or the Plum Island Course (125 nm).

For the first major regional distance race of the year, teams to watch will be in the ORC A division where Andrew and Linda Weiss’ Christopher Dragon and Devin McGranahan’s Dream Crusher are the two fastest boats with their respective Ker+ and Kernan designs. There is also a strong turnout in the ORC C class with closely matched teams including four J/44s – two of which are from the US Merchant Marine and Coast Guard Academy.

This will also be the swan song for Ray Redniss who has been the Principal Race Officer and Event Chair of the Block Island Race for 25 years – not to mention also this year’s Block Island Race Week chair and Vice Commodore of the Storm Trysail Club.

Starting at 14:00, Jim and Kristy Hinze Clark’s 100-foot Maxi Comanche holds the course record for 11 hours 25 minutes and 01 second, though the course was shortened by one mile that year (2015) to allow the 22ft draft to finish.

Event information – Race details – Entry list