Thick fog opens Block Island Race Week

New Shoreham, RI (June 21, 2021) – “Somehow mother nature knows that a regatta is starting. So the great weather you have been having is probably going to change,” said meteorologist Chris Bedford with a chuckle to kick-off last night’s North Sails Weather Briefing Webinar ahead of Block Island Race Week presented by Margaritaville.

His foreshadowing, unfortunately, came to bear when the sailors and Race Committee awoke this morning after a gorgeous weekend to a thick fog settled on the island and the surrounding Rhode Island Sound.

After months of anticipation to get back out on the water post-COVID, the 158 teams (a recent BlRW fleet record) were eager to go, so the Race Committee sent the teams out for the Regatta Craft Mixers Round the Island Race – which is also historical to have the first day. All were hopeful for clearing skies in the southwesterly breeze.

“Looking at the weather report for the week, Monday looks like the best wind for getting around the island so that’s why we picked today,” said Event Chair Ray Redniss in the morning. “The Round the Island is a big deal. Back in the day, we used to do many per week – which also seems to be the theme of this year’s event: ‘what’s new is what’s old.’ We are back where it all started at Champlin’s Marina where Block Island Race Week first ran in 1965.”

With an on-time start, the 52-boat Green Fleet made up of the Performance Cruising Divisions and Multihull fleets were fortunate to commence and complete their 18-mile counter-clockwise course. However, the rest of the competitors on the White and Blue circles entered into a postponement at 1100 due to the reduced visibility at their starting area caused by the fog.

So while the ORC, One-Design, and PHRF fleets remained in limbo, the Performance Cruisers and Multihulls flew around the island in 15-20 knot southwest winds. In the Performance Cruising 1 Division, Joe Brito’s J/121 Incognito took line honors at 13:40:37 and also won his class, Performance Cruising 1 with a corrected time of 0:02:59:01.

J/Boats continued to dominate the Round the Island Race in the Performance Cruising Pursuit classes with Skip Young’s J/133 Dragonfly, and G. John Krediet’s J/ 97 Participant II, and Rodney Johnstone’s new J/9 design Day Sailer, Banjo.

“We had a great start and then we were able to keep extended,” said Ben Hall, who raced onboard Incognito with Brito. “When we got finally got some clearing fog past the Southeast Lighthouse and we couldn’t see anyone so knew we were in the lead.”

“Or we actually joked at one part that they might have called the race off and missed the memo,” interjected another Incognito sailor, Kyle Fast.

Despite the weather, there are still many smiles among the sailors both on and off the water. It is evident to anyone around here on the island, the crews and volunteers are happy to back doing what they love.

“These are all great friends and we have a great time and have a lot of laughs,” said Brito. “Especially to just see everyone out here and how many J/ Boats are here. It is just great.” There are 63 J/Boats competing and Block Island Race Week.

Unfortunately, the fog never lifted in the starting area for the White and Blue Race circles so the Race Committee was compelled to abandon racing for day for those 105 boats at 1330. The Race Committee says they are continuing to look at the weather and will consider still getting an Around the Island Race in for those who missed it today as it is a highlight for many of the teams who travel to the event.

“Great racing is the goal. A few months ago we weren’t sure if we were even going to be able to make it happen and now we are back with socials at the tent and one of the biggest fleets we have ever had,” said Redniss. “It is amazing to just be able to shake hands with everyone and we still anticipate a great week ahead of us.”

Block Island Race Week presented by Margaritaville will continue tomorrow with North Sails Race Day. The 2021 scheduled extends from June 21 to 25.

Event details – Race information – Results

Source: Kate Wilson Somers