On a beautiful last day in August, the 63rd annual Round Island Race, hosted by the Fishers Island Yacht Club got off to a good start. With 80 sailboats in 12 classes and 11 starts, it was a sight to behold on the north side of the Island just outside West Harbor in Fishers Island Sound.
Heading counter-clockwise around the Island and aiming toward the buoy at Race Rock Lighthouse, most had their spinnakers flying and full. However, FIYC Manager Lincoln White reported, “this year’s race provided some lighter fickle winds that caused the race committee to shorten the race course at Lord’s Passage” on the south side of the island. “The race is set up with rules allowing the race committee to shorten the course at various checkpoints depending on the conditions.”
Winners by Class:
One Design Division
Class 1. Ensign ECHO: 363 Magic
Class 3. IOD: USA 35 Sirius, Brad Burnham, Fishers Island, NY
PHPF_ToT Division
Class 2. Watch Hill 15 WHISKEY: 12 Summersalt
Class 4: J70 JULIET: USA 314 Honey Pi
Class 5: Non Spin UNIFORM: USA 50195 Mast Transit II
Class 6: SPIN HOTEL: USA 37 Jolly Mon, Georgie Loveday, Fishers Island, NY
Class 7: SPIN GOLF: 10999 Checkered Demon
Class 8: SPIN TANGO: USA 77840 Details
Class 9: SPIN FOXTROT: 63 Blue Moon
Class 10: Melges 24 VICTOR: USA 738 Dark Energy
Class 11: Melges 32 ROMEO: USA 231 Hedgehog, US Coast Guard Academy
Click any photo to see a larger image or view in the gallery.
Photo Credit: Jane T. Ahrens
Short Story: The US Coast Guard Academy had 2 32′ racing boats entered in the Round Island Race this year. Not only did they come in 1st and 3rd in their Class, but one won the Donzo Award, given each year in memory of Don Wilkinson who died during the race years ago. The USGC team took their prize of a battle flag back to school and presented it to their asst. coach on Tuesday. The USGC Academy Sailing Team’s very proud part-time Off-Shore Sailing coach is Lincoln White.
