Jimmy Buffett and P/C McNeil Winners at Block Island Race Week

Linda Ambrose, Regatta Manager

We’re not sure whose performance was more memorable, but hats off to the crew of Seabiscuit, P/C Kevin and Amanda McNeil’s Farr 30, who won a hard fought battle in PHRF 2 with 4 bullets on the scoreboard and a 2 point win over a sister ship from Canada. The boat was crewed by a long list of AYC members, including Matt Beck, John Loe, Ted Haaland, Ginny and Seth Mininger, and ex-Annapolitan, Rich Bowen, who has sailed for the McNeils and many other members for years. In addition to class honors, the McNeils and crew were awarded the Isbrandtsen Overall Perpetual Trophy for “second-best performance” at Block Island Race Week.

Other members enjoying time on the podium include Ian Gordon sailing on Beau Geste, the IRC 1 class winner. On the ORC 1 winner, Interlodge IV, longtime crew member Geoff Ewenson navigated for the team. Interlodge IV was presented with the Everett B. Morris Memorial Trophy for best overall performance at Block Island Race Week. In ORC 2, long time crew member V/C Jonathan Bartlett on Teamwork, who placed 2nd followed in 3rd place by Paul Milo’s J/122 Orion. Perennial BIRW podium finisher Bill Sweetser and his team on RUSH had an outstanding performance with 7 bullets and two second place finishes, to take 1st place 14 points ahead of the nearest competitor in the J/109 class. Jack McGuire won the PHRF 3 class on Dirty Harry, a J/29.

Congratulations for a top 10 finish in the J/105 class goes to Donald Santa’s Santa’s Reign, Dear, whose crew included fellow members Jon Slabaugh and Bill York. Sailing to a 5th place finish in PHRF 1, having just completed their first Annapolis to Newport Race on their J/111 Moneypenny, Ken Comerford and Jennifer Flake with son Willy aboard as well as Allan Terhune, Jr., Bobby Oberg, and Mike Powers.

Block Island Race Week, a favorite on the New England summer race circuit, draws one design and handicap class competitors from all over the globe, and this year they were treated to a surprise performance by Jimmy Buffett in the awards tent at the end of the week. Full results for the week available on Yachtscoring.