LYC Yachts Endure in 2010
Block Island Race
May 30-31, 2010
Stamford, CT
The 2010 Block Island Race saw three LYC boats take the line; Thomas Carroll’s J133 Siren Song, Rich duMoulin’s Express 37 Lora Ann and Colin McGranahan’s J130 Dragonfly. Gus Carlson’s recently acquired R/P 66 Aurora was a late scratch.
Lora Ann Starts in Light Air.
The postponement flag hung limply off the committee boat as the fleet gathered for the start off Stamford, CT, on Friday, May 30. Some faint puffs allowed the doublehanders to get underway in a weak southwest breeze which thankfully was coupled with an outgoing tide. Eventually the southerly filled in with more gusto and the fleet was on its way about an hour behind schedule. Champagne sailing ensued as the breeze lifted allowing for reaching and eventually running spinnakers to be flown on the leg out of the sound. Most would get down to 1BI, the first mark of the course off Block Island, in good breeze.
After a jib reach down the backside of the island, the painful beat back to Stamford was on. The bigger boats in the fleet had an advantage as they would fetch back into the sound before the breeze went forward enough to make it a true beat. Entering back into the sound in a light southwest breeze is always tricky. Most fared better by entering through the Gut as there was a bit more breeze and more opportunities to dodge the current relative to the Race. Notably the big boat in the fleet, George David’s R/P 90 Rambler, chose the Race and was passed by Hap Fauth’s R/P 69 Bella Mente who chose the Gut – Bella Mente would go on to garner line honors over her faster rival.
As Saturday went on, the breeze became more random and light and it was a tricky game trying to find pressure and keep the boat moving. For some, the mile leg from the Cows to the finish (one mile) would take more than an hour.
Rima2 on the Start Line.
At the end of the day, the LYC yachts endured and finished well. Rich duMoulin, preparing to defend his doublehanded Bermuda Race title, came 4th in the 16 boat doublehanded division. In this race, size mattered and Rich did well to stay close to his faster competition. Only light air near the finish allowed duMoulin’s faster rivals to correct out. An intriguing LYC match race was on in the IRC 45 Class where Siren Song and Dragonfly would finish within sight of one another, with Dragonfly edging out Siren Song for 3rd place in class by a mere four minutes. LYC sailors Andrew Besheer and Chad Corning sailed on John Brim’s Rima2 which came 2nd in IRC Zero and second overall in the 83 boat IRC fleet.
We wish the best of luck to Siren Song, Aurora, and Lora Ann as they contest the Newport-Bermuda race on June 18, 2010.
