(Jamestown, RI)- It will be hard to top last year’s 100 boats lapping Conanicut Island once again this Labor Day Weekend. Maybe it was the perfect weather that brought out a quarter of all PHRF boats registered in Narragansett Bay, but the Race Organizers are looking to build upon that success once again this year.
"We want to provide an excellent opportunity for all sailors to capitalize on the last moments of summer," said ATI chairman Alan Baines. "Our goal is to couple a great regatta with a fantastic after-party to celebrate the season."
The 92nd Annual event will be held on Sunday, September 1st and take the competitors on an 21.0nm course around Conanicut Island followed by awards and dinner at Conanicut Yacht Club. The race begins at 1100 hrs just in front of the yacht club at the foot of the Newport Bridge on Narragansett Bay.
Speaking of the Newport Bridge, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the completion of the Pell Bridge, local artist Hillary Dutton, featured the Bridge as part of the regatta poster. These works of art have become collector items for the sailors and Jamestowners alike as Dutton has featured a different iconic landmark seen from the racecourse each year since her first design for the 84th CYC ATI nine years ago.
Depending on the wind speed, direction, and forecast, the Race Committee, led for the third year by Mark Grosby, will either run clockwise or counterclockwise. Shorter and longer courses are also available to accommodate bigger and smaller boats.
Over a dozen J/crews are participating in the fun, family-focused event. In PHRF A Class is Robert Iriye’s J/24 TENACIOUS. In PHRF B Class is Owen Harren’s J/40 EVENT HORIZON. The one-design PHRF C Class of J/22s includes Matt Dunbar’s DON’T TELL MOM, Peter Parsons’ CATCH, Jeff Westcott’s MACHBUSTER, Victor Oancea’s WHARF RAT, and Bill Fortenberry’s QUINN.
The PHRF D Class Spinnaker class includes Dan Borsutzky’s J/30 FLYING HIGH and three J/24s- Henry Lane’s FAST LANE, Mike Hill’s OBSTREPEROUS, and Paul Schmidle’s ALL IN.
The PHRF E Class Spinnaker class has two J/80s (Bill Snyder’s THE PARTY TREE and Victor Bell’s PHANTOM) and two J/30s (Chris Tate’s BLITZ & Dexter Hoag & Bill Porter’s ALTAIR).
The sportboat PHRF F Spinnaker class has two J/70s- Chris Murray’s LUCKY and Gordon Fletcher’s GIJIMA.
The sole J/crew in PHRF G Spinnaker class is Paul Grimes’ J/35 BREAKAWAY.
There is four-boat contingent of J/109s in PHRF H Class that includes Bill Kneller’s VENTO SOLARE, Brooke Mastrorio’s URSA, John Sahagian’s PICANTE, and Tom Sutton’s LEADING EDGE. Joining them are two J/105s (Charles Stoddard’s FALCON 2.0 and Matt Schmidt’s HARDTACK), plus Stu Johnstone’s J/99 AGENT 99, Dawn & Ben Hodgson’s J/100 GRIMACE, and EC Helme’s J/92S SPIRIT.
The high-test PHRF J Class includes Joe Brito’s J/121 INCOGNITO, Jack Gregg’s J/122 TARAHUMARA, and Mark Nannini’s J/120 SALACIA.
"The event is not just for sailors either," said Tor Holtan, CYC’s ATI media and marketing committee member. "We encourage friends, family, and the public to come out and watch these one hundred beautiful boats sail by iconic landmarks like Beavertail Lighthouse, Fort Wetherill, Fort Getty, and under the Jamestown and Newport Bridges."
Tickets for the after-party are also available to anyone who would like to join, but space is limited, so order your tickets early! As per the last few years, our sponsors, Berthon USA Yacht Sales and Latitude Yacht Brokerage, are providing free beer. For more Conanicut YC Round Island Race sailing information