block island race

Block Island Race

Block Island Race Week 2013

Block Island is situated about 13 miles south of the Rhode Island coast in New England.  It is protected by The Nature Conservancy and a popular Summer destination for holidaymakers and host to Block Island Race Week, a competitive, week-long sailing race. This event is held by the Storm Trysail Club this year for its 25th presentation.  Sailboats compete in various classes sailing around Block Island throughout the week.  The weeks’ format consists of four days of around-the-buoys racing and one day devoted to the 18.2 nautical mile race around the island.  This East Coast tradition attracts professional crew from all over the world.

This year Block Island Race will run from Sunday, June 23 to Friday, June 28th 2013, with racing starting on Monday 24th June.  So far 180 teams have registered to participate and with the cut off date for entries being June 1st, this will probably rise with last-minute entrants.  The Storm Trysail Club was hoping to exceed the 174 entries that competed in the inaugural Block Island Race in 1965, and this has been achieved.  Generations of families have competed in the Block Island Race over the five decades and it has become one of the most rewarding of all the US regattas.  Originally the idea for the race came from the famous Round the Island Race which takes place every year around the Isle of Wight, in the UK.

To add to the festivities the Storm Trysail Club is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, a club that prides itself on clean, fun racing which is professionally organised.

Headquarters for the Block Island Race will be located at The Oar Restaurant, with an events tent located adjacent to the restaurant for evening entertainment and award ceremonies.  Sponsors for the race are amongst others Rolex, Caithness Energy and Mount Gay Rum, indeed the prize for the winner is a Rolex watch, this year awarded by Robin Aisher, Admiral of Island Sailing Club of Cowes.

The notice to race and entry form for Block Island Race can be found at Block Island Race Week

block island race

 

Images: Courtesy of Storm Trysail Club

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