September 2, 2018

Conanicut Yacht Club – Around the Island Race

The CYC Around the Island Race is one of Narragansett Bay's iconic races and it caps the end of the summer. I was thrilled to be a part of it not only as a competitor but as the media coordinator. Beginning in July, I wrote the promotional press releases and distributed to local and national media […]

The CYC Around the Island Race is one of Narragansett Bay's iconic races and it caps the end of the summer. I was thrilled to be a part of it not only as a competitor but as the media coordinator. Beginning in July, I wrote the promotional press releases and distributed to local and national media and managed the social media. On the Race Day, I helped coordinate local media on site including a PBS documentary team and wrote the final press release. The fleet's numbers broke records and I like to say it was due to the excellent pre-race promotion 🙂 The beautiful weather and the forecast had nothing to do with it 😉

 

Final Press Release:

Photo: Kate Wilson/  risingT media

100 Boats Lap Jamestown in the 91st Annual Conanicut Yacht Club Around the Island Race

JAMESTOWN, RI (September 3, 2018) - Under sunny skies and a building sea breeze, one hundred yachts ranging from 80 to 22 feet sailed 18 miles around the small island of Conanicut nestled in the middle of Narragansett Bay on Sunday afternoon. One of the oldest continuingly run regattas in North America, the race marks the end of the summer sailing season in the coastal region.

“Some sailors come out for the trophy or just bragging rights, while others are simply on a family picnic sail,” said Race Chair Alan Baines. “The best part about this race that there is something for everyone and it's truly a celebration of another summer coming to end.”

Photo: Cate Brown/ Cate Brown Photography

William Hubbard and his crew onboard Siren - rated as the fastest boat in the fleet - was able to make up one-hour handicap placed upon her by taking the line honors with a 2:20 lap time. However, it was Alex Watson and his crew onboard, Manic , a 21-foot Shaw 6.5, who took home the overall trophy for a corrected time of 3:16:06 beating Akimitsu Hira, a visiting team from Japan in their brand new J/121 Crescent IV, by just 18 seconds. Brad Hastings’ Mischief from Bristol rounded out the overall podium.

Photo: Cate Brown/ Cate Brown Photography

The triple-digit fleet represented 25% of all race boats registered on Narragansett Bay, making it one of the largest CYC Around the Island Races in recent history. Plagued by Hurricane forecasts the last two years, organizers - who have been planning since January - were very happy both the weather and competitors turned out for the event.

“We want to keep it fun above all else,” said Principal Race Officer Mark Grosby of Jamestown. “Fair racing, a scenic course, and a great party afterward are what keeps everyone coming back year after year.”

Separated into 11 divisions and staggering starts by 6 minutes, the slower boats started at 11:00 am on Sunday in 8 knots from the south. It was around Beavertail Lighthouse on the southern tip on Conanicut that the fleets began to converge as they set their spinnakers for a nine-mile downwind run along the western side of the island.

“Looking back at 90+ boats coming down us was breathtaking,” said Kate Wilson, sailing onboard Lincoln Mossop’s Swan 42 The Cat Came Back . “It was one of the moments where you realize we are lucky to live and do what we do.”

Of note, this was Mossop’s 35th year competing in the race and they took home 2nd place in their division and 8th overall. When asked how the racing compared to past years during the after party at Conanicut Yacht Club, Mossop with a thumbs up and big smile said “Absolutely Awesome!”

Photo: Kate Wilson/  risingT media

There were plenty of winners amongst the more than 800 sailors (for full results go to conanicutyachtclub.com/ATI ) but the residents of Jamestown also received a special treat watching the spectacular race from the shore. Jane Miner commented on the Race’s Facebook Page: “Loved that I could use KATTACK [tracking website] to see when they would be coming by my house, and then the scratch sheet to know who was who when I saw them with my binoculars from my terrace! So glad the breeze came in, too!!”

Be sure to mark the calendar for September 1st, 2019 for the 92nd Annual CYC Around the Island Race and check out all the photos online.

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