Month: June 2025

J/99 SAVE THE SOUND Wins Best Overall Performance Award!(Stamford, CT) — The 78th edition of the Block Island Race, hosted by the Storm Trysail Club, delivered classic Northeast spring conditions and a course that tested every sailor’s resilience, tactics, and teamwork. Sixty-two boats departed Stamford on Friday afternoon for the 186-nautical-mile lap around Block Island, facing a mix of light air starts and heavy upwind slogs in the race’s signature “around-the-island-and-back” format.
On the heels of a powerful nor’easter, the weather left its mark. Friday’s start began in light, variable air, but as the starting window progressed over 90 minutes, the breeze steadily filled from the southwest.
From there, it was a game of staying in phase and out of trouble. Most of the fleet hugged the Long Island shore to avoid adverse currents, gybing down the coastline in the westerly breeze before rounding 1BI at the northern tip of Block Island. As night fell, the boats circled the island in a quick reach, before turning into a beat straight into the wind—lasting up to 20 hours for some teams.
ORC DIVISIONIn the crewed ORC division, the racing was especially tight. Taking the win in ORC 6, David Rosow’s J/122 LOKI credited the win to preparation, execution, and a great crew. He had Devin Santa and Ed Cesare onboard, navigators who went 1-2 in the Bermuda Race last year, along with Hound, skipper, Dan Litchfield.
“We had a lot of talent onboard and did a lot of prep. We paid close attention to the tides and hooked into the northerly. The most exciting moment? When our sistership J/122 ZIG ZAG passed us near the finish— we fought hard to stay with them, and it was thrilling racing.”
PHRF DIVISIONThe first PHRF boat to finish was the J/160 COUGAR, skippered by Past Commodore Lenny Sitar, racing in his 36th Block Island Race.
“That was one of the most exciting races I’ve done. We were going 9–10 knots and just plowed through the water like the current was standing still,” he said.
The overall PHRF Trophy went to Bill Baxter’s J/111 FIREBALL, nearly 30 minutes ahead of the Storck family’s J/130 BLITZEN, sailed by three generations of Storcks. John Storck Jr. and his wife Collette, were joined by their two sons, John III and Erik, son-in-law, Baker Potts, and 9-year-old grandson Hudson on his first race. “Despite a little seasickness, Hudson had a great time,” said dad Erik.
Stories of camaraderie and fresh connections were everywhere. Ian Milward, racing his J/109 in his first overnight race, recruited young Canadian sailors from the Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta. “Beating into 20 hours of upwind chop isn’t fun,” he said, “but I had a great crew that made it all worth it—and we finished third in class!”
ORC DOUBLEHANDED DIVISIONIn the ORC Doublehanded class, victory went to Doug McKeige aboard his brand new J/99 SAVE THE SOUND, co-skippered with offshore legend Rich du Moulin. The pair also claimed the Harvey Conover Memorial Trophy awarded to the boat that won her class and, in the judgment of the Flag Officers and Race Committee, had the best overall performance.
“You couldn’t do anything except sail the boat,” said McKeige. “15 to 30 knots, short steep waves—it was punishing. But the boat was fast, we were faster than the competition, and sailing with Rich was a fantastic collaboration.”
ORC 8 DivisionThis seven-boat fleet featured several well-sailed, veteran offshore teams. In the end, Macrae Sykes’s J/125 GOOD NEWS took the bronze medal.
PHRF 7 DivisionThis nine-boat fleet saw a clean sweep of the top four by J/Crews. Leading the charge was Bill & Jackie Baxter’s J/111 FIREBALL, also winning PHRF Overall! Second, went to the John Storck family on the J/130 BLITZEN, third was Len Sitar’s magnificent J/160 COUGAR, and fourth position went to Pico Chickering’s J/111 THE ROOST.
PHRF 5 DivisionThe eight boats sailing this fleet had seven J/Teams! Not surprisingly, they swept the top four spots in the fleet. Winning was Richard West’s J/120 CHARLOTTE, second was John Sartorius’s J/120 ALIBI, third was Ian Milward’s J/109 QUICKSILVER, and fourth place was Adam Hayden’s J/109 SMILE.
PHRF 4 DivisionThis eight-boat division saw Steven Landy & Derek Soohoo’s J/100 SANGUINE blitz the fleet, finishing with several top J/120s! They won the division by over a half-hour corrected time.
The fun didn’t end at the finish line— racers enjoyed the always-popular Stamford Yacht Club post-race party. Thanks to all the race sponsors, the party offerings have been upgraded so it’s one you’ll not want to miss.
For more Storm Trysail Club’s Block Island Race sailing informationhttps://www.yachtscoring.com/emenu/50032