J/Teams Rock Block Island Race Week!

J/111 BRAVO Awarded Everett B Morris Trophy, J/122 TEAMWORK Wins ORC NA’s D3!
(Block Island, RI)- This year’s Storm Trysail Club Block Island Race Week featured a diversity of weather challenges all week long; from clear sunny “shorts & shades” glamma days to grey, cool, ugly, drizzly days to keep everyone honest. In the end, numerous J/Teams filled up the leaderboard, garnering a lion’s share of the silverware across several PHRF/ ORC handicap divisions as well as strong participation in one-design classes for J/88s, J/105 East Coast Championships, J/44 North Americans, and J/109s sailing in their East Coast Championships. Here is how it all went down over the five-day regatta.

Monday
Racing in the 31st Block Island Race Week got underway on Monday with the North Sails Race Day. After a one-hour wind delay, the three fleets motored through “The Cut†to their respective race courses for a noon start as the sea breeze filled in from the southwest. The wind stayed stable for the remainder of the afternoon.

The winner of 2023’s Everett B. Morris Perpetual Trophy – known as “Boat of the Week†for the 30th BIRW, Deja voodoo, won the day in the 17-boat J/105 class, which is also the one-design fleet’s East Coast Championship.

“The boat was going well and we were able to get one boat on the last leg and end up in first,†said DEJA VOODOO’s owner, Bill Zartler from Houston, TX. When asked whether his team feels any added pressure of being the returning champions, he noted that “there is always a target on your back!!â€

Racing boats were accompanied offshore by pods of dolphins trying to catch a glimpse of the action, while families and friends of sailors awaited their return onshore— “mudslides” in hand.

For 60 years, Block Island Race Week has been a true family affair for many sailors. Both on and off the water, the regatta provides opportunities for families to create memories, strengthen bonds, and just have fun all together!

Aboard BLITZEN, a J/130 in the Performance Cruising division, two generations of the Storck family were racing together. John Storck, Jr. (who holds the record for the most Race Weeks of 30) is joined by his sons, John III and Ian, his daughter Kaity, and son-in-law Baker Potts. The third generation was being looked after by the family matriarch, Colette, enjoying everything Race Week has to offer on shore.

“It’s what our family has always done,†says John III. “We went through a period where we were doing other sailing ventures. Now that we’re getting older and have little kids of our own. Race week fits into the combo of sailing and family vacation, and we’re so happy to be back.â€

Tuesday
The Regatta Craft Mixers Race Day turned up the heat at Block Island Race Week— literally. The Island was not spared from the heat wave sweeping the East Coast this week, but that did not put a stop to the action out on the water. With heavier winds than Day 1, the day began on time and featured champagne sailing conditions for the windward-leeward and navigator courses.

TEAMWORK, a J/122 owned by Robin Team, came out on top in both races in the ORC 3 class. “We’re having great winds and Chamber of Commerce weather. What else could you ask for in a regatta?†Team added. “It’s our fifth BIRW and we love it.â€

Meanwhile, in the Performance Cruising 2 class, it is a neck-and-neck race for the overall leader. George Harrington’s J/112E #bigsandwich was sitting in second by one point after four races. “Great competition this week. Our fleet is incredibly tight,†said Harrington. “We’re doing good and we’re having fun!â€

As sailors settled into their groove for the week, many reflected on the history and heritage of this storied regatta.

“The legacy of Block Island Race Week is that it brings sailors together from all over,†remarked Rod Johnstone of J/Boats fame. He and his family have been sailing in BIRW since its inception in 1965. This year is Rod’s 23rd BIRW, and he has sailed in each one in a different J/Boats— this year aboard the J/99 JAZZ. Boats of various designs from the renowned designer now make up over half of the total boats in the BIRW fleet.

“Block Island is by far our favorite event, I describe it as an island getaway with 1,000 of your best friends,†says Mike Fillman of the J/80 PARTY TREE. Like many other competitors, Block Island itself plays a huge role in the regatta’s heritage for Filman and the PARTY TREE crew. “Our boat was native to Block Island and spent its summers in New Harbor on a mooring. The previous owner used it as a daysailer. In fact, a man sailed past us on a Laser and called out, ‘That’s my boat!’â€

Wednesday
The Risk Strategies Race Day featured another day of champagne conditions and soaring temperatures. To give sailors a brief reprieve, the Race Committee called for an “early†end to racing (only 2 long races instead of 3), moved up the parties, and opened up the race village for some fun lay-day activities. However, the competition was still very much in full force.

Thursday
The fourth day was both Mt. Gay Rum Day and the Regatta Craft Mixers Round The Island Race!

The breaking of the recent heatwave made for a fast and furious counter-clockwise lap past the Southeast Lighthouse, past the Mohegan Bluffs, around the 1BI buoy, and back into New Harbor.

“It was a great day on the water with big breeze,†added Jack McGuire, owner of J/88 DIRTY HARRY. He noted that his favorite part of the Round The Island Race is the way the currents change around the course. “If you’re not on it, you can go from a half mile ahead to a half mile behind in a minute.†He noted that the race always hinges on good tactics and solid strategy.

Why Block Island???
Probably the most common answer to the question “What keeps you coming back to Block Island Race Week?†is “Sailing with my friends!â€. Whether it’s bonds formed between sailors on the same crew or new and old friendly rivalries between boats, the camaraderie amongst the fleet at BIRW is something that sets this regatta apart.

“Every single dock is just packed and packed with racers,†said Conor O’Neil of the J/80 PARTY TREE. “You come back on shore and you ask other boats, ‘How was Blue Circle versus White Circle today?’†For him and his crew, one of the highlights of the regatta is stopping in for boat cocktails on the way to the tent party following the day’s racing. “Wall-to-wall fun with all the people you want to hang out with.â€

For one team in particular, the strong connections formed through sailing this regatta have deep emotional meaning. The crew aboard TNT was sailing the J/105 in its eighth BIRW in memory of the boat’s previous owner, Mark Masur, who passed away in 2023. “We purchased the boat and decided we had to come back to Block Island,†remarked Greg Turman of the TNT crew. “The people here are just awesome,†he added, complimenting the gregarious and helpful spirit on the docks.

Bill Kneller, owner of the J/109 VENTO SOLARE, believes that the camaraderie that makes BIRW so special is not dulled by the fierce competition out on the water, even as the one-design class contests its East Coast Championship during the regatta. “The class always has a party at the house that Bob Schwartz from J/109 NORDLYS rents, where we all have a great time,†Kneller recalled. “One year, the owner of the house flew in with his helicopter and landed on the lawn to join the party!â€

The spirits in the race village— anchored in friendship— were lifted even higher by the perennial favorite Regatta Craft Mixers Round The Island Race, which took place on Thursday. With heavier winds and cooler temperatures than earlier in the week, the distance race brought out spectators to the Island’s iconic bluffs, beaches, and lighthouses to catch a glimpse of the action.

Friday
Block Island Race Week’s final tent party was abuzz with anticipation and excitement Friday evening, as sailors and spectators awaited the announcement of cumulative awards for the regatta’s 60th anniversary. For the first time in recent memory, BIRW featured racing on all five days of the week, featuring fierce competition and extraordinary sailing.

“The Race Week and Storm Trysail team has had one signature focus: to make this the best week of everyone’s year,†said Race Chair Ty Anderson. “What we’re hearing and seeing is that we accomplished that, and everyone is already planning for 2027.â€

“This regatta saw 140 races across 17 classes and multiple championship contests,†said Race Director Dick Neville. “The weather definitely cooperated, allowing our race management team to showcase the very best Block Island has to offer.â€

The eyes of the sailing world were focused on Block Island this week as the ORC division held its inaugural North American Championship as part of BIRW. Across three classes, the ORC racing was characteristically intense.

ORC 3 Division
Winning this division was Robin Team’s J/122 TEAMWORK, followed by Jeff Johnstone’s J/40 DOV.

“We have had a great week, and BIRW is one of our favorite regattas,†added TEAMWORL’s Robin Team. “Winning our class was the ultimate success— we were up against a lot of really good boats and ended up coming out on top. We’ve been sailing together as a crew for a long time, and I really think that’s the key. We don’t even really have to talk when going around marks. They know what to do and they do it well.â€

Commenting on their silver medal performance, Jeff Johnstone on the J/40 DOV explained, “We launched our J/40 a few weeks before Block Island Race Week and had a great result out of the box at New York Yacht Club’s Annual Regatta (3rd in class). We then decided to jump into the deep end and compete on the ORC North Americans circle at Block Island Race Week, and see how an unmodified, cruise-equipped J/40 (with two heads, bow roller, windlass, roller furling, swim platform, etc.) could do against the top ORC boats. 10 races over 5 days, including 9 short windward-leewards, were both fun and a great test, and we couldn’t be happier with the 2nd place result. Our hats are off to Robin Team and his crew aboard the J/122 TEAMWORK, who sailed a great event and are the well-deserved ORC North American champions!â€

J/105 East Coasts
The J/105 East Coast Championship featured the regatta’s largest championship fleet, with 17 competing vessels. Bill Zartler’s DEJA VOODOO— the Boat of the Week from 2023’s BIRW—captured first place for the third straight Race Week. “There must be something in the water here because the boat really likes it,†said owner Bill Zartler. “We’re happy with how we did, and this was a great, great event.†Deja Voodoo and crew were also awarded the A. Justin Wasley Memorial Trophy as the winners of the largest One-Design class.

J/109 East Coasts
The fight for the title in the J/109 East Coast Championship came down to the wire, with Dan Nash’s MISTRAL leading Sean McNeill and Rob Nye’s PICANTE by a single point going into Friday’s racing. In the end, MISTRAL won the week, posting two bullets in Friday’s races. “BIRW is an amazing experience to sail with my three boys, who are all recent college sailors,†said Nash. “They take over the boat, and I just listen and have a great time.â€

J/44 North Americans
Chris Lewis on board DIGGER won the J/44 North American Championship with a dominant performance in that one-design fleet. The Brit-turned-Texan chartered the local legendary J/44 for the week. “This was a very successful week for us; we consolidated an early lead from day 1,†Lewis remarked. “We are very much a teamwork boat with 11 crew, so everyone really has to work together.â€

In addition to announcing class winners, BIRW’s various trophies were awarded at Friday’s tent party. The regatta’s most prestigious award, the Everett B. Morris Perpetual Trophy, is awarded to the yacht with the best overall performance as judged by the Race Committee and the commodore of the Storm Trysail Club. The 2025 honor went to BRAVO, a J/111 racing in the Performance Cruising 1 class and owned by Andrew and Sedge Ward.

“Sailing BIRW with my dad, who is 92 years old, is just an incredible experience,” said Andrew Ward. “Taking home the Boat of the Week honors is just icing on an already astounding cake.”

John Storck, Jr.’s J/130 BLITZEN was awarded the Isbrandtsen Overall Perpetual Trophy for the best performance by a predominantly Corinthian-sailed boat. Storck remarked earlier in the week that a highlight of every BIRW he has sailed has been sharing the experience with his dearest family members.

A week that started with a day one wind delay and three days of scorching heat and humidity yielded to heavier breezes and a slightly more agitated sea state by the later days of racing. However, sailors across all three marinas hosting the fleet commented on the “champagne†and “Chamber of Commerce†conditions for which Block Island is known.

For 60 years, BIRW has benefited from the warm hospitality of the Island and its residents. Once again, Champlin’s Marina and Resort hosted the race village, tent parties, and dozens of competing boats. “We always look forward to having Race Week here,†said General Manager Ryann Liguori. “It’s a really exciting time for the Island’s community and my team here at Champlin’s.â€

Following each of the five days of racing, sailors and their friends and family celebrated the day’s accomplishments under the tent, at their crew houses, and in the local establishments around New Shoreham. Race Week is known for its friendly environment, competitive racing, and exuberant celebrations. This year’s regatta lived up to that reputation and left veterans and newcomers alike counting the days until the next BIRW in June of 2027.