(Block Island, RI)- The 25th Anniversary of the Storm Trysail Club's
biennial Block Island Race Week was celebrated this past week, and it
seems that after almost five decades a good thing has only gotten better
with age. First held in 1965, the five-day competition, originally
patterned after Cowes Week, is one of the last true Race Weeks remaining
in America. The event proved it still can deliver on its time-tested
tradition of good, challenging racing to over 1500 sailors competing on
182 teams while also embracing all types of racing sailors with a
“something for everyone” approach.
Of the 182 boat fleet, J/Boats had by far the largest brand presence in
the regatta with 80 boats participating (44% of the fleet!). Six J
one-design classes participated, including the J/111s, the J/80 North
American's and East Coast Championships for the J/109, J/105s, J/44s and
J/29s. J/Teams also sailed in the IRC and PHRF handicap divisions.
With
their North American Championship on the line, the J/80's sixteen boats
saw what became two races within a regatta: two boats clearly vying
for the overall lead with five other boats vying for the balance of the
top five. In the end, Will & Marie Crump and team aboard R80,
launched a tremendous comeback
to topple the previous leader USA 1162, skippered by John White
(Annapolis, Md.). “There were five points between us, and we were
excited about the conditions but anxious about the fog,” said Crump, a
1999 J 80 North American champion (as crew) whose crew was comprised of
wife Marie, her brother Thomas Klok and new crew member Chris Larson
(all from Annapolis). “We’re more experienced in the high breeze, so we
knew it was possible to win. We did a little match racing with our
competition to get him driven back in the fleet in the first start. For
the second start, we didn’t have such a command, but we got out and away
early.”
But,
it didn't start out that way for Crump and family. Said Will, “We
didn’t do the practice race, because Marie broke one of her thumbs and
we had to make a mad dash to the hospital on Sunday. We were lucky to
get to the line and race without major compromise.” Behind the leaders
were Gary Panariello on COURAGEOUS finally closing the deal on the last
day's two races to take third overall with 41 pts. The Storck family
had trouble finding their groove, but ultimately the RUMOR crew took
fourth overall with 44 pts. Taking fifth was the Hayes/ Kirchhoff team
on MORE GOSTOSA. Sailing Photos by Allen Clark/ PhotoBoat.com and Stephen Cloutier/ BlockIslandRI.net. For more Block Island Race Week sailing information
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Krump's Win J/80 North Americans
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