The Holmes Hole Sailing Association continued its summer season of handicap sailboat racing from Vineyard Haven harbor with a Thursday night race on August 20 and two harbor races on August 23.

Thursday, August 7, was a hot, humid, summer evening with a southwest wind of 5-10 knots. Thirteen boats posted for the start at red nun 6 outside of the Vineyard Haven harbor breakwater. The fleet sailed a triangle from nun 6 to nun 4 at West Chop, then to green can 23A at East Chop and back to the finish at nun 6. The first leg was a run downwind.

After rounding the red nun, the fleet sailed on a beam reach on the starboard tack to the green can at East Chop. After rounding the can, the fleet beat to windward to the finish.

Finishing first was Stephen Besse in the J 120, Apres. In second was Mary Worrell in the Sonar, Second Wind. In third was Ed Cerullo in the Morris 36, Undine. Fourth was Phil Hale in Mischief, fifth was Roger Becker in Gloria, sixth was Jerry Goodale in Stormalong, seventh was Dan Culkin in Magic Time, eighth was Mike Loberg in Masquerade, ninth was David Lott in Avanti, tenth was Rebecca Colson in Silhouette, eleventh Sandy Alexander in Falcor, twelfth were John and Lisa Stout in Isabella, thirteenth was John Amabile in Solitude.

On Sunday, August 23, racing resumed with the threat of the aftermath of Bill passing and the wind dying. Six boats posted at red nun 6 for the 10:00 a.m. race on a sunny morning with light west wind. The fleet sailed a triangular course from red nun 6 to red nun 4 at West Chop, then to green can 23A at East Chop, and back to the finish at nun 6, twice around.

In the A division, finishing first was Roger Becker in his C & C 24, Gloria. In second was Jerry Goodale in his Pearson 31, Stormalong. In third was Michael Loberg in his Morris 36, Masquerade. Solitude did not finish.

In the B Division, first was Dan Culkin in Magic Time. Isabella did not finish.

At 2:00 p.m., eleven boats came to the line at nun 6.

The race committee called for another triangular course from red nun 6 to green can 23A at East Chop, then to red nun 4 at West Chop, and back to the finish at nun 6. The original plan was for the course to be sailed twice around, but because of the light air, the race was shortened to once around.

In the A division, finishing first was Roger Becker in his C & C 24, Gloria. In second was Ed Cerullo in the Morris 36, Undine. In third was Phil Hale in Mischief. Fourth was Stephen Besse in Apres, fifth was Paul Hyman-Young in Eclipse, sixth was Brian Roberts in Starfish, seventh was Rob Hale in Wicked, eighth was Michael Loberg in Masquerade and ninth was Matthew Thomas in Grasshopper.

In the B division, first was Sandy Alexander in his Seabird Yawl, Falcor. In second was Dan Culkin in the Vineyard Vixen, Magic Time.

The racing series continued with a night race on Thursday, August 27 at 6 p.m. The Tarpaulin Rendezvous begins at 10 a.m. on Sunday, August 30. New members are encouraged, as are guest boats. Anyone interested should call Diane Hartmann at 508-693-4592.