Block Island Race Awaits

More wind, rain, and reefing!

Moondust will be racing tomorrow evening in the AYC WNR, and I’m looking forward to one more chance to put together a good race (and one more chance to race in mild summer weather). But looming in the offing (this weekend) is the Storm Trysail Club Block Island Race. It starts in Stamford, CT, races east out of Long Island Sound, around Block Island (clockwise), and back up the Sound to the finish off Stamford. I’ll be sailing on my friend Steve’s Swan 44 MK II, The Rover. Total course distance is 186 NM, and the weather is, um, looking kinda gnarly.

That just seems to be my fate aboard The Rover (former Triple Lindy) when Block Island is involved. Last fall we planned to sail the Ida Lewis Distance Race (which also goes to Block Island), and the forecast was for winds 30-35. So far, our forecast for the Block Island Race is for easterly winds building to 20-25, gusting 30-plus, with temps in the 50s and bands of rain. That means pounding our way to weather all the way to Block, and then a sleigh ride home. The Euro model is a bit kinder, so I am cheering for that forecast to win out (it often does). On the plus side: it will be a pretty fast race.

You can follow The Rover on the tracker here. I will try and post updates on Instagram. And The Rover Instagram is here.

Hope we don’t end up like this:

Or like this (that’s another 36.7, by the way):

Moment Of Zen: As I collect all my wet weather and safety gear, and refresh weather models hoping for moderation, it is important to relax the mind and spirit. And an incredible photo of the undersea world does the job (backstory here).

Wish me and The Rover luck, and stay tuned for a full race summary next week.

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