30th Block Island Race Week Starts Monday

June 16, 2023 - USA - The 30^th edition of the Storm Trysail Club’s biennial Block Island Race starts on Monday, June 19th, with an impressive turnout of 177 entries set to race daily through Friday, June 23^rd in 18 classes of one design, PHRF, ORC and multihull classes. The event is one of the largest in the US, bringing thousands of sailors and their families and friends to this small island off the Rhode Island coast.

This event was founded in 1965 by the Storm Trysail Club, inspired then by Cowes Week held annually in the UK. The racing is only part of the attraction of this event: the post-race social scene and entertainment are among the best among any race week event in the world.

The competition is mostly inshore racing on course areas positioned west of the island, and on one day of the week, the organizers will send all classes on the classic Round the Island Race, creating a spectacular parade of sail that fills the horizon around the island.

There will be 33 ORC-scored entries divided into 4 classes, with the fastest being Hap Fauth’s Maxi 72 BELLA MENTE. The largest and arguably most competitive class is ORC 3, with 13 entries of a wide range in boat types, from racer/cruisers to sportboats. A favorite in this class would be Robin Team’s J122 TEAMWORK, coming off a convincing class win last week at the New York Yacht Club’s Annual Regatta.