Though conditions weren’t ideal, the 134th Marblehead annual regatta, popularly known as Marblehead Race Week was a huge success, spanning from Thursday to Sunday.
The event featured hundreds of sailors and boats, traveling from around the world and locally, in multiple race classes, with most races taking place on the Halfway Rock Line Course. Pre and post race events were hosted by the Corinthian Yacht Club.
The week featured two competitive races that decided New England Championships. Savasana took first place in the J 70 class, beating out two boats from California by three points.
In the Town class, Nick Cann sailing in the Tonic won that New England Championship. Cann won the first two races before getting a pair of second-place finishes in the next two. Placing third was Believe it or Knot out of Salem. Several other Marblehead boats had top-ten finishes in the class.
There were a number of other competitive races throughout the week. In the Viper 640 class, Team Z appeared to be headed for a victory after placing first in three of the five races but the Barb, Parker and Henry out of Virgina was able to escape with a 13 to 15 victory after winning the final race.
The Lightning One Design race saw Chancy out of Florida claim victory by a three-point margin over Three Bean Salad. The Rhodes 19 class featured the most local boats in any class. Each boat that placed inside of the top seven was located on the North Shore. Marblehead’s own Matt Hooks ran away with the win in his boat Mighty Rhodes. Hooks came in with 19 points and blew out second place McLovin, also from Marblehead, who had 44 points. Swampscott’s Hall Pass placed third.
In the Laser class, Lynnfield’s Bill Rothwell and his board ICLA were victorious with Has Ben sailing out of Gloucester finishing second. Marblehead’s The Flying Dutchman tied for third.
Three races took place on the Outside Line Course.
Needham’s The Bob edged out Vertigo 2 out of Florida in the Etchells class. Marblehead’s Magic Dragon and Peders Parade placed fourth and sixth respectively. Cambridge’s Elektra claimed victory in the IOD class. A number of other Marblehead boats finished in the top ten with Viking placing fourth, Tango in fifth, and Pompano finishing seventh.
Rounding out the races, the J 105 class championship was won by Merlin out of Marblehead with its skipper Charlie Garrard. He squeaked past Brouhaha from neighboring Swampscott by two points. Another Marblehead boat, Knotless, finished third.