Block Island Community Sailing will be hosting the 2021 Mary D. Fund Benefit Regatta this Saturday, July 17.The regatta, a traditional sailing event to benefit the Mary D. Fund, was held each year in the 1990s and then until 2004. After a decade-long hiatus, it was revived a few years ago by Block Island Community Sailing. The race is a 12-mile around-the- buoys race in Block Island sound starting at 1 p.m. and is open to all yachts with a Performance Handicap Rating (PHRF). Over the years, this event has raised thousands of dollars for the Mary D. Fund.The major event sponsor, this year, is the Block Island Yacht Club, which has graciously offered to match each yacht’s regatta registration fee so as to double theevent proceeds for the Mary D. Fund. Race winners last year were Bob Closter, who took first place in his J-24, Island Spirit, in the Cruising Class, and Henry du-Pont, who took first place in his Tripp 26, RUSH, in the Spinnaker Class.The Mary D. Regatta is open not only to the Block Island PHRF racing fleet, but visiting yachts from all over the region whose clubs were notified by the race management
