The following was submitted by Block Island Community Sailing, Inc.:
The Mary D. Fund Benefit Regatta, a traditional sailing event that was created and run in the 1990s until 2004 by island sailing program supporter Tony Edwards, will be held again this Saturday, July 21. The race is a 12-mile around-the-buoys race in Block Island Sound and open to all sailing vessels with a PHRF handicap rating. There is an after-race awards party at Kimberly’s Restaurant for the competitors, their families, and anyone who wants to join us to help support the Mary D. Fund. Since its inception, this event has raised more than $4,500 for the fund.
Last year the race was abandoned due to light winds, but two years ago, Chuck Townsend took first place in his Alerion sloop Nimble in the Cruising Class, and Henry duPont took first place in his Soling Oh Behave! in the Spinnaker Class.
The Mary D. Regatta is open not only to our Block Island racing fleet, but also to visiting yachts from the region whose clubs were notified by email by the Race Management Team. Skippers can register on-line at regattanetwork.com/event/17328.
A number of organizations have pulled together to make this event a success, including Block Island Community Sailing, the regatta’s host organization; Tony Edwards and the Block Island Boat Basin which, as our location sponsor, is providing the Regatta headquarters; and Kimberly Ward and Kimberly’s Restaurant, which is our awards event sponsor.
Anyone who would like to participate on a racing yacht, please call the number below and come to the Skippers Meeting at the Block Island Boat Basin at 10 a.m., Saturday, July 21.
Anyone who would like to attend the after-race party with the competitors to support The Mary D. Fund, please contact Henry duPont, Race Chairman, at (401) 741-5136 or by email at [email protected].