Time to start thinking about the second annual Fishers Island Sound Viper Regatta in eastern Connecticut, September 3&4. Last year was a lot of fun and got lots of positive feedback. The local fleet is now 5 boats and we invite you to join us for some great late summer sailing.
Saturday is a distance race sponsored by Fishers Island YC with 80+ other boats around scenic Fishers Island (but a Viper one design start). Locals Dave Nickerson and Moise Solomon promise to share the local navigation and current secrets. Cole actually followed our advice in 2015 and crushed the entire fleet.
Saturday night will take advantage of Fishers Island YC's legendary regatta party, followed by Viper one-design windward-leewards in Fishers Island Sound Sunday afternoon. No racing on Labor Day Monday, so head back early and beat the traffic or enjoy the local attractions. There are separate trophies for Saturday's racing (FIYC entry covers), and scores will be combined for Sunday racing (low key trophies, maybe a case of local beer)
Launching will be out of Ram Island YC in Noank, CT at the mouth of the Mystic River with tows as needed to/from the racecourse on Saturday coordinated by the local Viper fleet. Then motorboat rides to the party on Fishers. RIYC is a small club, but we can fit at least 10 visiting Vipers.
Registration for the Saturday FIYC race will be up on Yacht Scoring soon. FIYC has no involvement in our plans for Sunday – we'll run that separately, with on-site registration at RIYC and a modest $20 entry to help cover T-shirts and a cookout on Sunday after sailing at RIYC.
Contact Dave Nickerson at dave AT nickersons DOT org for more info, to confirm you're coming and grab housing. First come, first served.
Sailing New Englands the weekend before? Plenty of free Viper storage for the week in Dave's backyard. Might even have one empty hitch to help with delivery from Marblehead.
Oh, and a write up on the 2015 event by Peter Beardsley:
http://www.viper640.org/usa-news/around-fishers-island/
Registration is open: http://www.yachtscoring.com/emenu.cfm?eID=2931
Trying to work on some logistics on my end to be there for part or all of the weekend. Will almost certainly be there for the race around the island no matter what - that was a ton of fun last year and Rachel says we need to go back for the race and the party. Wife's orders.
6 Vipers signed up and 2 more local boats about to enter. The Yachtscoring entry is just for Saturday. We'll handle Sunday more informally. Contact me directly if you need housing.
Plenty of room in my yard to store Vipers for the week if you're heading back from New Englands in Marblehead the weekend before.
Special space reserved on the limited concrete parking area for #18 if it escapes from Vermont.
Eastern CT Viper regatta this coming weekend. 8 boats committed so far and room for more. Saturday looks great weather-wise and Sunday breezy. Contact me if you want more info.
Dave