The Race
The day started off with a light breeze from the NE.
We knew it wouldn’t last as the day wore on and the southerly tried to take over. It happened not only on the tide change, but also 20 minutes before the first gun at 1100. The first gun fired, and then a second: it was two shots in a row, a postponement. Hell of a way to start a 140-mile overnight race.
We sat slating in the no breeze zone for about an hour, but then the southerly started to fill, and finally a warning signal and the start sequence got underway.
The race is the Sam Wetherill Trophy Race 2023, typically held every year in mid-May. It is a 140 - nautical mile race from Old Saybrook, CT out The Race 70 miles to Gay Head off Martha’s Vineyard, and returning to Old Saybrook leaving Block Island to starboard. It is the first “distance” race of the season up in the northeast. TOWHEE is a 1966 Cal 40 that the skipper/owner has had for 6 years now, lovingly maintained, definitely a head turner!
We cracked off after leaving “R8” to port and set the staysail inside the big jib. We got through The Race with the ebbing tide, picking up 3+ knots at times over the ground through the “washing machine,” the washing machine claimed its first victim – me! Sitting on the rail, I had my boots and foulie pants on, plus my winter jacket. I had thought about the foul weather jacket but decided against it. Not more than a minute later a wave hit the side of the boat and crashed down, over me. Certainly, got a good laugh from the rest of the crew and I was lucky it was early afternoon, and I would dry off fast. We exited The Race and settled onto the course to Gay Head. Constant eyes on the sails, adjusting to the ever-changing conditions we got to Gay Head bell “G31” around 2230, rounded in a 2-knot head current and, finally clearing the bell, got on course for Block Island.
With 6 total crew on board, we settled into a watch system of 3 crew per watch, 3-hours on and 3-hours off for the entire race just after dinner at 1800. I was on the first off-watch and would be back on deck at 2100. 2045 came and we awoke when the engine was started to charge the batteries. We run the engine for 15 minutes either side of each watch change. By now it was dark: getting ready to go on deck involved putting on cold weather clothing, foul weather gear, life vest and tether - and, oh yeah, do this with your two other watch-mates, in the darkness of the cabin, with the boat on a 20-degree heel pitching through the waves. This will continue until we finish or at least get close to finishing. We call this fun!
The lights of the five windmills off the SE coast of Block Island came into view, then the lighthouse on Mohegan Bluffs on the southeast corner of Block. The wind was soft on the east side of Block, and we stayed several miles further offshore as we set a waypoint for Little Gull Island lighthouse at the entrance to The Race.
The wind went light and at times we were just ghosting along, we even put up the drifter, hand sheeting to get any kind of forward motion out of the boat. The wind was especially light along Plum Island, so we stayed east by a couple of miles, following any wind line we could find.
We finally got to The Race and, again, with a favorable tide in the “washing machine” (yes, I had ALL my foulies on!), shot back into Long Island Sound, now only 12 miles from the finish.
We set the reaching chute and the rain came. The rain came in buckets as we slowly reeled in the miles to the Old Saybrook breakwater and the finish line.
We finished 22 hours, 16 minutes, and 6 seconds after starting, in third place.
And it continued to pour, what a stupid sport! Only 363 days till we do it again next year!
TOWHEE the Boat
Just like in sailboat racing, we here at eMarine are a team. It takes a team to get a successful outcome.
eMarine evaluated the electrical system on TOWHEE and calculated the energy requirements for the offshore racing and cruising she does. Recommendations were made for the addition of some mandatory and optional equipment, correct wiring, and circuit protection to prepare her for the racing and cruising season. Her systems include a refrigeration cooling plate, standard electronics, VHF, MFD, lights, laptop, AIS. With the properly sized batteries, the recharge cycle coincides perfectly with the change of watch schedule.
She has successfully competed in several distance races, including Newport Bermuda (3rd place), Around Long Island (1st place), Annapolis to Newport (2nd place), Marblehead to Halifax (1st place), and recently the Sam Wetherill to mention a few.
When you work with eMarine, you’re working with e-mariners.
Let our team help your team: whether racing, cruising or just day sailing, your perfect renewable energy solution is just a call away. REACH OUT today, or call us at 954-581-2505, to talk to one of our knowledgeable salespeople for information on having your perfect energy bank on-board!
Marc is a senior technical sales staff with eMarine Systems. Outside work, Marc's lifelong passion for sailboat racing has translated into a storied history - and numerous victories - encompassing decades. With renewable energy on many, if not most, of the vessels he's crewed or captained, Marc has comprehensive understanding of onboard energy systems for marine vessels. This capability, combined with a memorable charisma, establishes him as a knowledgeable, interactive, and standout member of eMarine Systems.