31st Block Island Race Week Day 5 - IHG Hotels and Resorts Race Day
by Storm Trysail Club 28 Jun 11:56 NZST
June 22 - 27, 2025
Block Island Race Week's final tent party was abuzz with anticipation and excitement Friday evening, as sailors and spectators awaited the announcement of cumulative awards for the regatta's 60th anniversary. For the first time in recent memory, BIRW featured racing on all five days of the week, featuring fierce competition and extraordinary sailing.
"The Race Week and Storm Trysail team has had one signature focus: to make this the best week of everyone's year," said Race Chair Ty Anderson. "What we're hearing and seeing is that we accomplished that, and everyone is already planning for 2027."
"This regatta saw 140 races across 17 classes and multiple championship contests," said Race Director Dick Neville. "The weather definitely cooperated, allowing our race management team to showcase the very best Block Island has to offer."
The eyes of the sailing world were focused on Block Island this week as the ORC division held its inaugural North American Championship as part of BIRW. Across three classes, the ORC racing was characteristically intense, with the following boats claiming championship titles:
- ORC 1 Open: FOX, USA 55052, Victor Wild
- ORC 2: Zammermoos, USA 4224, David Fass
- ORC 3: Teamwork, USA 52939, Robin Team
"We had a good fight against Summer Storm in the 2024 Newport ORC World Championship and once again, here they have been fantastic competitors and made us work really hard for every single point," said Nacho Postigo, navigator on FOX. "I think the ORC rating system is doing a great job, and I am happy to see how well the USA sailing community is embracing the system, and how the different race committees are adapting it perfectly to the needs of the different fleets and racing venues, I would say it's a total success."
"We have had a great week and BIRW is one of our favorite regattas," added Teamwork's Robin Team. "Winning our class was the ultimate success—we were up against a lot of really good boats and ended up coming out on top. We've been sailing together as a crew for a long time and I really think that's the key. We don't even really have to talk when going around marks. They know what to do and they do it well."
"The best part of Race week is the camaraderie and the community that's here," said Zammermoos owner David Faas. "Crew work and boat preparation are so important. That's true for all the teams here—sailing is truly a team sport. I am really proud to be part of that with my crew." In addition to the boat's ORC 2 honors, the team picked up the Overall ORC Trophy, which recognizes the winning boat in the most competitive ORC class.
The J/105 East Coast Championship featured the regatta's largest championship fleet, with 17 competing vessels. Bill Zartler's Deja Voodoo—the Boat of The Week from 2023's BIRW—captured first place for the third straight Race Week. "There must be something in the water here because the boat really likes it," said owner Bill Zartler. "We're happy with how we did and this was a great, great event." Deja Voodoo and crew were also awarded the A. Justin Wasley Memorial Trophy as the winners of the largest One Design class.
The fight for the title in the J/109 East Coast Championship came down to the wire, with Dan Nash's Mistral leading Sean McNeill and Rob Nye's Picante by a single point going into Friday's racing. In the end Mistral won the week, posting two bullets in Friday's races. "BIRW is an amazing experience to sail with my three boys who are all recent college sailors," said Nash. "They take over the boat and I just listen and have a great time."
Chris Lewis on board Digger won the J/44 North American Championship with a dominant performance in that One Design fleet. The Brit-turned-Texan chartered the local legendary J/44 for the week. "This was a very successful week for us, we consolidated an early lead from day 1," Lewis remarked. "We are very much a teamwork boat with 11 crew, so everyone really has to work together."
In addition to announcing class winners, BIRW's various trophies were awarded at Friday's tent party. The regatta's most prestigious award, the Everett B. Morris Perpetual Trophy, is awarded to the yacht with the best overall performance as judged by the Race Committee and the commodore of the Storm Trysail Club. The 2025 honor went to Bravo, a J/111 racing in the Performance Cruising 1 class and owned by Andrew and Sedge Ward.
"Sailing BIRW with my dad who is 92 years old is just and incredible experience," said Andrew Ward. "Taking home the Boat of The Week honors is just icing on an already astounding cake."
The United States Coast Guard Academy sailing team, with its yachts Cool Breeze and Stormy Petrel picked up three trophies: The Danforth Trophy for best performance by the boat with the most crew living aboard for the week, the John Alden Reed Perpetual Trophy for the best performance by a service academy yacht, and the Gem Trophy for the best performance by a boat with at least 70 percent of its crew younger than 25 years old.
Chris Simon was awarded the Emil "Bus" Mosbacher Sportsmanship Trophy in recognition of his rescue efforts following a man overboard situation in Thursday's Round The Island Race. He also received at the same time the US Sailing Arthur B. Hanson Rescue Medal as well.
The Elmina Trophy for best performance by a boat skippered by a woman or with more than 50 percent female crew went to Melgels 24 Dark Energy and its skipper and owner, Laura Grondin.
John Storck, Jr.'s J/130SD Blitzen was awarded the Isbrandtsen Overall Perpetual Trophy for the best performance by a predominantly Corinthian sailed boat. Storck remarked earlier in the week that a highlight of every BIRW he has sailed has been sharing the experience with this dearest family members.
Full results for each class are available on YachtScoring.
A week that started off with a day one wind delay and three days of scorching heat and humidity, yielded to heavier breezes and a slightly more agitated sea state by the later days of racing. However, sailors across all three marinas hosting the fleet commented on the "champagne" and "Chamber of Commerce" conditions for which Block Island is known.
For 60 years BIRW has benefitted from the warm hospitality of the Island and its residents. Once again, Champlin's Marina and Resort hosted the race village, tent parties, and dozens of the competing boats. "We always look forward to having Race Week here," said General Manager Ryann Liguori. "It's a really exciting time for the Island's community and my team here at Champlin's."
Following each of the five days of racing, sailors and their friends and family celebrated the days accomplishments under the tent, at their crew houses, and in the local establishments around New Shoreham. "I look out from the boat, see the village, and see everyone, talking about sailing and having a great time, like me," said first time BIRW sailor Grace Sandoval from the Borderline crew. "That's what makes it a celebration."
"Personally, I can never get bored with this place," added Shanoy Malone aboard Settler. "Mudslides—they're something that I dream about."
Race Week is known for its friendly environment, competitive racing, and exuberant celebrations. This year's regatta lived up to that reputation and left veterans and newcomers alike counting the days until the next BIRW in June of 2027.
Find out more at stormtrysail.org/the-1bi-2025-day-5