Sailing
The Mallory Trophy was originally offered to Lord Horatio Nelson by the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire after the admiral’s victory over Napoleon on the Nile. Now it belongs to two Vineyard sailors after their victory over the field in the U.S. Men’s Sailing National Championship.
After a windy weekend in Sheboygan, Mich., the Vineyard Haven Yacht Club’s Paul Wilson and William Stevens, along with the Naragansett Yachting Association’s John Plominski, won the most prestigious amateur event in sailing in thrilling style.
When and If, the 63-foot John G. Alden schooner built in 1939 for the late Gen. George S. Patton that has been a familiar presence in waters from the Vineyard to Maine and beyond, is for sale.
The historic schooner was recently appraised at $680,000.
Owner Candace Ruitenberg confirmed that the boat has been placed on the market due to an impending divorce.
Mrs. Ruitenberg said she hopes someone else will now step in to give as much love and attention as she and others have already given the When and If.
A beautiful weekend for sailing with brisk winds and fair weather was marred briefly on Sunday morning when the captain of a 12-metre sailboat was injured. Dennis Williams, the captain of the Victory 83, was transported to the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital for treatment after he was hit in the head by the boom of another sailboat in a congested moment at the leeward mark at the start of a race.
The 12-metre regatta is hosted by the Edgartown Yacht Club.
Sailing is a summer sport, at least for the most part. It is also usually limited to people of means who belong to expensive private sailing clubs.
But Sail Martha’s Vineyard is breaking all the usual rules. Founders Brock and Hope Callen think Islanders and seasonal residents alike should be able to enjoy the sport year-round, without worrying about breaking the bank.
This is a big week for sailing on Martha’s Vineyard.
It begins with the 87th annual Edgartown Yacht Club Regatta, which starts on Thursday and continues through Saturday.
And this weekend the Vineyard Cup, the popular annual regatta sponsored by Sail Martha’s Vineyard, gets under way in Vineyard Haven with racing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Sail Martha’s Vineyard, organizers of the Vineyard Cup Regatta next weekend, have been certified as a clean regatta by Sailors for the Sea, the only ocean conservation nonprofit focused on the sailing and boating community. The three-day event features daily races, plus evening food and refreshments open to everyone on the Island.