Donald Tobias and his 76′ W-Class Yacht
EDGARTOWN – The Edgartown Yacht Club’s Race Weekend kicks off Saturday with the traditional ‘Round the Island Race which is one of America’s oldest distance races.
The 80 year old race has been held annually since 1938 with the exception of the years during World War II.
Race week includes two days of buoy racing and a ‘Round the Sound race that will begin immediately after the Round the Island.
“The race was first conceptualized to be reminiscent of teh race around the Isle of Wight in England, which was the course for the first America’s Cup,” said EYC Big Boat Racing Committee Co_Chair, Hal Findlay. “The distance around Martha’s Vineyard (56 nm) is only a few miles longer; both courses have views of cliffs, highlands, villages and open water; and the tidal currents and wind effects are important in both. ”
In the event of very slow conditions, the Race Committee can end it off Menemsha, located at the northwestern end of the island.