Apres, a J/120 skippered by Steve Besse, was the winner of the 2015 Moffett Race held Saturday. This was his second Moffett win, the first being in 2009, which resulted in a significant five-year handicap. With hobbles removed, a combination of local knowledge, shrewd strategy, and a bit of luck was the recipe for victory.
The start is divided into two divisions, and after observing the first few minutes of the B Division race, Steve decided to take a different tack. A very strong ebbing tide developed over the hours of the race. At the same time the wind, albeit very light, backed around from the north to the southeast during the afternoon. From the start off East Chop, the course took boats across to a mark off Waquoit Bay, and then back to a buoy off the Oak Bluffs side of East Chop. Because of light wind, the race was shortened, and this mark became the finish. The strategic question was how to make it back to the second mark with up to a three-knot current pushing boats down the Sound to the west.
In a bold move, Steve decided to sail all the way back into Vineyard Haven Harbor, using a part of the current in crossing, and then to tack back out and around East Chop using the strong outflow along the western shore of East Chop. From there he hugged the eastern shore going toward Oak Bluffs to stay out of the strongest ebb. His margin of victory was one of the largest ever recorded.
Light wind in a strong current favors larger boats. Second place was taken by Aileen, a Sparkman and Stevens sloop sailed by Brian Roberts. Next was Eleda, a Gannon & Benjamin 45, built and sailed by Ross Gannon. Tango, Phil Hale’s J/100, took the fourth spot, and Juno, a 65-foot Gannon & Benjamin schooner sailed by Scott DiBiaso, came in fifth. Juno made use of a “fisherman,” a high-flying staysail placed between the fore and main masts, a lovely sight. Strategies varied, but some followed Steve’s tactic, while others hugged the far shore before tacking home.
While George Moffett might have been heartened by the turnout of enthusiastic sailors for his namesake race, he would have found the desultory winds disheartening indeed. Just 24 of the 35 starters were able to finish, and for some it took five hours for an eight-mile course. The breeze did pick up a little in spots in the afternoon, giving a push to some while punishing others, something no sailor can predict, regardless of skill. At the same time the strong current and failing breeze resulted in travel in unforeseen directions. Sometimes sailors will even anchor and wait until a change in circumstance, an impractical tactic in the middle of Vineyard Sound!
A bit of history: George Moffett was instrumental in the formation of the Holmes Hole Sailing Association, and when he died in 1977 his wife Lucia established a trophy in his name for a race to be held in September. Any boat between 15 and 70 feet was welcome. The inaugural race was in 1978, and there were 20 entries. Over the years the race has gained in popularity, attracting boats of every description. When the number of participants reached 45, the start was divided into two divisions for safety reasons. Now the Moffett is always held on the Saturday after Labor Day to allow lingering summer sailors, as well as year-rounders, to take part.
Handicapping is particularly challenging for the race committee. While the Holmes Hole handicaps are derived from past performances under various conditions, many boats enter the Moffett as their first and only race of the season, and several come from far away (the Cape), trailing no history. High-performance boats compete with wooden schooners and smaller-keel boats, making handicapping a more than daunting task. However, every year there is, in fact, a winner, and this year it was Apres.
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