Holmes Hole Sailing Association
Please Note:
The 2009 Moffett Circular has been posted. Don't be the last on your boat to know the course!
The committee boat will no longer patrol the course, therefore all racers are encouraged to carry a VHF radio in order to contact fellow racers, the shipyard, the harbor master or the committee boat in case of a safety issue.
You are invited to attend the 2009 events as instructed here and in the 2009 racing circular.
The Holmes Hole Sailing Association runs handicapped sailing Races most Sundays and Thursday evenings through the summer. Any mono-hulled vessel longer than 15′ is welcome. Come join us. Starting line is anchored by nun 6 in Vineyard Haven Harbor, Martha’s Vineyard Island, Massachusetts.
Entries: All entries are made by returning $60.00 dues for the season plus an entry form if you are a new member. Entries close two weeks before the first race. For subsequent races the deadline is 10 days. One entry per boat is good for the season. Crew and friends are encouraged to join as Associate Member for a dues of $15.00. (A guest may race for one day).
If you find the entry form to be a bit too involved, please do not let that stop you from joining us. The information is used to calculate a handicap and most of our officers are good at educated guesses. Ratings are updated after several races on performance relative to the group.
All starts at Nun 6, Vineyard Haven harbor.
Racing begins with the annual Tune-Up race Accross the Sound, Sunday June 16th at 12:00 noon. This season we will hold three Rendezvous races, three across the sound races, and four Sundays of round-the-buoy harbor races.
In addition, Thursday evening racing will commence June 25th with a 6 PM start at nun 6. Member are invited to meet for results and picnic on the VHYC deck after the evening races.
With this variety of racing, every sailor should find something to enjoy.
Winners are often decided by seconds after racing for an hour and a half.
The ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing apply but remember this is handicap racing for fun and we hope people self-administer the rules and do the two circles when necessary. Keep in mind the differences in the maneuverability of the various classes of boats and note the life jacket requirement for all racers.
Important: On harbor race Sundays, the Vineyard Haven Yacht Club welcomes Holmes Holers to raft up and take the noon break at the lunch counter as desired. Harbor and sound races results are announced about 5 PM or one hour after the committee boat has docked, whichever is earler, at the Owen Park Bandstand or nearby bench.
Please help each other improve sailing skills by joining in the after race discussion of tactics, strategies and the Racing Rules of Sailing.
Cups are awarded for first place for each race in two classes and the season’s awards are awarded at the annual meeting and pot luck dinner on Sept 9th. This year the dinner is again hosted by Mike and Melinda Loberg at their house at the foot of Crocker Avenue.
Holmes Holers are invited to participate in the Edgartown Yacht Club’s Round the Island Race July 18th. PHREF-NE Rating certificate required. Members not sailing are advised to find a crew position with a competing boat to help the Holmes Hole Sailing Association regain the Club Cup won by HHSA member John Amabile, Gene Berardi, and Phil Zell in 2003. See www.rtirace.org and www.phrfne.org for entry forms, ratings and information.
