07/27/2026
Edgartown Yacht Club’s ’Round-the-Island Race
July Move Succeeds with Ideal Conditions, Fast Racing
MARTHA'S VINEYARD, MASS. (July 26, 2026) – Edgartown Yacht Club’s 89th ’Round-the-Island Race validated its move from June to July with outstanding racing conditions, producing fast finishes, close competition and memorable sailing around Martha’s Vineyard on Saturday (July 25).
One of the nation’s oldest and most celebrated distance races, the 55-nautical-mile circumnavigation of Martha’s Vineyard attracted 45 boats competing across nine classes: six for PHRF Spinnaker plus one for PHRF Non-Spinnaker, one for PHRF Double-Handed Spinnaker, and one for Multihull.
As forecast, winds built steadily from 10–12 knots at the start to 15 knots with gusts over 20, allowing most of the fleet to finish before 5 p.m.
“Hands down, this was one of the best ’RTIs in a long time,” said Event Co-Chair Cindy Alten-DeLotto. “It was just that kind of perfect day – awesome competition, fantastic wind, no protests, no complaints.”
The high-performance M32 catamarans led the fleet home, with Larry Phillips’ (Newport, R.I.) Midtown Racing claiming Multihull Class honors and line honors after completing the course in just over 4 hours, 17 minutes.
“We averaged 24 knots on the first leg and knew our time would be quick,” said Phillips, explaining they just missed out on setting a new race record. “The lead changed three or four times, and the crew worked hard to come away with the win. The long upwind in the Sound was a challenge and with the wind hitting 25 knots towards the end, our boat was really at the outer limit of being able to safely sail. The ride was a wet and wild one, but we had a great sail and a great time.”
Phillips and the Midtown Racing crew also won the Incognito Award for the crew that exhibits passion, perseverance and commitment to the sport of sailing during the course of Edgartown Race Weekend.
“The team worked to get more M32 entries here this year, and the class sailed over from Newport as a group,” said Alten-DeLotto. “They are a great modern addition to our mostly classic fleet of sailboats and fun to watch screaming around the course.”
Joe Brito’s (Bristol, R.I.) J/121 Incognito enjoyed the day’s biggest trophy haul, winning PHRF Spinnaker Class B and posting the fastest corrected time among all spinnaker boats to capture the prestigious VENONA Trophy. Teaming with fellow New York Yacht Club entries Dudley Johnson’s (Watch Hill, R.I.) Marten 49 Pugilist (winner of PHRF Spinnaker Class A) and Mike Piper’s (Jamestown, R.I.) Elliott 33 Inigo Montoya (second in Class A), Incognito also secured the Yacht Club Team Trophy for best corrected time of a three-boat team.
“This was our fourth time racing here, and we’ve won our class before but never the Venona Trophy,” said Brito. “It was the windiest, fastest race we’ve sailed here, and we made seven sail changes.” Brito recounted moving everyone to the stern when the boat was going 12-14 knots on the spinnaker run down the south side of the island. The boat then battled upwind for two and a half hours in four-foot waves to reach the finish line.
“We very much appreciate everything the Race Committee does, and the camaraderie it creates is unprecedented,” added Brito. “We really enjoy that.”
One of the event’s feel-good stories came from local Tucker Murray’s Morris 42 Smiling Wave team, which won PHRF Spinnaker Class F in its ’RTI debut. Murray, 23, raced with an all-twentysomething crew and had watched the race from the sidelines in years past.
“We signed up and then saw the forecast, so we really began to focus,” said Murray. “We spent much of the race coming from behind but played the tides, currents and wind shifts well. I’m appreciative of the organizers and all the work that went into this so we could have a good time.”
Additional class winners were: defending champion Stephen Besse’s (Guilford, Conn.) J/120 Apres (PHRF Spinnaker Class D); Bill Jocobson’s (Charlestown, Mass.) J/46 Vanish (Spinnaker Class C); Ned Joyce and Andy Reservitz’s (Marion, Mass.) J/105 Dark ‘n Stormy (Spinnaker Class E); Peter Soule’s (Brewster, Mass.) Beneteau 311 Saylavee (PHRF Non-Spinnaker); and Ian and Bryan Gordon’s (Winnetka, Illinois) C&C Redline 41 Evening Star (PHRF Double-Handed Spinnaker).
For more information on Edgartown Race Weekend’s ’Round-the-Island Race, visit https://www.edgartownyc.org/round-the-island-race
Full race results are available at https://www.yachtscoring.com/media_print_3/16932
✍️: Barby Macgowan | Media Pro International
📸: Stephen R Cloutier | BlockIsland Steve
