Edgartown Race Weekend Pleases with Challenging Winds

Rick Egan’s Corbeau Wins Venona Trophy; Chip Hawkins’ Caneel Collects Three Trophies

MARTHA’S VINEYARD, EDGARTOWN, MASS. (June 23, 2025) – It looked as if the M32 catamaran Yonder, sailing in this year’s ’Round-the-Island (’RTI) race at Edgartown Race Weekend, might set a record, but a large wind hole near the finish of the 55-mile circumnavigation of Martha’s Vineyard put a decisive end to that possibility. Nevertheless, Yonder won its Multihull Class and took line honors at the June 21 event. Finishing the course in just under five hours and 54 minutes, it validated the ’RTI’s 88^th edition as one of the nicer, windier editions in recent memory.

“The wind was light from the southwest at the 8 a.m. start, but then clocked to the northwest before the last four (of the seven) racing classes started,” said Co-Chair Cindy Alten-DeLotto. “It continued all over the map in direction and strength throughout the race, but the sailors took that on as a challenge and were so grateful and thankful to be here.”

The J/V 66 Temptation/Oakcliff, which finished fifth in PHRF Spinnaker Class 1, was the first monohull to finish in just under six hours and 24 minutes, but it was the Farr 400 Corbeau, which won that class with Rick Egan (Osterville, Mass.) at the helm, that further stole the show by posting the best corrected time of all Spinnaker Division boats to win the covetedVENONA Trophy.

“It was the perfect day, with a couple of soft spots, but we had just the right current and wind with us all the way around,” said Egan who says Corbeau is new to him; however, he is the second of three generations in his family that have sailed this event. (Among his crew this year were his son and two nephews.)

“There were some very fast boats in our class out ahead of us, but we figured as long as we could see them, we’d be okay (to win on corrected time).” He added that he was pleased to finish the race in a quick seven hours, and his team was surprised to win the VENONA Trophy. “We are happy as clams at how everything went,” he said, “and kudos to the Race Committee and the Edgartown Yacht Club. We look forward to this event every year; it’s one of our highlights.”

Taking home three trophies was Chip Hawkins (Barrington, R.I.) and his team – including his wife, son and daughter – aboard the C&C 41 Caneel. One was for winning his PHRF Non-Spinnaker Class 7, while another was for turning in the best corrected time in the non-spinnaker division for the UPBEAT CUP. 

“We, too, had ups and downs on wind velocity and all different conditions,” said Hawkins, who has sailed this event nine or ten times and has impressive results to show for it. “Off Wasque Point, we actually put our bow under water twice because of the confused sea state. It was like a washing machine.”

Caneel’s third takeaway was the INCOGNITO Award for the crew that exhibits passion, perseverance and commitment to the sport of sailing during the course of Edgartown Race Weekend.

“We’ve been fortunate to have good results over the years,” said Hawkins. “One of the trophies at the Club has our name on it five times but getting the INCOGNITO Award…I was shocked by that. That’s not winning something, that’s getting voted to receive something by the Race Committiee, and that’s really special. Even my family went, ‘Wow!’”

Among the sponsors of Edgartown Race Weekend are Mount Gay Rum, Martha’s Vineyard Coffee Company, Regatta Craft Mixers, TC Outfitters, andJ Boats. 

For more information on Edgartown Race Weekend, visit www.rtirace.org. Follow the regatta on Facebook and Instagram.

Full results ’RTI here: https://www.yachtscoring.com/media_print_3/16932

Special Awards here: https://www.yachtscoring.com/event_documents/16932