The 26th annual Corinthian Classic was a tightly contested two-day competition with five divisions, but it was the Vintage Class division that saw three elegant elder statesmen finish in a three-way tie. The tie was broken using U.S. Sailing rules, but it was a proud moment for all three vintage classics with the deciding first place win going to the 122-year-old Custom Yawl Black Watch 71, owned by Kyle Dufur.
The 91-year-old Alden Schooner Spirit owned by Lars Forsberg placed second, and third place went to the 118-year-old Neit, a Herreshoff sloop owned by Van Brown.
“Part of what is really fun is this is a pursuit race, so we came in first on the last day, but on the first day we came in third. Our tiebreaker win today was calculated in part by how the other boats finished and our time, but it was exciting that we all did so well,” said Black Watch’s Trevor Fetter. “Today we knew we had to beat our competition, and this was a great point of sail for us. We really love this regatta and love coming here. I have been coming to this classic for 15 years.”
Marblehead’s Ted Moore, who raced on the vintage yacht Spirit noted that “all three boats were very well sailed. Yesterday, it was a great, reaching race which was great for us. It was great for me to sail with Lars Forsberg, whom I have been sailing with since we raced to Bermuda together in 1978 and it’s great that he is here today.”
The Modern Classic division is the largest fleet, and its first-place finish went to Jud Smith on Africa B Squad. He placed third on day one of racing, but today’s first-place finish gave him the overall win.
“Today was more of a windward/leeward but we also had to sail around Baker’s Island and towards Manchester where it got very light and tricky. I think that is when the course became like a game of golf where you begin putting uphill. It was the most strategic part, and I think that is when we did well to get through the light air around the islands and Powers Rock off Manchester,” Moore said.
In the Spirit of Tradition class, Jennifer Aspinall took first place on her Alerion 33 Sport while Bill Widnall took first in the International One Design class, which had seven boats racing.
For Quin Vaillancourt, he sailed alone in the Classic division on board his L. Francis Herreshoff-designed Rozinante, which he built himself. Although there were no other competitors in his division this year, he said that the race was fun and challenging.
“It was beautiful sailing conditions and I always love the challenge of this race. I think Rozi has become kind of a fan favorite of this event, but it is the only time I race each year. In all the years I have joined this race, I have very much become a better competitor, and it has made me a better sailor,” Vaillancourt said.
The Corinthian Classic honors the spirit and beauty of older yachts, and a special award was given to Bruce and Leanne Dyson for their dedication to yachting and to this event.
