Flying Bugster Captures 36th Annual Moffett Sailing Race In Vineyard Sound

Happy crew of Flying Bugster (Cape Dory 25) stands next to the George Moffett trophy along with Holmes Hole Commodore Dan Culkin (right). All Photos by Susan Waldrop

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After nearly 4 hours of racing against a fleet of 40 boats, Flying Bugster--with just 10 seconds to spare--won the 36th Annual Moffett Race on Sat., Sept. 7 .

The winner--Flying Bugster, a Cape Dory 25.

Skippered by Bill Coogan, the Cape Dory 25 (2:58:48) eeked out its win over the second-place finisher Providence (2:58:58), an Ensign helmed by Stuart Halpert.

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Glorious light bathed the day on the water, here with Soma Holiday in front.

The fleet followed Course No. 2 in reverse—a track 18.5 miles long that took the competitors to Waquoit, Wreck Shoal, the east end of Hedge Fence and back.

Sailboats jockey at the start of the 36th Annual Moffett Race in Vineyard Sound.

Sailing under a nearly cloudless sky in conditions of 15-20 knot winds that blew consistently out of the Southwest all afternoon, tired and happy sailors later praised what they universally called perfect conditions. With the race concluded, the Holmes Hole Sailing Association summer season officially comes to an end.

Boats built by Gannon & Benjamin did well, here's Isabella, which finished 9th out of the 40 boats that started.

The top 5 boats finished in the money.

The schooner Charlotte, captained by Nat Benjamin, captured third, missing second place by 41 seconds. Jim Dixon's At Last, an Alerion 28, was fourth and in fifth was Soma Holiday, a Hanse 355 with Frank Sutula at the helm.