SANTANA
Sail Martha’s Vineyard Regatta, July 13 – 15, 2017
SANTANA and MAH JONG, fresh from stunning refits, mixed it up with seasoned classics SONNY and GENTIAN. Over the three days of competition S&S Designs proved stalwart and speedy through the extremely variable weather which saw waterspouts, gusty conditions, and even multiple dismastings!! When all was said and done, the omnipresent Wendy Schmidt came away victorious in SANTANA, and SONNY and GENTIAN filled out the podium.
Camden Classics Cup, July 27-29, 2017
S&S designs fared well at the Camden Classics Cup at the end of July. MERMAID placed 1st in the Classic Division, while ORIOLE placed 2nd the the Spirit of Tradition Division.
Eggemoggin Reach Regatta & Feeder Races, August 3-5, 2017
The Eggemoggin Reach Regatta was the culmination of the Maine Wooden Boat Series. The overall winner for the series was SIREN who out performed all of her S&S sisters over three events. Sailing on a characteristically foggy Saturday, the 2017 ERR boasted tight competition between over 100 boats of all designs and styles, and was capped off by a warm celebration at the Wooden Boat School in Brooklin, ME.
Nantucket Race Week & Opera House Cup, August 12 – 20, 2017
Nantucket Race Week was a barn burner for Sparkman & Stephens teams, with classic and modern designs showing their speed over 3 days of tight racing in Nantucket Sound. First up were two days of Windward Leeward racing in fresh to frightening conditions which saw S&S teams on top of the podium with 4 races completed. 12 Metre COLUMBIA won the 12 Metre/Classics A fleet while NY32 SIREN continued her winning ways after sweeping the Maine classic regatta series to take the win in this event for Classics B, while SONNY and SANTANA rounded out the podium. Sailed by a crew of 3, but flying her spinnaker unperturbed in gusts of 25 on Friday and 20 on Saturday, ORIOLE missed first in the PHRF class by 2 seconds in a winner-take-all match with her rival in the last race of the regatta.
Showing fine form going into the “big dance” for the Opera House Cup, S&S teams once again showed that they are the ones to beat. 12 Metre VALIANT was the big winner here, winning the Day Racers division of the Opera House Cup while other S&S designs BRILLIANT and SIREN showed the way home in the schooner and vintage Corinthian divisions.
Recognizing his hard work in winning his class in the Opera House Cup, Peter Cassidy and SIREN won the Overall Panerai Performance Award, while 12M COLUMBIA took home the newly inaugurated S&S Performance Award for the best combined overall performance by an S&S design over Nantucket Race Week and The Opera House Cup.
Panerai Herreshoff Classic Yacht Regatta & Panerai Newport Classic Yacht Regatta, August 25-26, 2017
S&S designs were rewarded for a season of tight sailing capped off on Narragansett Bay in the 38th Annual Panerai Newport Classic Yacht Regatta. Overall winners of the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge Official North American Challenge were SONNY (recently sold by the S&S brokerage team) who placed first in the Vintage Division, while the 12 Metre VALIANT took first place in the Grand Prix Division.