98th Conanicut Island Around the Island Race brings 86 boats for a full lap of Jamestown
by Conanicut Yacht Club Around the Island Race 1 Sep 20:26 BST
August 31, 2025
The 98th Annual Conanicut Island Around the Island Race once again delivered on its reputation as a classic Labor Day tradition, as 86 boats took on the 18.1-mile course circumnavigating Jamestown.
The forecast had predicted a light northwesterly breeze that was expected to fade before a southeasterly filled in, leaving the Race Committee doubtful that a full lap would be possible. With contingency plans to shorten at either the Jamestown Bridge or Beavertail, the fleet nonetheless set off just off Conanicut Yacht Club in a steady 8-10 knots of breeze and a flooding tide.
"The strategy upwind was really about who could link the puffs together best," said Skip Mattos, tactician aboard Linc Mossop's 1D35 The Cat Came Back. Mossop and his Jamestown-based crew, longtime participants in the event, worked the shifts up the east passage before the fleet rounded the northern end of the island.
Once past Conanicut's tip, spinnakers blossomed across Narragansett Bay—until the wind quickly collapsed and shifted southeast near the Jamestown Bridge. The race effectively restarted as crews scrambled to connect to the new breeze. Several boats, including the first to finish—Oakcliff Sailing's JV66 Temptation—chose the bold move of cutting inside Dutch Island to reach pressure first. Oakcliff crossed the line with the day's fastest elapsed time of 2:41:03.
But the victory belonged to Wendy Schmidt's Botin 45 Azula, which sailed to the overall win. "It was such a colorful sail, with a little bit of everything and the kind of variety that makes this race so special," Schmidt said from the awards party on the lawn of CYC. "Events like this are exactly why we love sailing in Narragansett Bay—the course is stunning, the conditions keep you on your toes, and the community makes it all the more fun."
Competition was fierce throughout the 86-boat fleet. Tommy Henshaw's Hobie 33 Captain Sluggo placed 2nd overall, while Jamie Hilton's 6mR Eau Vive claimed 3rd. Finishing 4th and taking home the award for the top CYC boat was Susan and Sean Doyle's J/112e Phoenix. Notably, seven of the top ten finishers overall also won their divisions, a testament to the fairness of the PHRF rating system on a day that tested sailors with shifting wind directions.
By the time the fleet rounded Beavertail at the island's southern tip, there was quite the crowd on the shoreline to spectate, boats with Code Zeros and reaching sails stretched their leads before spinnakers filled once more for the final run back to the finish at Conanicut Yacht Club. With so many kites filling the Bay, it was a breathtaking display to mark the unofficial close of the summer season.
The event's popularity continues to grow, with this year's entry list representing 22% of all PHRF certificates issued in Narragansett Bay—an impressive turnout for a single-day event. The Around the Island Race not only delivers competitive racing but also a festive celebration, culminating with an awards party and cookout on the lawn at CYC.
Race Chair Peter Schott summed up the day: "Given the forecast, we weren't sure the fleet would make it all the way around, but the sailors were treated to a little bit of everything. We're thrilled with the turnout, the competition, and the spirit of the event. We're already looking ahead to the 99th running next year—and, of course, to the milestone 100th edition in 2027."