Teams battled their way through the 20 nautical mile Around-the-Island Race in breeze ranging from 12 – 22 knots and a sea state varying from flat water to waves as high as 4ft all amounting to the ultimate day on the water for the Melges IC37 fleet.

RUSH skipper Tom Stark and crew took on the day “Melges IC37 Style” with their eyes set on winning the start and mastering the conditions and the long and thrilling downwind leg. All new experiences come with growing pains, and according to Stark, “We are still getting our communication sorted out between the bow person, Drew [Freides, tactician], and myself and we managed to talk ourselves right over the line over early.”

The team regrouped quickly, dialed in their communication, kept a keen eye on their boat handling and sailed a near perfect first windward leg earning them a place in the top 5 around the first weather mark.

Team RUSH worked their way through the fleet pressing the boat as fast as it could go on the downwind leg and went on to win the Round-the-Island Race. “The boats are better than I imagined. We’ve been sailing the boats for two weeks and it’s been phenomenal. It was really fun ripping down wind today.”

Between the fun boats, stellar conditions, challenging racing, and crews made up of long-time friends, the Melges IC37 Class is the Joy of Racing Reimagined.

Day 1 was topped off with social event at the New York Yacht Club – Harbor Court before the remainder of the series begins Saturday morning.

by Melges IC37 Class