Some musing on the Mudnight Madness Overnight.

by Greg Gilmartin

The cry was almost apologetic on the radio from Doug McDonald.  "Race Committee, this is Euphoria.  We're going to be late." The 10 boats circling before the start off Horseshoe Reef  could see the familiar blue hulled Pearson 30 off in the distance, slowly sailing in the light breeze, still a mile or so away. There was no way they were going to make it in time and sure enough, the gun sounded and the starting sequence began and five minutes later, the ten were off on starboard in the Southwesterly breeze, The 3rd Annual Mudnight Madness Overnight was underway.  Destination - circumnavigation of Block Island.

The fleet spread out looking for clear lanes, each boat representing a tradition of men and women who have gone to sea even as storm clouds threatened behind and the open waters of Block Island Sound beckoned ahead.  Ranging in size from 27 to 45 feet, with racing gear and cruising gear, they had long ago put to rest the idea that doing overnights was out of style.  For them, this was to be an adventure to fulfill their passion for racing and sailing.

And ten minutes later, Euphoria started properly and joined this ocean's Eleven.  Team Tonic from the Chinese Yacht Club shot off the line with speed and were soon leading the pack.  The fast Nelson Marek And She Was started slowly,but soon their water line was legging out as well.   It took a pair of j-105 a mile or so to get up to speed, but they also began to show their legs as the chutes came up at Race Point and off they went toward Cerberus Shoal, fighting the flood.  And looking back, here was Euphoria bringing up new breeze.

As the night settled in and the skies cleared, it was looking like a waterline race.  The breeze was less than 10 from the southwest and each skipper began looking at their tactician and navigator for the answer to "Which Way Around?"   The current was about to change to an ebb which would help until you got to Block, then would slow you down as you rounded and headed back.    It appears most boats opted for  counter clockwise, because those of us on Skip Hoffman's Wild Angel went clockwise and saw at least 5 boats passing us going the other way.

As usual, Block Island provided good wind and we had a cracking reach down the East side of the island in a westerly breeze and were able to harden up at the southeast point as the land shifted the breeze to the northwest.   That seemed to be a good thing, but when we came out from the lee of the island, the wind was back to the west and the hoped for 15 mile fetch to Cerberus Shoal became a long beat.   The boats who went counter clockwise may have fared better.

Reports from John Sutherland on She's the Boss tell of a J-105 duel through the star studded night.  They traded places with Mike LaChance's Dark n Stormy several times.  John was glowing in his praise for the boat, seeing boat speeds 2 knots faster than the true wind with the asymmetrical chute up.

A light patch of breeze spoiled an otherwise beautiful night and when dawn broke, the game became clearer.  The N/M 45 and the J-105s were no where to be seen.  Pat Dillon's Quest 30 was going strong, but only 25 minutes ahead of Wild Angel.  The top two cruising boats, Terrain Avoidance and Impulse were a short distance ahead locked in their own duel and looking ominously over our shoulder was the blue hulled Pearson 30 of Doug McDonald's Euphoria.

They say if you can see him, with a rating of 174, he will beat you.   And so, at the finish line off Ram Island bell, in a cloudless morning with welcomed warmth, there he was again in the distance.  And when all the times were taken and the calculations made, it was Euphoria who won it all in the Spinnaker Class.  Jim Baker's Impulse came from behind as well to pass Vito Addabbo's Terrain Avoidance between the Dumplings in the final 2 miles of the race to win Cruising Canvas.

On Wild Angel, we carried the chute all the way back to the Westerly Yacht Club, partying like it was 1999.   Finishing mid fleet was one thing, but enjoying about 20 hours with friends who never let up trimming, scheming, joking  or hunting for the right breeze, in waters we have loved for 20 years was far more rewarding than any gum ball machine.

For the podium finishers, gum ball machines will note the acheivement at the prize giving Wednesday Night during the Mudhead Mid Season party at Noank Village Boatyard.   And some of us will start planning for the next chance to race through the night.

Here are the results