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The 79th Annual Block Island Race showcases fierce competition as Linda and Andrew Weiss's Italia 11.98, Christopher Dragon XII, claims Overall ORC honors. This thrilling 186-nautical-mile race from Stamford, Conn., tests over 60 boats in challenging weather conditions, combining a tough upwind stretch with exhilarating downwind runs.
The event serves as crucial preparation for teams eyeing the upcoming 2026 Newport Bermuda Race, with more than 30 entries in both races. Christopher Dragon XII not only wins the prestigious Harvey Conover Memorial Overall Trophy but also takes home the William Tripp, Jr. Memorial Trophy for Best Corrected Time in the ORC Fleet and the Tuna Trophy for best combined scores in the Edlu and Block Island Race series.
Weiss highlights a pivotal moment when a shift in wind direction favored their strategy. They navigated through The Race with a current push, gaining a lead over competitors. Christopher Dragon XII narrowly beat David Rosow's J/122 Loki by just over three minutes for Overall ORC honors, while Andrew Clark's J/122 Zig Zag rounded out the podium.
In the PHRF Division, John Storck Jr.'s J/130SD Blitzen excels, earning both Overall PHRF honors and the Terrapin Trophy, with a memorable family crew onboard.
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