BLOCK ISLAND, RI — After four days of conditions that ran the gamut from too-light-to race to heavy fog, Day Five was a pleasant surprise for the 137 entries competing in Rhode Island Sound. Picture perfect skies and southwest winds in the 10 to 15-knot range set the stage for the final race. From among the ranks of the 29 J/105s that attended this biennial event, Jim Doane's Wonder Wagon emerged to win top honors as the Boatscape.com Boat of the Week.
Not until the last race of the event was this prestigious honor decided. Said Doane afterward, "I still can't believe it." Doane added that his crew, who competed aboard a chartered boat, had to work unbelievably hard against such competition as Andy Skibo, Rod and Bob Johnstone, and sailmaker Geoff Moore. "This is a party crew, but we went to bed every night at 11:30 p.m.," he said. "Tonight we're going to party!" For comprehensive scores and reports, log on to www.premiere-racing.com.