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Sports

Vineyard Race Draws Five Darien-Based Boats

The longest of three courses takes sailors on a 238-mile loop from Stamford to Buzzards Bay and back again.

Some Darienites may choose to spend this Labor Day weekend huddled around the grill. Others—well, they'll be teaming up with family and friends for a white-knuckle race down the New England coast.

The three-day Vineyard Race, established in 1932, is hosted every September by the Stamford Yacht Club. Among those eschewing a leisurely long weekend to participate in this year's event are crews of at least five Darien-based boats.

"This race gives the local sailors an opportunity to sail against some of the finest sailors in the area," said Diane Mckeever, the co-chairman of the Vineyard Race alongside Charles Goodrich. "Each of the boats has an average crew of eight so it causes fathers and sons, brothers, and cousins to sail together."

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The Vineyard Course—the marquee route—takes sailors on a 238-mile run from Stamford to Buzzards Bay, Mass. and back again. Two shorter routes—the 116-mile Cornfield Point Course and the newly formed 142-mile Seaflower Course—round out the event.

"Sailing has always been a popular sport in Darien," Mckeever said. "When a town is on the water, there will be sailors and if there are sailors, there will be racers."

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Darien's John Greifzu, Jr., who will be participating in the Vineyard Race for the first time this year with his father, said he sees it as an opportunity to try something different.

"I am borrowing my father's 30 foot boat to do the Cornfield Point Course," Greifzu said. "For me, the race is a chance to do a distance race. Most of my sailing is with small boats on short courses. "

Greifzu said that he knows the event won't be easy, but he welcomes the test.

"I think this race will be challenging, fun and a learning experience," he added.

Owners of other Darien boats this year include Christiaan Brakman, William Mack, Steve and Simon Frank, and Geoffrey Beringer.

"It's not surprising that they [sailors] would recognize a premier race and want to participate in it," Mckeever said. "We have people coming from North Carolina, Washington D.C. and New Brunswick, Canada to take part in this event."

Conditions can be a bit unpredictable, which makes an already demanding event that much more compelling for sailors.

"This race challenges the boats and the people sailing on them," Mckeever said. "The conditions can be benign or fierce and we have experienced both in the 75 years the race has been held."

Mckeever cited last year's race, which was shortened for the first time due to a lack of wind. Two years before that, a tropical squall came through and prevented all but three of 53 registered boats from finishing.

Despite fickle forecasts, Mckeever said that the race remains popular after all these years.

"We would like to think it's still popular because the race is very well run, but in truth, in talking with people who have done the race, they find the sailing conditions and the competition to be extraordinary," said Mckeever.

Over the years, the event has grown as organizers have incorporated several non-sailing elements. The changes have helped to build a community where, among other things, racers can chew over the results at length.

"Last year, we introduced a big awards party where we had almost 400 people, rather than the typical 75," Mckeever said. "Sailors love to stand around and talk about the race they just participated in."

This year's race runs Friday, Sept. 3 through Sunday, Sept. 5. For more information, visit the Vineyard Race website.

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