Viola continues her American tour in Nantucket where she finished 7th in the Vintage category at the 54th Annual Opera House Cup. Around 60 boats took part in this major classic yacht regatta which serves as the grand finale of Nantucket Race Week. Competing in a Vintage fleet of 14 entrants, the gaff cutter skippered by Yacht Club de Monaco member Kostia Belkin added another line to the story of an already busy American campaign. Viola was also presented with the Gwen Gaillard Spirit of the Race Award.
After the Newport and Maine regattas Viola set course for Nantucket where she joined the classic yachts that gather every summer to line up on the start of this event. The Fife design finished in 7th place out of the 14 entrants in the Vintage class.
This latest result caps off several weeks spent sailing along the United States East Coast. Since arriving in New York, Kostia Belkin’s crew has been busy. Viola triumphed in friendly regattas organised by the Manhattan Yacht Club, Larchmont Yacht Club and Indian Harbor Yacht Club, before finishing 2nd in real time, just two seconds behind the winner at Seawanhaka. She then took 3rd place in the Classic B class at Newport Race Week.
The voyage continued in Maine, with two 4th places in the Castine Classic Yacht Race and the Camden to Brooklin Race, followed by a 5th place in the Eggemoggin Reach Regatta. In Nantucket, Viola continued her American tour adding another regatta to her record, competing against regulars on the American classic yacht circuit.
In the summer of 1973, sailors were in the habit of gathering at the Opera House, a South Water Street restaurant run by Gwen Gaillard. Young sailors, people living on their boats and wooden boat enthusiasts would chat across the tables. One July evening, an idea was floated to organise a wooden boat race in honour of their host.
A few weeks later the first Opera House Cup got underway in Nantucket Sound. The course, starting procedures and rules had been established in consultation with the skippers. More than 50 years on and that simple race dreamt up by a group of enthusiasts has become a major fixture on the American classic sailing calendar.
Part of the CYOA Classic Yacht Series and raced under the CRF rating system, the event now welcomes classic boats from 24-footers and up. Wooden hulls compete for the Opera House Cup while an invitational division allows other sailing yachts of historical significance or classic design to join the fleet.
The Nantucket port of call continues a summer when the scenery for Viola has changed almost every week. From New York, Larchmont, Indian Harbor, Seawanhaka and Newport to Maine and finally Nantucket, the gaff cutter designed by William Fife has experienced all the different facets of classic yachting on the East Coast. Visits also saw burgee exchanges with the Nantucket Yacht Club and Great Harbor Yacht Club which symbolise the bonds forged ashore throughout this tour.
Viola is continuing her American tour in Nantucket and at major classic yachting events along the East Coast, a tour that celebrates sport and heritage for Yacht Club de Monaco’s representative. Kostia Belkin and his crew are now setting course for Martha’s Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands in Massachusetts.
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