This year marks the 50th anniversary of Block Island Race Week and Storm Trysail Club is launching a sustainability program which includes a new app for iOS and Android operating systems.
According to the press release, "the app, launched today in Beta version, will be the primary vehicle for all communications to competitors about Block Island Race Week, including daily notices and results, and will eliminate many forms of paper communication, such as the daily newspaper.
'Simply by eliminating the daily newspaper, which was printed in Massachusetts and then delivered to the island by truck and ferry, we significantly reduce the carbon footprint of Block Island Race Week,' said Chairman Peter Rugg. 'Nearly every competitor has a Smartphone, so this is the most direct way to communicate with them.'
When launching the app the homepage has two primary portals. One takes users to the official regatta page on Yacht Scoring where users can access the entry list, scratch sheet, all regatta documents and weather data as provided by SailFlow. The second portal takes users to WindCheck magazine’s website, which will host the daily story in lieu of the newspaper.
The app was created by JB Design of Norwalk, Conn., in conjunction with Storm Trysail Club members and WindCheck magazine. It has gone through 10 revisions leading to the Beta launch.
In its desire for a sustainable event, the Storm Trysail Club has adopted the protocol set forth by Sailors for the Sea for a clean regatta, primarily committing to paperless race documents, reusable water bottles, water stations on the docks, recycling and composting. The Storm Trysail Club also plans to host three beach clean-ups in conjunction with Clean Ocean Access on Wednesday, June 24."
This years Block Island Race Week will run June 21-26 on the picturesque Block Island, just 13 miles off the coast of Rhode Island. The entry list for Race Week includes more than 170 boats ranging in size from 6.5 meters (21 feet) to 65 feet. Racing is planned on three circles for one-design and rated classes (IRC, HPR and PHRF). Additional classes for double-handed crews, and cruising spinnaker and non-spinnaker entries will sail one race a day around fixed marks.
For more information on Block Island Race Week, blockislandraceweek.com
