Three weeks ago, I got a text from Chris Museler, one of the founders of the Archipelago Rally, letting me know that it was going to be held in Wickford, RI on October 18th. I was excited by the prospect of attendance. It’s always seemed cool from afar, but I had a lot going on and it fell off my radar.
The Archipelago Rally started 20 years ago by a group of friends/sailors who wanted to “round something in cool boats during the fall here in RI”. It is informal by nature, and it remains that way today. It is a run-what-you-bring, pursuit style race for families and friends. The boats are unscientifically handicapped and you never quite know what the course is going to be until you get there. In fact, sometimes you don’t know when or where it’s going to be held until weeks before. This is an effort to keep it small, grassroots, and in line with the ethos of its origin.
Fast forward to last Thursday. My good friend, and now neighbor, Oliver Moore, former Archipelago champion and promoter of the cause, calls me and says: “we’re doing the Archipelago Rally on Saturday. We got a bunch of kids, a bunch of boats, and it will be fun.” I need another thing to do like I need a hole in the head, but as I thought about it more, I knew it had to be done. I’ve admired the event from its inception, but never had the opportunity to attend.
The loose plan was this: Oliver had a Delaware Ducker and an Opti, I had a Dyer Dhow, and between the three craft we’d find a way to get everyone on the water. On Saturday morning I tied down our Dyer Dhow, which we use as a sailing dinghy while cruising with the family. Yes, it’s small, but we’ve gotten away with it. If its light, you row to where you need to go, if its windy, you sail…simple formula, at least when the kids were small. I get the Dyer in the back of the truck, pack some snacks and a cooler, and we’re off to Wickford for a 10:00 AM report time. Oliver towed his flotilla from Barrington to Wickford and we ended up descending on the event at about the same time.
We rigged up, signed a waiver, told the rating czar Matt Smith what we had, he assigned us start times, and we were basically ready to go. At the skippers meeting, Ezra Smith was going through the course, I tried to follow along on Navionics, but eventually gave up and didn’t worry about it. I figured, I won’t be winning, and they said something about a way finder vessel, I’m sure it will be okay. Oliver’s son Finn, my son Thomas’ shipmate, was a bit worried about the course, and even more worried that Thomas was nowhere to be found. I look up, and during the skippers meeting he’s just sailing back and forth in the Opti, getting in reps before the big race. How great? I probably shouldn’t mention, but I will, the fact that while they were training moments before the skippers meeting, Finn had left Thomas stranded on a channel marker, against the law, but part of being a kid.
Oliver was supposed to sail with his 5-year-old daughter Nell, but she thought better of it, bequeathing her spot to two other kids who had just showed up to spectate. Again, how good? Getting two new sailors on the water, and to roll with a flexible plan. I was sailing with my daughter, Maggie, in the Dyer Dhow. I’ve done some pretty harrowing things on the water, but I’d never felt as exposed as I did when I was leaving the Wickford breakwater, with my daughter in the bow and virtually no freeboard. But, on we went towards the rockpile. The circumnavigation of the rockpile ensured that we were in fact Archipelago Rally compliant.
We temporarily snuck by Thomas and Finn, who started two minutes early, but no one cared, when the Kouton family distracted them with peanut butter filled pretzels. However, when their focus returned, they passed us again…as did most everyone else. I believe we were 31st and 32nd respectively, stuck together like glue, a race to the bottom, like only waring siblings know how to do. In the end, the Ross Weene led crew won, on a Thistle of all boats. The fleet totaled 40 ralliers, the biggest assembly to date. The weather was a contributing factor – 60 degrees, sunny skies, and a gentle breeze. But, I’m sure the 20th anniversary was part of it, too, as was the fact that they’d built something fun and enjoyable, that families can do on a nice fall day.
Yarrow Thorne has taken the mantle of unofficial event chair. He made sure there were refreshments, hotdogs and hamburgers, chili and mac’n’cheese, and what seemed like an endless supply of shucked Oysters. I have a small sample size, but he seems like a worthy custodian of this event as it moves into the future.
There are a number of awards; overall champion, the family award, and the “Stoke” award. Thomas and Finn won the Stoke award, which comes with a cup-like trophy, a sleazily purple jacket and some Mardi Gras beads. Finn accepted the award solo because Thomas was whisked off to a soccer game, but when they reunited back at the house, the picture was worth a thousand words…think they’ll want to go back next year?
So, Chris Museler, even though I still haven’t gotten back to you, I did attend the Archipelago Rally, and it was awesome. What makes it so great? Its impromptu, fun, inclusive, family oriented, local, and you can still make your 3 o’clock soccer game in Barrington. I saw friends I hadn’t seen in years, made new ones, and look forward to contributing to this event in the future. Was one of the reasons I went because of my new role here at US Sailing? Yes. Should I have gone many years before? Yes. This was a huge bright spot for me. It’s opened my eyes to what makes us tick and what we need to be doing more of as we move the sport forward.
Huge thanks to everyone who had a hand in creating this, putting it on, and making it what it is today. If you are interested in participating in the future follow the Archipelago Facebook page.