Jason Carroll’s MOD70 Argo set a new outright Around Jamestown Record on September 1, completing the 18 nm course around Jamestown (Rhode Island) with an elapsed time of 52 minutes and 2 seconds. This beats the previous record of 00:53:37, held by Zach Marks on a foiling kiteboard by 1 minute and 35 seconds.
The crew on Argo – Brian Thompson, Chad Corning, Charlie Ogletree, Anthony Kotoun, Tom Burnham, Jim Condon, Chuck Norris, Westy Barlow, and Ben Bardwell – chose to sail the course around the island to starboard, sailing south from the start off Fort Adams at 11:34:47 EST, departing in a 22-knot ESE breeze at the end of an ebbing tide.
This was the MOD70 Argo’s first attempt to set the Around Jamestown Record, though the Argo team had attempted the record on five prior occasions on a GC32. This was the first attempt by any individual or team since Marks set the record in 2016.
“I think setting the record was very much in doubt, because if we would have had to tack more than once, then I don’t think we would have even beaten Phaedo’s record [Phaedo is also a MOD70 and sailed the course in 56 min 33 sec June 27, 2015], so that was the key to the whole thing,” assessed Corning.
“We knew it was a fast trip but didn’t know how fast until we got to the bridge. Jason was definitely a little disappointed to not be on board, but we have some new foils coming and we’re going to take another whack at it this fall. It’s a record that means a lot to us as it was a great way for us to get going when we had the GC32, so we’re keen to try to get the record under 50 minutes.”
On the attempt he said, “We had been doing laps of Jamestown just as a way to do some focused training and whenever we go out sailing we’re always looking for easterly or westerly and the conditions just looked perfect so we decided give it a go.
“The angle wasn’t quite right when we first left the dock, but we decided to give it a go anyway, but as we started the wind left shifted about 20 degrees so right out to Beavertail it became 80-90 degrees wind angle which was kind of perfect.
“It stayed east on the other side of Jamestown and then we were able to gennaker all the way down to the bridge, switch back to the J1 to the north end of the island. What I think did it for us though was a really well-timed tack and lay line once we got on the other side of the island and then it was upwind, close reaching into the finish.”
Five categories are recognized for annual divisional honors with the overall perpetual trophy going to the boat with the outright fastest time:
• Outright Record Holder (2020): MOD70, Argo, 00:52:02
• Monohull 32’ & Above (2014): 71’ mini-maxi, Bella Mente, 01:19:35 (No attempts in 2015-2016)
• Monohull below 32’ (2013): Shaw 6.50, Manic, 02:00:29 (No attempts in 2014-2016)
• Multihull 32’ & Above (2020): MOD70, Argo, 00:52:02
• Multihull below 32’ (2015): HT18, KWYJIBoat, 1:46:13 (No attempt in 2016)
• Kiteboards & All Foiling Craft (2016): Foiling Kiteboard, Zach Marks, 00:53:37
About Around Jamestown Record
The Around Jamestown Record is a perpetual all out record for sailing the 18 nm course around Conanicut Island (also known as Jamestown) in lower Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. Similar to other outright speed records, contenders decide when to make their record attempt and also which direction they will sail around Jamestown. The record is open annually from Memorial Day until October 31 during the hours of daylight. Details.
Source: Julianna Barbieri, Manuka Sports Event Management
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