07/04/09 - The 2009 Block Island Race Week proved exciting for three local boys. Eighth graders Orrin Starr and Oliver Mott, along with seventh grader Tadhg O’Neill, sailed onboard boats and received trophies when one boat finished in second place.

The boys received trophies awarded to Rich du Moulin’s Express 37 Lora Ann, which took second place in its class every day of the week. They also sailed on Kevin McNeil’s Far 40 Nightshift from Annapolis, Md. and David Janetti’s Jibber Jabber out of Sag Harbor, N.Y.

The Block Island Maritime Institute (BIMI), which has trained local children to sail for the past several years, arranged to have the three join the Race Week crews.

“The kids had a blast,” BIMI Executive Director Sue Black said in a news release. “They are full of great sailing stories and are gaining the confidence they need to become competitive sailors. We hope to have some students ready for a high school sailing team in the next couple of years and participating in Race Week was a real boost for them.”

Block Island also hosted teenagers sailing onboard the all-teen J105 Team Storm Trysail. Black and BIMI board member Champlin Starr both hosted the sailors from Annapolis, Md., at their houses.

“The kids were a pleasure to have in our house,” Starr said. “It’s nice that we are creating a sailing connection between our kids and kids from off Block Island who are really accomplished sailors. Our young sailors have seen firsthand what a sailing team can accomplish.”

Black and Starr also attended the Storm Trysail Club members dinner and presented the BIMI 1BI award to Storm Trysail member John Storck Jr. for a lifetime achievement of leadership in sailing education and volunteerism.