Edgartown Yacht Club held its first race around Martha’s Vineyard Island in the summer of 1938, and except for the years of the Second World War the race has been an annual event since then.  For a number of years the course was extended to round the Buzzards Bay Tower, but today the traditional tight course around Martha’s Vineyard Island is used.

Normally it is possible for both cruising and racing boats to finish the 52¼ nautical mile course by late afternoon or early evening. If the tidal currents or wind conditions make going slow, the Race Committee will finish the race just north of Menemsha.

The course itself is a splendid sail.  It is reminiscent of the race around the Isle of Wight in England, which was the course of the first America’s Cup.  The distance around Martha’s Vineyard is similar (only a few miles longer); both courses have views of cliffs, headlands, villages and open water; and the tidal currents and wind effects are important in both. The course around the Vineyard passes in sight of the seven lighthouses of Cape Poge, Gay Head, Tarpaulin Cove, Nobska, West Chop, East Chop and Edgartown.  In the morning the fleet sails between Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket along the east beach of Chappaquiddick. At midday they are in the open Atlantic Ocean with views of the south coast of the Vineyard.  In the afternoon, rounding the gorgeous cliffs of Gay Head, the fleet sails up Vineyard Sound which was the second busiest body of water in the world during the age of sail.

The ‘Round the Island race has always been a part of the sailing calendar for both the great names of yacht racing and also the cruising sailor.

The principal prizes are the Venona Trophies.  They are named after the Venona, one of the leading yachts at the dawn of ocean racing. Venona, a 65’ schooner, belonged to Edgartown Yacht Club’s late Commodore, Elmer J. Bliss.  In 1908 Commodore Bliss’ Venona won the Bermuda Race overall.  The Venona Trophies are awarded to the winners on corrected time of the two principal classes in the ‘Round the Island Race.  In addition to the Venona Trophies, the ‘Round the Island Race also awards the Concord Cup for line honors.  Bartholomew Gosnold gave Martha’s Vineyard its name when his ship, Concord, made landfall at Cape Poge on Chappaquiddick in 1602.  The Concord made  the first recorded sail 'round the island.  The Concord Cup is awarded to the finisher of the ‘Round the Island Race that has the shortest elapsed time overall.

There is also an award for boats entered by Edgartown Yacht Club members.  This award, the Martha’s Vineyard Ocean Race Perpetual Trophy, recognizes the best finishes on corrected time.  

To review a collection of past winners of the Great Venona Trophy for the ‘Round the Island Race’s premium class (Class A/Class I), the Venona Trophies for winners of other classes and divisions, and for winners of the Martha’s Vineyard Ocean Race Perpetual Trophy, continue to scroll the down the page.  

Round the Island Race Record Holders

Yankee Girl established her record in 1976 on the old, long course.  Wild Horses earned her record in 2000 on the new, short course.

 

Prior Winners: