For the second week in a row, Jim McAlpine in Lucky Jim raced to first place in the Oak Harbor Yacht Club’s Sail Fleet regatta Thursday, March 23.

McAlpine won by 31 seconds (corrected time) over the five-mile out-and-back course. Rick Almberg in Slingshot nipped Chad Holcomb in Yeah Dogg by one second for second place.

“A race that close, over a course that took nearly an hour to complete, was pretty exciting to see,” race committeeman Larry Munns said.

Dave Steckman on Renaissance was third, followed by Shannon Buys on Vertigo and Rex Dupuis on Gadzooks.

The Thursday race series continues next week, and then a group will head to Anacortes Saturday and Sunday, April 1 and 2, for the Tulip Regatta.

The Thursday night races are open to the public and continue into October.

The Oak Harbor Yacht Club will host the annual Round Whidbey Regatta in early May. Boats will need crew members, so anyone interested in helping can contact Sail Fleet Captain Bill Weinsheimer at ohsailfleet@gmail.com

Winner Lucky Jim rounds the first mark. (Photo by Beth Munns)

Vertigo heads the fleet out of the harbor. (Photo by Beth Munns)