Skipper whose boat was destroyed by lightning first to register

View Article

« Back	Post Date: Friday, November 13, 2020
Skipper whose boat was destroyed by lightning first to register Skipper John “Drew” Plominski is hoping that lightning doesn’t strike twice. Plominski, whose boat was destroyed by lightning days before the last race, was first in line to register for next summer's race.

Skipper John “Drew” Plominski is hoping that lightning doesn’t strike twice. Plominski, whose boat was destroyed by lightening two years ago, was first in line to register for the 39th biennial Marblehead-to-Halifax Ocean race to take place this summer.

‘We’re thrilled to see Drew back for another try,” said Richard Hinterhoeller, RNSYS co-race director. Plominski’s 30-foot vessel, named Perseverance, was just about ready. Along with his wife and three friends, he planned to compete in the 363-mile biennial race to Nova Scotia.

The South Boston resident left his boat moored at the Columbia Yacht Club the night before the big race and was at his house, just a couple of blocks away, when he heard the loud noise that sounded like a boom and a crack, he said.

“It was nuts,” Plominski said at the time. “All the electronics were fried,” forcing him to withdraw from the 2019 race.

His new boat is a J40 named Artemisia (below). He competed in the 2020 Beringer Cup race from Marblehead to Provincetown. A good tune-up for the 362-mile race to Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The 2021 Notice of Race has been posted and Registration is now open. We are expecting a robust fleet to compete according to BYC co-race director Karen Tenenbaum. “We think there is a lot of pent up demand and sailors are anxious to get back on the water”.

Plans are underway for the race as we're cautiously optimistic that COVID-19 will be manageable by summer.