This past 4th of July Independence Day weekend marked the annual 45nm offshore dash from Riverside, CT to the Stratford Shoal Light and back to the finish link just off the club. This was the 86th edition of the Stratford Shoal Race, hosted by the Riverside YC on Long Island Sound. The highlight of the race included a duel between two well-sailed J/105s vying for class honors in the PHRF Doublehanded division. Sailing in one-design class configuration at a PHRF rating of 93, the top two boats finished just minutes apart after criss-crossing the Sound for 45nm. Winning by just over four minutes was Randy Bourne