Robby Wilkins wins the 56th Mug Race

Robby Wilkins, of Lexington, SC, won the 56th Mug Race in a Melges E-Scow, ending 25 years during which the race was dominated by an ever-fancier set of catamarans. Mug Race uses a pursuit start, and runs one-way from Palatka, FL for 38.5 nm along the St. Johns River to its end near the sponsoring Rudder Club of Jacksonville. This year's race (Saturday May 2) had winds that were moderate during the early morning when the monohulls and smaller catamarans were starting. By mid-morning, as the Supercats and RC-27s prepared to start, the winds had lightened. Wilkins was the clear leader at the mid-course mark at the Green Cove Springs bridge, and no other boat challenged him for the rest of the race. The second place boat, a Prindle 19 was at least 5 minutes behind the E-Scow. Eric Roberts, who has won the race multiple times in his modified RC-30, followed in 4th more than 20 minutes later. Wilkins and crew showed the stamina to fly the chute for many hours, from their start at about 9:25 am till rounding the turning mark at about 5:00 pm, then beat for two miles across the St. Johns to the finish line in a strong sea breeze. Well done, gentlemen. Welcome back, E-scows, to the roster of Mug Race winners.
Story submitted by: Donna Mohr, Rudder Club, Mug Race Finish Boat