On a busmans holiday Team HIHO sailing aboard the Sunfast 33 “byte” lined up for The 2020 New England Solo/Twin. The event featured a 70-mile ocean triangle course starting and finishing in Newport, RI with a course around Block Island and then down to the Elizabeth islands. What should have been a quick sprint turned into a slow trek. The “byte” team battled light wind, adverse currents and ferocious competition to finish in 25-hours and claim a 2nd in class position.
HIHO started in 1979 as inter-island windsurfing race through the Virgin Islands. In the 1980’s it was known as the Hook In & Hold On, and was sponsored by Johnnie Walker Scotch Whiskey. A youthful Andy Morrell took first place in the 1986 edition, and then went on to buy the event. With the name shortened to HIHO and a fun sun graphic logo the event was re-started in 1983 and endured for another 20-years. Famous for a week of great windsurf racing, a yacht flotilla and legendary parties, the HIHO race was one of the biggest water sports events on the Caribbean. And the sun graphic logo shirts evolved into today’s HIHO brand of island inspired apparel.
