WELL-TAILORED SAILORS

Yachtsmen of the Off Soundings Club are as serious a crew of sailors as ply the waters of the Eastern seaboard. The June regatta on Long Island Sound attracted the tiny 19-foot transatlantic veteran Sopranino, the winning 55-foot cutter Nimrod V, so many others—201—that a landlubber with a giant stride could almost have walked dry-shod from New London to Montauk across their decks. Club members race the triangular New London-Montauk-Shelter Island course in June and again in September at the close of the Eastern sailing season. Their working clothes, faded by sun and spray, are of hardy khaki and denim, as colorful and as trim as their boats. But each two-day race allows ample time in the evening for hoisting the cocktail flag. When all sails are furled, fancier gear, ranging from checkerboard sweaters to firemen's shirts, brightens the deck.

WORKING SHORTS: Wives have a penchant for shorts and white sneakers. Audrey Geyer, aboard Nimrod V, winner of the June race, wears pink shorts and jacket over navy-blue crew shirt.

PLAYING SHORTS: For boat hopping, Lynn Miller wears pink linen Bermuda shorts and dyed-to-match cashmere sweater, plus a blue cotton jacket for extra warmth against evening mists.

Sundown clothes are sometimes more colorful than sailing clothes. Chuck Brewer awaits the announcement of race results at the Shelter Island Yacht Club in a hand-knit checkerboard sweater, African-print cap.

Brass-buttoned shirt of red wool is Kelso Davis' favorite for cool sailing days. Actually this is a shirt he acquired as a volunteer fireman in Kent, Conn. Here Davis brings the Aetna into anchorage at Lake Montauk, L.I.

High-water jeans with red plaid cuffs are worn for hosing down the boat deck at Burr's Dock.

Checked shorts are worn with tailored shirt by Phyllis Schutt on the deck of the Egret.

Red flannel trousers make it easy for anyone to recognize Commodore Mel Southworth (left) shown talking with Commodore G. W. Blunt White at New London.

SEVEN PHOTOS

RICHARD MEEK