Chesapeake 20 Newsletter
Labor Day, September 7, 2009
Next Sunday Races: We are scheduled for our final Fall Series Race on Sunday, September 13th which has been canceled due to conflicts and too few participants. I will be out of the country, and I think Robin said he would be on a cruise. Bob Blomquist has a conflict with a Laser Regatta. So, I am polling the class (please respond) to shift the date a week later to Sunday, September 20th. We still have our final one day Cap’n Dick Hartge Regatta on September 27th and Robin is organizing the Hartge clan for that event. We also have been invited by Joe Kidwell of e yacht builders to hold a special event on Saturday, October 17, a week after the Sailboat Show in Annapolis. He is willing to bring their e-33 to the club for trial sails, and he will have the new cold molded 20 completed and we can do some test sails and racing with the new “e-racer” as he plans to call his 20’s. Again, let me know if you are interested.
Annapolis to West River Race: We had a long downwind race from Annapolis to West River which took over 2 ½ hours in light northeasterly winds – unlike our screaming downwind race after our Nationals in 20 knot winds that took less than 1 hour and quarter. Stormy with Alex De Tessieres as crew and myself got off to a good start going right along the shore and as close as possible to Tolly Point. We got a lead, and covered, covered and covered all the way to the finish for the win. We expected an adverse current for most of the way, but it didn’t shift until Thomas Point Lighthouse. Stormy was closely pursued by Robin Hartge in Spirit and Bob Blomquist in Gracie. At Thomas Point, Clay Taylor in Endeavor caught up and was in close contention. Bob went way left into West River searching for wind that did not materialize. Clay stuck mostly to the middle of West River, and Robin and I favored the right shoreline. As we were approaching Rhode River, Richard Zantzinger in Aurora came out of nowhere and was closing fast. He had sailed way into South River and apparently rode the current and shore breeze to catch up.
As we came to the finish in Tenthouse Creek off the club, Stormy maintained her lead, but the next three boats finished almost in a dead heat, and all within a boat length. Robin Hartge in Spirit eked out a second, nosing Richard Zantzinger in Aurora a third, and Clay Taylor by about a half boat lengthen for fourth. Bob Blomquist in Gracie and Andrew Resnick in Contrary finished fifth and sixth respectively.
West River Bill Heintz Regatta: Saturday, Robin Hartge towed our four Chesapeake 20s out to the race course passed Curtis Point. There was little wind at first but by the start of the first race, it had filled in from the northeast at about 8 knots. The wind steadily veered as the day progressed moving to the right. The challenge was figuring out how to maintain boat speed in a sharp chop from all the powerboats. It was difficult on starboard tack, heading squarely into the chop; but not so bad on port tack. Clay Taylor in Endeavor won the first two races – mostly going up the middle of the course. I won the third and fourth race, going hard left and riding the strong current (it was full moon) and lifts to the upwind mark. All our boats – Robin in Spirit and Bob in Gracie were within a point or two of each other – showing how competitive the racing was.
On Sunday, our course was moved into West River somewhat, and the challenge was totally different. It was blowing hard – probably up to 18 knots from the northeast which lessened to about 12 knots by afternoon; and this time the wind backed to the north northeast. Current and chop seemed to play a smaller factor – but upwind boat speed and hitting lifts were the winning combination. Clay and I were grateful for third crew members to help hold the boat down.
On going out to the course, we picked up a surprise crew member when a perch jumped into our boat. Bob Blomquist with Larry Carroll as crew in Gracie won the first two races, and he took the overall lead. But with a tooth ache and painkillers he was off is usual game. Clay Taylor with Gerhard Klose came roaring back with two wins in the final races to secure the victory. He would have done even better if his third and first time crew member, Diana Bierschennk had not fallen off the trapeze at the start of race 6. Stormy finished second with Alex DeTessieres and Doug Logan as my crew, one point ahead of Bob Blomquist in Gracie. Robin Hartge was a close fourth with Andrew Resnick as his crew. The Race Committee ran excellent races with Lloyd Kinch as our PRO. The 20 skippers, who did not race, really missed a great regatta.
|
Boat
|
Skipper
|
Race
1
|
Race
2
|
Race
3
|
Race
4
|
Race
5
|
Race
6
|
Race
7
|
Race
8
|
Total
|
|
Endeavor
|
Taylor
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
4
|
3
|
4
|
1
|
1
|
17
|
|
Stormy
|
Weihe
|
3
|
4
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
3
|
2
|
19
|
|
Gracie
|
Blomquist
|
4
|
2
|
4
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
4
|
20
|
|
Spirit
|
Hartge
|
2
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
4
|
2
|
4
|
3
|
24
|
Two Chesapeake 20s Under Construction: Peter Bell Jr. and his crew at the Hartge Yacht Yard have completed the hull and deck of a new fiber glass 20 for Clay Taylor. He now owns the molds which Peter also brought back to top condition. Meanwhile, Joe Kidwell at e Yacht Builders in Baltimore completed the male mold and begun construction of a cold molded 20 that he expects to exhibit at the Annapolis Sailboat Show.
Osprey for Sale: Proven winner. Won fleet high point eight years in a row, and most major regattas. She is in very good condition: a fiberglass boat with aluminum mast; two suits of sails; two rudders (one high aspect ratio), and two tillers. She includes a boat cover and trailer which is in excellent condition (traveled less than 100 miles). Osprey has new shrouds and turnbuckles, and other extras. Price $10,000. Osprey will be sold only to someone who plans on racing the boat regularly. Contact Roger Link (410) 867-4097 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (410) 867-4097 end_of_the_skype_highlighting days, (410) 867-3007 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (410) 867-3007 end_of_the_skype_highlighting evenings, or rogerlink@verizon.net