Chesapeake 20 Newsletter

August 17, 2009

Fall Series Racing, Aug 16:  The second race in the fall series yesterday first appeared that there was not going to be much wind, but it filled in nicely from the southeast as we reached the starting line in the cove.  Temperature wise, it was quite comfortable.  We had plenty of trapeze time in the varying conditions.  Derick Lynch in Osprey dominated the three races with all firsts – quite an accomplishment since all of the racing was close with a few bow-to-bow finishes.    After Osprey, the next three 20s were each within a point of one another.  Robin Hartge in Spirit came in second; Bob Blomquist in Gracie, third; Clay Taylor in Endeavor, fourth and Alex De Tessieres in Stormy fifth.

In only his second start as skipper, Alex in Stormy was competitive throughout all three races.  Of course, as crew, I did not help much when a fell off the trapeze at the start of the third race.  It was typical Chesapeake 20 racing with tight starts, crowded buoy roundings and close finishes.  Going up the center tended to pay off, more than either right or left on the race course.  We want to thank our excellent race management crew: Roger and Pat Schermerhorn, Joe Kaiser and Glenda Blomquist.   

Tred Avon Heritage Regatta at Oxford, Aug. 29-30:  We take a weekend off and then prepare for the tow over to the Tred Avon Heritage Regatta, the weekend of August 29 and 30.  We are offering tows on Friday morning, so let me know if you’d like to have us take your boat over.  This is a special regatta with historic bay fleets of Log Canoes, Shields, Hamptons, Comets, Penguins and Chesapeake 20s.  There are wonderful B&Bs to stay in, as well as less expensive hotels in Easton.  

www.Chesapeake20org:  After racing, it was music to my ears when Gerhard Klose said that he had spent an entire evening looking at our website.  Recently, I put up race results from our perpetual trophies.  I have organized the site by decades with archival materials from many former Chesapeake 20 owners.  We are still looking for early Chesapeake 20 documents (e.g. photos, articles), especially for chine 20s.  Henry Tenser, who is the owner of Sea Witch, the only known chine 20 still in existence, told us that he would like to sell her.  She is in excellent condition, located in Reedville VA, and I posted a photo of her on our bulletin board at WRSC.  Sure would like to preserve and bring this classic 20 back to West River and sail her on special occasions.