Chesapeake 20 Newsletter

August 3, 2009

Fall Series Begins:   The beginning of our Fall Series takes place this Sunday at WRSC at the usual time and place.  Unfortunately, the schedule I sent out has the wrong date as does the notice from WRSC.  Don’t know why the mix up I hope it doesn’t inconvenience anyone.  Yes, I know it is the middle of the hottest month of the year, but we start our Fall Series early in order to get in three races (two in September).

Miles River Y.C. Regatta:  There was plenty of wind on Friday as we towed over the 20s and had to reposition the boats between rain squalls; and there were thunderstorms, heavy rain and lightning on the tow back on Sunday.  But, ah Saturday – well actually there was no wind, at most a drifter.  We waited for wind and none came. Finally a little breeze came up and we started with wind going around the compass – downwind and upwind so that either mark was weather or leeward at different times.

We had five Chesapeake 20s at “the” race: Spirit, Endeavor, Stormy, America and Picardy.  For me, it was frustrating.  But, Clay and Robin found it “challenging.”  My lesson is; don’t try to chase the wind – instead play the current since it ran steady no matter if you had a little wind or not.  At the so-called weather mark, Spirit, Endeavor and Stormy were close together.  Robin went to the right out of the current, followed by Clay – and they finished first and second.  I went left into what I thought was more wind – and we died in the current for a third.  America and Picardy were way back at the “weather mark” (now the leeward mark), so they had a close race to the finish with America edging out Picardy right at the finish.  As we paddled back to the yacht club as might be expected, a nice breeze came in.  Wind, indeed, is fickle.

The après-racing was much better – we had cocktails, showers and a wonderful dinner with three main courses to choose from (soft shell crab, crab cake or chicken).   Joe Kidwell had his family there to observe the racing (not much to see unfortunately).  Miles River Yacht Club was a wonderful host: helping with docking Robin, Joe’s and my powerboats, and locating our Chesapeake 20s in the basin so that all of their members got a good look at our classic boats.   They also provided really great glass trophies with their club seal and an etched Chesapeake 20 symbol.   Hope you put it on your calendar for next year (and there is more wind).

Summer Series:  We had 14 different boats compete in the three summer series races (June 14, July 12 and July 26) with a total of 10 races.  Five C-20s participated in all three events:  Gracie with 25 pts was first, Stormy with 29 pts, second; Endeavor/Mermaid with 46 pts, third; Spirit with 48 pts, fourth; and America with 52 pts, fifth.  We were particularly pleased to see Enterprise and Nova on the race courses.

Tred Avon Y.C. Regatta at Oxford:  If you missed Miles River, you sure don’t want to miss the Tred Avon Y.C. Heritage Regatta in which we join Log Canoes, Comets, Shields, Penguins and occasionally Hamptons.   The regatta is Saturday and Sunday, August 29-30, 2009.  If you want to get a B&B or hotel, I suggest early reservations.  We will have several of our powerboats going over, so berths could also be available.  Please let me know if you are going.  WRSC officials are urging strong participation in the Billy Heintz Annual Regatta on September 4 (race from Annapolis) and September 5-6, 2009.  Hope you have it on your calendar.

Ted