Neal Kramer died on June 8, 2011. He was the last surviving brother of the Kramer family in which four of the five raced Chesapeake 20s. His father, Andrew Kramer who was president of the Annapolis Bank and Trust, financed the construction of twenty Chesapeake 20s in 1939. Neal raced Penguins and Chesapeake 20 and owned Serenade in which he was a successful racer in the early 40s and 60s. Below is a more detailed history of his racing in Chesapeake 20s.
At the age of 83, Millie
Rhodes died on April 8, 2011.Millie
will be most remembered as the newsletter editor for the West River Sailing
Club, and frequent dinner guest at the Friday night cook outs.Millie was a strong supporter of the
Chesapeake 20 class, and for many years participated as a member of the race committee.She owned America
in the 1990s and her pier at the head of West River was frequently used to dock
Chesapeake 20s.She also hosted Chesapeake
20 get-togethers at her home.
An article in the Capital, September 15, 1994, describes Buddy Hartge at 73 winning the Annapolis to West River race in Endeavor #49. Up from Florida, Buddy raced with an oxygen bottle under the stern. Buddy Hartge won his first race at age 14 at the annual WRSC regatta in 1935. He raced with long-time Chesapeake 20 competitor, Joe Atwell. He said about Chesapeake 20s that "These are probably the best boats all around I ever raced. There are three qualities you look for in a boat, looks, speed and comfort, and this has all three." Also, attached is his obituary. He died October 8, 1995 and it notes that he was an owner of Hartge Yacht Yard where his family designed and built Chesapeake 20s.
Alex Schlegel, nephew of Captain Dick Hartge and son of Elsie Wallis, won the Shady Side Rural Heritage Regatta in August 13, 1992. The article in the Capital describes the one day, three race event with a picture of Alex and his crews, Warren Williams and Fred Arnold. Alex and Donna own Resolute#202 which is also pictured in the article.