Wonderful weekend for C20 fleet
Last weekend was special for the Chesapeake 20 class as the opening of a new exhibit coincided with one of the biggest regattas of the season.
A total of 10 Chesapeake 20s participated in the first West River-to-Annapolis Race held since 1969 and the fleet arrived at the docks of the Annapolis Maritime Museum just in time for the formal opening of an exhibit highlighting the classic race boat.
Clay and Pam Taylor spearheaded design and construction of the Chesapeake 20 exhibit, which will be on display for the next six months at the Annapolis Maritime Museum in Eastport.
It was an impressive exhibit highlighted by the venerable 1930s era Chesapeake 20 named Serenade, owned by Andrew Kramer. It took 12 volunteers considerable time to shoehorn the boat into the museum to be displayed alongside scale models, historical documents, photos and other memorabilia.
"It's hard to find sufficient words to describe the spectacular exhibit. Many Chesapeake 20 sailors, past and present, were present for the unveiling and I think everyone was proud of their affections for this very unique and special sailboat," said Ted Weihe, Chesapeake fleet captain for West River Sailing Club.
Centerpiece of the on-water portion of the weekend celebration was the Chesapeake 20 "world championship" - somewhat of a misnomer since West River Sailing Club is home to the only fleet. Members adopt a country for which they have some sort of affiliation and fly its flag from their stern during the regatta.
Robin Hartge, the longest active Chesapeake 20 skipper on the Chesapeake Bay, showed tremendous consistency in winning the "world" title on the strength of second-place finishes in all three races. Ron Tate crewed for Hartge, whose Spirit was launched in 1939.
Stormy, the regatta runner-up owned by Weihe, is also a 1939 vintage hull. Sally Sachse crewed for Weihe, who won the last race in a drifter and finished four points behind Hartge. Bob Blomquist skippered Gracie to first place in Races 1 and 2, but was too tired to compete in the final race.
There was some excitement during the regatta, which was held in 8-10 knot winds in between thunderstorms on Saturday. Contrary t-boned Endeavor and both Chesapeake 20s were forced to retire.
"Generally, those boats that maintained speed in the chop at the start then went under the cover of the shore fared best," Weihe said. "Robin is a veteran skipper and sailed a very solid, consistent regatta."
There was much debate about whether to conduct a return race to West River in winds that held steady at 18-20 knots with gusts up of 25 and 30. Seven boats decided to brave the elements and enjoyed a wild downwind ride while planing most of the way.
Endeavor, which featured duct tape over the hole in her side, won the race despite yanking out its main cleat and having to be hand-sailed by skipper Clay Taylor. It took the fleet less than an hour to complete the race from the mouth of the Severn River to the mouth of the West River. Longtime class member Totch Hartge reported that was the fastest time for that course since Willy Keyworth did it in 45 minutes back in the 1960s.
Chesapeake 20 Worlds (6 boats)
1, Spirit, Robin Hartge, 2-2-2=6
2, Stormy, Ted Weihe, 5-4-1=10
3, Enterprise, Chuck Lawrence, 3-5-3=11
4, Gracie, Bob Blomquist, 1-1-DNS=13
5, Picardy, Jim Flory, 6-6-4=16