Chesapeake 20 Newsletter

June 22, 2009

 

Next Race:  We are taking a break (and lots of us need it to recover) so our next Summer Series race will be Sunday, July 12, 2009 at the usual start time of 1 PM.  

 

Chesapeake 20 Exhibit: The timing could not have been better.  As the Chesapeake 20 fleet raced up from West River, we arrived on schedule (though quite a long and slow sail) at about 6 PM for the opening of the Hartge Family and Chesapeake 20 exhibit opening.  Peter Tasi announced for those at the reception that “the 20s have arrived” and encouraged attendees to go out on the deck to watch us dock.

 

It is hard to find sufficient words to describe and thank Clay and Pam Taylor (and all of the other C-20 volunteers) for the spectacular exhibit.  Here are the words of Suzanna Hartge which she sent to Pam, Clay and I:

You really did such a fantastic job with the exhibit. 
The "hands-on" part w/knots, centerboards, you name it, was EXACTLY what the museum meant...and you did it PERFECTLY!  What a response we all got...but the Hartge history could never have been remotely complete without your bang-up finale' with Serenade and all of your magnificent graphics, photos and displays.  The Twenties racing on the banner is fantastic.
The poster with Neil and Eleanor (Kramer) was the PERFECT choice.....whew...a real heart-pounder. I could tell, Sally (Kramer), that your parents were deeply moved.
What a phenomenal tribute to the boats...and if it doesn't whet the appetite for future sailors, nothing will.
WONDERFUL!!!!
It really unfolded perfectly as a story and a dramatic one, at that....Jeff (Holland, AMM Director) told me they couldn't have been more pleased.....wow.

 

Many Chesapeake 20 sailors, past and present, were present for the unveiling of the six month exhibit.  I think everyone was proud of their affections for this very unique and special sailboat.  The Hartge exhibit was designed by Peter Tasi and Suzanna Hartge; and the 20 side by Pam and Clay Taylor.

 

Pam Taylor was really the artist that carried out the vision by Clay Taylor that at least I thought was too ambitious.  No one worked harder on the exhibit than Pam who stayed up several nights, some until 3 am to make sure the exhibit was totally professional.

 

We want to thank all of the C-20 sailors who worked on it:  Bob and Glenda Blomquist (for his model and work on the centerboards), Judy Weihe (the button lady), Bert and Sally Sachse (for Serenade and hard work both for making her look fantastic and helping on the display), Ari Schragger (constructed Stormy’s case, among others), Alex DeTessiers (built the stands for the brochures), Peter Bell, Andrew Resnick, Robin Hartge and Todd Shedd were among the 12 who helped move a 6’7” C-20 through a 5’ door and Carole McCullough who painted the columns etc.  Also, we thank our intern, Daniel Lozano for his help with labels.

 

The exhibit runs for six months, and museum would like volunteers to talk about C-20s to the public and probably conduct lectures.  Details will come later.  We want to thank our exhibit sponsors: Annapolis Maritime Museum, ComRent International, Hartge Nautical Museum, National Trust for Historic Preservation, APS, WestRhode Riverkeeper, Spinsheet, E Yacht Builders and USA Weekend.  They helped make it all possible.  Go see it, you’ll be impressed and proud.

 

Race to Annapolis:  We were a little slow getting organized for the race to Annapolis.  A little after 2 PM, we had a clean start under the direction of Bill Adams, our Eastport Yacht Club Pro.  Wind was light from the west and gradually shifted to the northeast.  We were bucking a 1.5 knot adverse current, so conventional wisdom prevailed.  Sail into South River, get around Thomas Pt. and then hug the shore up to Tolly Pt. buoy where the race committee shorted course.  We were an exhausted bunch after over three hours in light shifty airs.  Now, of course I decided (as the weather forecast said) that the sea breeze would fill in.  So off to Bermuda to the right I went, thus spending lots of time in the throat of the current.  The order of finish was:  Aurora (2 hrs and 18 minutes but it seemed longer), Spirit, Resolute, Stormy, Gracie, Picardy, Endeavor, America, Contrary and Enterprise (nearly an hour later).  It was great to see Enterprise back on the race course with her wooden rig.  Several of us got around Thomas Pt. in a slight breeze, but those behind spend plenty of time going backward and forward to make the lighthouse.

 

2009 World Championship.  Conditions did not look promising for the first day of our Worlds with a front moving through, heavy rain and scattered thunderstorms everywhere.  Just as we were about the leave the dock, it poured buckets and then we had a false start and had to go back in because of a thunderstorm moving into the area.  Finally, we got underway at about 11:30 with plenty of wind from the southeast.

 

We held three races in which Gracie won the first two and Stormy the final one as the wind abated.  Just as the first race began, Contrary hit Endeavor (“tee bone”) and both retired.  By the end of the second race, we were all exhausted and several 20s just went in early as they were tired and heard thunder to the north.  Luckily for those that stayed for the last race, the wind died down and it was a drifter to the finish.  Generally, boats that maintained speed in the chop at the start, then went under the cover of the shore faired the best.

 

While Gracie won the first two races, she did not compete in the third.  Spirit was consistent with three seconds for the overall win.  Stormy was second, Enterprise, third, Gracie, fourth, Picardy, fifth and America, sixth.  While we had ten boats, only six were scored for the series, and the others did not complete any races. Mischief and Endeavor retired after their collision; and Aurora and Resolute did not compete.

 

Boat	Skipper	Race 1	Race 2	Race 3	Total
Spirit	R. Hartge	2	2	2	6
Stormy	Weihe	5	4	1	10
Enterprise	Lawrence	3	5	3	11
Gracie	Blomquist	1	1	DNS	13
Picardy	Friery	6	6	4	16
America	Angle	4	3	DNS	17

 

Race “to” West River.  A major front came through on Sunday morning with forecasts of 25 knots with gusts to 30 knots.  We debated whether to just call off the regatta and tow back, or to race back.  We decided to race back with a start off the AMM docks.  It was a wild downwind sail – planning most of the way.  Spirit broke its boomkin and bent the mast at the deck (actually it severed when we pulled it out at the club).  With duck tape over the hole, Endeavor pulled out its main cleat then Clay had to hand sail her.  A spinnaker pole was broken.  Gracie sailed leisurely under jib only.  I led the way to South River and decided to take the main down after several scary gusts, sailed under jib and then put the main back up in West River for the finish.    The order of finish was: Endeavor, Aurora, Resolute, Picardy, Stormy, Contrary and Gracie.  We will long remember this race as the fastest most of us have ever sailed in a 20.  It took less than an hour and half to race from Annapolis to West River.  It has to be a record of some sort. The winds at Thomas Pt. Lighthouse recorded 18 knots with gusts to 20 at 11AM from the north (but felt stronger).

 

We still have World Championship tee shirts available at $15 each for those unable to come to the Worlds, but want a great looking 20 shirt (without a date so it will be good again in two years).  Contact Clay and Pam Taylor to order yours.  Eventually we will be selling the remainder at AMM, so get your order in quickly while your size is available and before they are offered to the public.