Southern Chesapeake Bay racers were out and about  these past few days.  Southern Bay boats and crew sailed  in the Chicago - Mackinac Race (Meridian 2), the Marblehead to Halifax Ocean  Race (Nanuq), and, of course 16 were at Screwpile 2011 in Solomons, Maryland.

   Some of what happens at Screwpile stays at Screwpile. . .  but not all of it!

    Screwpile Lighthouse Challenge Regatta, aka Screwpile, always has been and still is the favorite destination regatta for southern Bay racers.  The event is a racer's paradise.  They take over the town, the headquarters hotel, and the hearts and minds of anyone within the environs of Solomons Island, Maryland.  There are party legends and there are racing legends and at Screwpile it takes some work to earn your bones as either.  This year, the 19th year, Chairman LG Raley, event PRO Don Behrens, and an army of land and water make-it-happen volunteers, made everything  just as great as usual.  The parties were numerous and boisterous and the racing was exciting and  challenging.

    About the racing:  Each of the three courses got in 3 races on Sunday and 3 on Monday.  On Tuesday, a prediction that the wind was going to evaporate proved accurate and each course got in one race.  The 7th and last race of the regatta proved to be classic Screwpile.  Those who were unfamiliar with  the area currents, the impact of the clay cliffs of Calvert County, and  the vagaries of river wind vs sea breeze  suffered mightily.  Add to that the fact that it  is  July on the Chesapeake, and you got a situation where, as one race officer put it,  "... the racers need to push the skill button today, for sure."   Bringing home Screwpile trophies were:  Midnight Mistress, Jake and Pat Brodersen (HYC/Gloucester), 1st place for the second year in a row in  PHRF Non-Spinnaker ( 2-3-4-1-3-1-2);  Wairere, Pete Hunter (SAYC/Kill Devil Hills, NC), 2nd place in PHRF A1 (7-1-4-1-2-8-2);  The Hunter, Justin Morris (HYC/Virginia Beach) 3rd place in PHRF C (4-8-2-6-8-3-8); and, Black Widow, Leo Wardrup (BBSA/Virginia Beach) 3rd in PHRF Non-Spin (1-2-1-2-4-6-6).

    About the parties:  Yes, racers drank rum - lots of rum.  Yes, individuals (you know who you are!) got "lost" and knocked on the wrong hotel room doors.  Yes, an informal pool party always formed at the headquarters hotel between racing and awards presentations.  And, there were sponsor sponsored parties after official awards parties.  Let it be said the 2011 Screwpile party scene was a significant warm up for the upcoming 2012 TWENTIETH Screwpile Regatta.  Beyond that, the party details are the part of  ". . .what happens at Screwpile [that]  stays in Screwpile!"

    The Screwpile saga started three days before the racing began for the skipper and crew of The Hunter.  Justin Morris, skipper/owner of the PHRF C Hunter 26.5, said early in the lead up week to Screwpile, " We're going to catch the 6pm Thursday night bubble, full moon!"  Of course, the FULL MOON is the key factor - boats full of racing crazies should be setting out under a Full Moon.  Justin and his son Brandon, did just fine on their delivery and in the racing (3rd in class overall).

    "Ladies unmentionables" for the wives and girl friends are a best seller at the regatta apparel table.  Picture the scene this morning.  The penitent and weary racer returns home and says, "Honey, you said not to bring another T-shirt, so I got you these. . . "

    At Screwpile, racers are even acknowledged at local restaurants and in the "little Chinese place near the 7-11", they applaud racers arrivals and departures.

    Southern Bay RESULTS:   PHRF A1 - Wairere, Pete Hunter (2nd);  Voodoo 2, Lissenden-Birch-Krusheinisky (6th).    PHRF A2-1 - Stardancer, John and Beverly Blais (5th);  Double Eagle, Sam Mitchener (12th).    PHRF A2-2 -  Wavelength, Rob Whittet (7th);  Flyer, Peter Quinn (13th).   J105 One-Design - Corryvreckan, David Clark (8th).   PHRF B - Goin', Dennis Hannick (4th);  Wham Bam, David Taylor (7th);  Gremlin, Greg and Carie Cutter (8th).    PHRF C - The Hunter, Justin Morris (3rd);  Pegasus, David Kelsey (7th);  Prophet, Noel Clinard (8th);  Bobinski, Bob Hausmann (12th).    PHRF Non-Spin - Midnight Mistress, Jake and Pat Brodersen (1st);  Black Widow, Leo Wardrup (3rd).   Complete results are available at www.splc.us.

    The Southern Bay has a special connection to Screwpile on the race management side of things, too.  Principle Race Officer for the West Course, John McCarthy, hails from Hampton YC, as do Buk Lawrence (wind boss), Lin McCarthy (line), Sue Stephens (recorder/flags), John Ritter (scorer), and Rob Stephens (flags/wind).  Also, on the West Course signal boat from TPYC was Eric Matherne (timer) and from Fishing Bay YC, Cathy Clark (recorder/flags).  On mark boats from the southern Bay were Rick Klein and Mike Dale, both on the West Course and both from FBYC, and, Brooks Zerkel, also from FBYC, was on a mark boat  on the South Course.

    Annapolis Yacht Club wrested the Battle of the Chesapeake Trophy away for 2010 winners, HYC, and the other contenders at the regatta.  So, southern Bay racers will need to be "battle ready" in 2012, when they return to Screwpile, hopefully to re-capture the BOC Trophy.

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Where was Meridian 2, Sledd Shelhorse's well known Farr 36?  Answer: Meridian was racing her last race for southern Bay owner Sledd Shelhorse and crew.   Sledd will take delivery on a brand new Farr 400 in September or early October (word is the new racing machine is likely to be on display at the Annapolis Sailboat Show).  So, why wasn't Meridian at Screwpile?  Sledd and Ron McLean drove Meridian up to Chicago to do the CHICAGO-MACKINAC RACE  which started for them at 1330 last Saturday.  They were  in the Sport Boat class. This is the oldest continuously run freshwater race in the world. The regular Meridian crew was aboard including: Ron McLean, Mark Wheeler, Ric Bushey, Graham Garrington, Brendan Drinkwater, Jeremiah Dull, and David Flynn.  So, a follow on question, how did Meridian do?  Answer:   Pretty darn good.  They finished first in their class of 12 and  10th overall in the 350 boat fleet.  When contacted early Tuesday morning, Ron McLean, Sledd Shelhorse's long time friend and "main man" on the boat said, "We raced, we sold the boat, and now we're are doing the parties!."  It really doesn't  get any better than that.  NOTE:  Meridian 2 has a new home in Milwaukee.

And, where was Nanuq?  Glenn Doncaster and the Nanuq crew were doing the MARBLEHEAD TO HALIFAX OCEAN RACE.  They finished  fourth in an 11 boat class.  The top three boats in the 90 boat fleet broke the 25 year old race elapsed time record – lots of wind and from the beam or further aft.  Nanuq sailed most of the race under spinnaker.  They encountered and overcame some challenges, including breaking a spinnaker halyard and then re-stringing it while doing 10 knots under the chute.  They saw several whales, two of them right next to the boat.  Most of the crew had never sailed in thick fog and heavy wind which were the prevailing conditions through the second night.  And, to top things off, they blew up the AP spinnaker close reaching about a half mile from the finish in 30 knots of wind. Crew was Glenn, Mike Doncaster, Chris Herndle, Alex O’toole, Matt Newborn, David Clark, David Puckett, Charlie Morgan, and Jerry Latell, who provided this tale of the race.

Now that you are home from Screwpile and the territory beyond, be sure to do the  Moonlight Triangle Race  -   THIS  Saturday, July 23 - organized by Cruising Club of Virginia (CCV)  Contact Bob Thomas (757) 898-9407  This is one of the two CCV summer races and it counts toward the CCV High Point standings.  The start will be in the Bay off Buckroe and the first warning is at 1700 (5pm).  Each of the 6 possible courses is described in the Notice of Race.  Entries are due by TOMORROW, Friday, July 22.  CCV members who have a Racing Membership are automatically entered.  There is no time limit  for this race.  So pack plenty of liquids and enough food to last through the night, in case of the drifties.  IF you cannot finish the race and must quit, you must notify the Race Committee on VHF - 72 that you are dropping out.

505 PACIFIC COAST CHAMPIONSHIPS.  Twenty-four (24) 505’s turned up for three days of racing in Santa Cruz at  the Pacific Coast Championship Regatta.  Tyler Moore, skipper, from Hampton, Virginia,  and Jesse Falsone, crew, finished 4th overall.  There are great action photos and a story at    http://www.pressure-drop.us/forums/content.php?1592-505-Pacific-Coast-Championships-2011

Little Bay Challenge Results:   The Little Bay Challenge, a single headsail-only race organized by Broad Bay Sailing Association and Portsmouth Boat Club took place on Saturday.  Forty (40) boats in four fleets raced in Willoughby Bay;  here are the Fleet Winners:  Bob Archer, Bad Habit;   David Bettis, Surely Boo;  Jack Clayton, Melantho; and Jeff Rogers, Halaha.  The Willoughby Racers (BBSA) won the 2011 Little Bay Challenge. 

York River Moon light Results:   York River Yacht Club ran their annual Moonlight Race Saturday.  Eight boats started the 20+ mile course.  In the spinnaker fleet, Ben Weeks, Rumble, finished 1st, Jim Bordeaux, Solstice, 2nd, and John Haracivet, Midnight Rider, 3rd.  Barry Campbell, Jade, won the PHRF Non-Spinnaker fleet, followed by Larry Davis in Camden.

REMINDER:  JULY 24, Sunday, is the last day to save money  by doing an early entry for the Cape Charles Cup (Aug 20-21).  Contact Scott Almond at (757) 471-2663 or go to www.CCCup.net

MURPHY'S LAW:    With a full moon rising - Yrs Truly, the Racing Beagle, knows that is the only way to deliver a boat to an out-of-town regatta. Perfect conditions on the Bay for perfecting the baying  Beagle's "Ahhhhhhhh Ooooooooh!"   /S/  Murphy the Racing Beagle, the sailing spirit in us all.

RACEBOAT FOR SALE:  Fast and fun and a bargain!  North America’s former Hobie 33 champion “Treaty of Ghent” is for sale.  Upgrades include Harken sail handling gear, nearly-new North Genoas, Nexus networked instruments, new Tuff Luff and aluminum trailer (dunked 5 times).  Strong 9.9 Yamaha OB.  PHRF 96 performance for only $17,500.  Will (617-5084) or Jim (623-2628).     (Advertisement)