Fourty-three junior sailors hailing from Norfolk to Annapolis enjoyed a perfect day of racing during the FBYC Junior Regatta on June 29th. Under the direction of event chair Lud Kimbrough, Fishing Bay Yacht Club demonstrated it's commitment to junior sailing by providing three seperate race courses, free hamburgers and hotdogs after the racing, handing out 31 trophies, and FBYC Junior Racing "Cruiser Mugs" to all participants. Read on for details and regatta results
The Laser, 420, and Byte fleets competing off Stove Point on the big-boat course managed by event Race Committee Chair, Stuart Burnett. All three fleets got in six races with a mix of windward/leeward, modified triangle, and olympic courses. Races lasted about 30 minutes each and a short lunch break was given after the first three races.

The outstanding performance of the day was recorded by Devon Feuscihrens of SMSA who won the Byte fleet while throwing out a first! Eliza Strickland of the FBYC was second in the Bytes counting three seconds and two thirds. Meanwhile the middle of the fleet saw close racing with only one point seperating FBYC juniors Franny Kuppersmith, Andrew Wilton, and Anna Stuart Burnett in third, fourth, and fifth, respectively.

Another almost perfect performance was recorded by Martha Gray, a Williamsburg resident sailing for the HYC, who topped the 420 fleet with straight bullets while throwing out a third. She was followed by Charlene Wocters, also sailing for HYC, who counted five straight seconds for her score. The two remaining trophies in the 420 fleet were awarded to HYC juniors Justin Murry, in third, and Taylor Gray in fourth.

The three-boat Laser fleet turned into a duel between Jeff Fink and David Gundlach from HYC, with Fink claiming first with a two point lead.

The Opti Red and Blue fleets competed on the middle course run by FBYC Commodore Strother Scott. The Opti Blue fleet is for experienced 11 & 12 year-olds while experienced Opti sailors who are 13 and older compete in the Red fleet. For this regatta the two fleets started together with finishes being scored within each fleet as well as overall.

Jeorg Wolters of AYC came out on top in the Red fleet and overall followed closely by Blue fleet winner Joe Morris also from AYC, who was second in the combined scoring. Follwoing in their respective fleets were HYC juniors Austin Flowe from the Blue fleet and Kelly Bodie and Sara Flowe of the Red Fleet who took second through fourth in the combined scoring. The highest-placing FBYC junior was Lina Scott who finished fourth in the Red fleet and sixth overall. Sam Stokes of NYCC placed third in the blue fleet and seventh overall while John Loftus of HYC was fifth in Red fleet and eigth overall.

The 14 boat Opti Green fleet was composed of first-year racers of all ages. The Green fleeters sailed on the inner course managed by Gary Bokinsky and completed five races. Eleven of the juniors were from the FBYC program with the remainder hailing from NYCC. FBYC juniors held the first three places with Kathryn Clinard winning the event, Alison Halsey finishing second, and Philip Halsey securing third. Teddy Stokes of NYCC placed fourth followed by two more FBYC juniors, Madeline Alderman in fifth and Halsey Perrin in sixth. Ian Stokes of NYCC took home the seventh place trophy while Taylor Jenkins of FBYC rounded out the silver positions in eighth.

All the junior sailors received an FBYC 2002 Junior Racing mug embossed with the FBYC burgee and class ensignias of the four junior classes as a recognition of their participation in the event and a reminder of the good times they had.

Thanks to our Junior Coaches Blake Kimbrough and Eric Bokinsky who made sure all the boats and marks were ready, ran two of the mark boats, and coached the FBYC kids. Special thanks to the many club members who assisted on the race committee and mark boats, prepared the post-race meal, and support the event in many other ways.

For complete results, see the attached PDF file.