The crew of "Prophet" (Sonar 725) enjoyed the 2011 Marblehead NOOD on July 28-31 at the splendid Corinthian Yacht Club at the tip of the Neck in Marblehead, MA.  Noel Clinard and Lud Kimbrough towed the boat up, and Noel back, for a trip of 1465 miles.  Mike Karn flew in to Boston and Paul and Julie Ann Wash drove separately.  Lud, Noel, Mike and Paul sailed in a fleet of 24 Sonars skippered by many of the best members of the class, while Julie Ann tended our needs ashore and saw every sight (and whale) withoin 100 miles.  Although the results were humbling: (22-22-18-20-21-23-12-[24]-24) they improved their understanding of the finer points of tuning the Sonar rig and sailed in fabulous weather in a spectacular sailing venue with 164 boats of numerous classes ( Etchells 22, IODs 10, J 30s 6, J 105s 31, Rhodes 19 30, Sonars 24, Town Class 10, Vipers 19).  They suffered most on the last day in light air and heavy current.  See results here.

The highlight of the trip was enjoying the elegant hospitality of the venerable Corinthian Yacht Club, founded in the 1800s.  Perched on a rocky outcropping at the tip of Marblehead Neck, high above Marblehead Harbor, surrounded by mansions on the waterfront, CYC offers a blend of grand and spacious architecture, superb launching and sailing facilities, an impeccable fleet of launches and Race Committee boats, impeccable service and warm hospitality.  Arriving 2 days early, Noel and Lud launched "Prophet" from a towering hoist facility, featuring a concrete bridge and massive motorized hoist, easily capable of lowering Etchells, Sonars, Rhodes 19s, Town Class and other One Design boats from a frightening height, 30-40 feet above the rocks at low tide.  "Prophet" was assigned a complimentary mooring buoy barely 200 yards from the floating docks and ferried back and forth with barely a wait by the beautiful launches of CYC, or Boston or Eastern Yacht Clubs, which shared their launches with the fleet.  Each day, the sail out of the harbor was magnificent as we rounded Marblehead Rock, or dared follow the local fleet through the narrow cut, sometimes even under spinnaker.  The Race Committees, with personnel wearing white shirts and black ties (as did the launch operators) echoed an earlier yachting era, as did the silver trophy displayed in the clubhouse, a gift from Sir Thomas Lipton. 

Also present, crewing on a J-105 (one of 31) "Bat IV" out of Annapolis, were FBYC members Clark Dennison and Drake Johnstone.  "Bat IV" placed 12 out of 31 with 10-7-3-19-11-[22]   The FBYC sailors shared many a beverage from the Mount Gay delegation hosting the event.

Noel's pictures of the facilities at CYC can be seen here.  Other sailing photos by the event photographer can be found here.