Sailed May 3-4 at the Miles River Yacht Club, St. Michaels, Maryland

The weather Saturday morning was beautiful for star sailing. It was blowing 8-14 knots from the SSW and the temperature was climbing into the 70’s. The first race saw a battle between Dan North and Bob Bradford as they pulled away from the other 6 boats in the shifty conditions. Bob was able to edge Dan out at the finish, while Don Elliott was third followed by Chuck Wiley, Karen Alt, Carroll McCallum, Will Murdoch and Sam Hopkins. The windward leeward courses with the finish at the end of the third beat proved challenging as Ernie Becker and the MRYC race committee did an outstanding job. This format was used throughout the regatta.

The second race saw a few problems. A couple of boats were over early at the start and unfortunately Dan North didn’t hear the bad news till he had rounded the windward mark in good position. Sam Hopkins and Carol Boykin found their jib coming apart at the head and had to call it a day. At the start, a right shift momentarily favored those starting toward the committee boat. Don Elliott and Doug Campbell won followed by Carroll McCallum, Chuck Wiley, Will Murdock, Bob Bradford, and Karen Alt.

Again in the third race, the shifty conditions scrambled the finishes. The wind varied between 180 and 205 degrees with large gains possible on the runs as well. This time Carroll McCallum and Jim got the victory followed by Bob Bradford, Karen Alt, Dan North, Will Murdock, Don Elliott and Chuck Wiley. Too much of a good thing? Maybe. Maybe not! The race committee decided to improve the chances of a complete 5 race regatta by having another race since it was only 3pm and conditions were ideal. Carroll McCallum continued her late day dominance and bested the fleet followed by Don Elliott, Bob Bradford, Will Murdock, Dan North, Karen Alt and Chuck Wiley. As we all dragged ourselves back to the club we wondered at Chuck Wiley’s stamina. How could an 80 + gentleman stay out there with us tired young whippersnappers?

Sunday morning saw a frontal passage followed by patchy fog, which pushed the start back to 11 and the wind to 10-15 knots from the North. This final one race shootout would determine the regatta because the top three boats; McCallum, Bradford and Elliott, were only a point apart. Again close racing, but this time with a steadier breeze. Bradford got an early lead starting at the committee end holding off challenges from Alt and Elliott. As the air lightened, Murdock became a contender on the last run, then, the final beat. Bradford held on to win by less than a boat length and was able to watch the next 3 finishers cross the line overlapped.

So when the regatta results were tabulated (following bloodies at the bar) it was Bob Bradford and Rowan Perkins taking first. Don Elliott and Doug Campbell, second and novice. And Carroll McCallum and Jim Pickering, third (and honored out of town guests). They were followed in close order by Will Mudock and Carl Lankhammerer; Dan North and Jeep Jallede; Karen Alt and Bill Cockayne/Tim Godlee; Chuck Wiley and Tim Paris; and Sam Hopkins and Carol Boykin. Past Commodore Suellen Gargalli presented the trophies in the newly renovated Commodore’s room. All the participants thanked MRYC and Ernie Becker’s Race Committee for a marvelous regatta.