SpinSheet Magazine September 2023

Features

48

Chesapeake Bay Log Canoe Racing

These unique Chesapeake Bay vessels are challenging to sail and a joy to watch.

Photos by John Rock/Tidewater Images

50

A Sneak Peek at the Annapolis Sailboat Show

Cool new products and boats to see at the show, October 12-15, and why you don’t want to miss it.

62

The World’s Toughest Row: Two Women, Four Oars, One Ocean

A sailing professional from Annapolis and her colleague team up for an extraordinary ocean rowing venture.

By Duncan Spencer

64

Fresh Breeze—Let’s Go!

What Cruisers Love About Fall Sailing

Fresh breeze, pleasant temperatures, emptier anchorages, fall foliage, and more reasons to go cruising on the Bay in autumn.

By Beth Crabtree

78

2023 Optimist National Championships in Hampton

In four months, Hampton Yacht Club pulled together volunteers to host a weeklong regatta for team and fleet racing for 247 competitors.

By Maxwell Plarr

79

Late Summer Racing Action

Labor Day events, Governor’s Cup, AYC Two Bridge Fiasco, Oxford Regatta, Race to Baltimore, and more Chesapeake racing news.

presented by Mount Gay ruM

Will Keyworth took this month’s cover shot of Patrick Hylant and his 12-year-old daughter Greer sailing doublehanded at the AYC Two Bridge Fiasco.

# Photo by John Rock

# Photo by Larry French

# Photo courtesy of Martina Sestakova

55 Cruising Life: Watching, Waiting, and Wondering About Hurricanes By John Herlig

57 Charter Notes: Braking in Bequia

By Zuzana Prochazka

58 Bluewater Dreaming: City Life in Guadeloupe

By Cindy Wallach

presented by M yacht services

66 Cruising Club Notes

Cruising Scene Racing Beat

presented by yaZu yachtinG

77 Youth and Collegiate Focus: Optimist Nationals at Hampton YC

79 Racing News

presented by Mount Gay ruM

89 Small Boat Scene: Taking Your Lumps

By Kim Couranz

91 Racer’s Edge: Throw Predictions Away!

By David Flynn of Quantum Sails

For breaking news, photos, and videos, visit spinsheet.com

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Chilly summer air. Not a sensation we sailors feel much on the Chesapeake, unless we stand on the open-air first level of the Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse.

For a dozen of us who rode out to the lighthouse aboard Bodacious from the Annapolis Maritime Museum’s (AMM) campus near the mouth of Back Creek, at first, the sunny August morning felt steamy. My colleague Beth Crabtree ducked into the shade of the boat’s hardtop to get out of the hot sun. As soon as we docked, disembarked, and climbed the first ladder up to the first level, it seemed as if the temperature had dropped.

“They’ve never needed air conditioning out here,” lighthouse manager John Potvin explained.

John is responsible for all aspects of the lighthouse, including fundraising, grant applications, preservation, scheduling all activities, docent activities, and major construction projects. (He’s also a sailor whose Catalina 27 Slam Duck was featured on SpinSheet covers in 1999 and 2013).

Just below the cottage structure, where it felt chilly and a little eerie in the building southerly breeze, John described lightkeepers storing their chickens and coal there. The noise of chop crashing against the rocks below seemed magnified, startling one visitor. The lighthouse manager noted how a few former keepers

By Molly Winans

had carved their names on those rocks. As I looked down at one such name and dates of service, I remembered why I keep coming back to the light: it’s just wonderful.

You can sail past the 1875 screwpile-style lighthouse and take the requisite selfie, and why not? That alone is a cool experience, but to tour the renovated structure and learn about the many lives lived out there in all seasons, in different eras, and in harsh weather brings the history of this National Historic Landmark to life.

This was my third tour in 15 years, the last one being 11 years ago. Back then, much of the interior still felt like a construction site. This time, each room looked complete, peppered with interesting artifacts but not enough to clutter the airy atmosphere of the place.

A surprisingly large group of docents ensured that our tour ran smoothly. The lighthouse tour should be considered “adventure travel.” You must be able to get off a boat in possibly choppy conditions and climb up a couple of ladders, through hatches, and up narrow spiral staircases.

Our excellent tour guide, MaryMarie Quigley, explained each room’s theme (each representing a different era of the lighthouse) and answered questions such as, “What’s a shoal?” or “Can you guess why the assistant keeper slept back here?” Her passion for history and recounting it in a compelling fashion shined through.

Tours for the rest of the 2023 season are sold out, but I highly recommend the tour in 2024 as a holiday or birthday

gift for the sailor in your life. Why not purchase SpinSheet co-founder David Gendell’s book “Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse” and slip a gift certificate for a tour inside?

Tours last for two and a half hours and cost $90 per person. Ticket sales along with fundraisers, donations, and grants fund ongoing maintenance to keep the lighthouse structure solid, safe, beautiful, and open for future generations to discover. Visit thomaspointshoallighthouse. org to learn more.

Thank you to John, MaryMarie, Captain Howard Lewis, and the team of friendly, knowledgeable docents who treated Beth and me to a spectacular Saturday morning at a special place.

# The first level of the lighthouse is below the cottage.

# Thomas Point is a mile and a half away.

A Lifetime Memory Made

Thoughts of getting up at 4 a.m. didn’t sound very appealing; yet on Father’s Day Saturday, Ray made a compelling argument.

“Dad—Ben has to leave at 10 a.m. tomorrow, and I really want to take him out sailing. Let’s go for first light?”

I wanted Ben to love sailing, too. Ray was up before me and rallying his buddy. The teen set a schedule and kept it as he is prone to do. That was the first sign that this was going to be a special day.

When Ray was a toddler, Saturday morning used to be for watching cartoons—loved by his brother and sister, but not Ray. We’d find Ray building something or taking something apart. At four years old, our middle child insisted on accompanying me to Hudson, NY, a four-hour drive, to buy (my sailboat) Whisper, from her prior steward, Louise Bliss. Ray got up early that morning, too.

Now at 19, he is rebuilding a family boat, a Whitney Alberg yawl he renamed Bliss and has earned the trust of many clients (including his dad) at Lankford Bay Marina where he works as a rigger.

Instead of cartoons, 10-15 knot winds entertained us with puffs to 20. We made the decision to go with a full main and blade, knowing we would spend the dawn hours on the windward rail. A lifetime memory resulted, not only for Ben, who uniquely experienced the sport of sailing, but for a father and his beloved son.

Anthony Tomassetti

Water Trails for Baltimore

Imagine paddling on a water trail in Baltimore Harbor. You start at a well-marked public access point, rent a kayak, and follow a designated route with a pre-determined rest stop. Along the way you see lots of shoreline that you’d never noticed before, and you learn something new about Baltimore, its history, and the environment.

In August, Maryland state and local officials, with representatives of the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore, unveiled a master plan for a network of such trails. Called the Baltimore Blueway, the water trails and public access points are designed for urban paddlers to connect to cultural, historical, and natural sites throughout the Baltimore waterfront.

If you’ve never heard the term “blueway,” it is simply a designated route designed for small, non-motorized watercraft, such as kayaks, canoes, row boats, and standup paddleboards; it is a water trail. The proposed trails for the Baltimore Blueway would span a three-mile radius, have well-defined access points, and suggested rest stops.

Developed by the Waterfront Partnership’s Healthy Harbor Initiative alongside governmental, academic, and community partners throughout the harbor, the plan’s unveiling in August came at the end of a yearlong planning phase that included reviews and comments by recreational users of Baltimore Harbor.

“One goal of the Blueway is to build the necessary infrastructure to entice equipment rental companies to set up shop in Baltimore,” says Adam Lindquist, vice president of programs and environ-

mental initiatives at the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore. “You can already rent kayaks at one location at Baltimore Peninsula. We will be adding new public kayak launches in the Inner Harbor and Fells Point next spring and are already meeting with potential rental companies. Providing storage racks for paddlers to use while visiting attractions is another goal of the Blueway and something we will be looking into providing as new access points come online,” he says.

The interconnected access points and rest stops, some already existing and some proposed, are located throughout the Inner Harbor and Middle Branch. Eight named trails have been suggested and designed for paddlers of various skill levels. At the Inner Harbor promenade

near Rash Field, a launch area is scheduled to open next spring.

The Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore, in collaboration with government, business, and community partners, is an organization that creates a clean, green, safe, sustainable, and thriving urban waterfront for all to enjoy. The partners view the waterfront as the meeting place where all of the diverse neighborhoods throughout our city visit to connect, shop, dine, and learn about the ecosystem that vitalizes the region–our water. The partnership’s Healthy Harbor Initiative works to restore and protect the city’s harbor and educate the public about what is beneath the surface and how to fight for the urban ecosystem. Learn more at waterfrontpartnership.org

# Photo courtesy of Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore

Legislation Introduced for the Chesapeake National Recreation Area

On June 27, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen and Congressman John Sarbanes introduced the Chesapeake National Recreation Area Act, which, if passed into law, would create the Chesapeake National Recreation Area (CNRA), a land-based, 21st-century park, uniting new and existing National Park Service sites and trails, as well as partner parks, to increase public access to the Chesapeake Bay and create a national parkworthy visitor experience for all to enjoy.

Co-sponsors include Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md), Mark Warner, and Tim Kaine (both D-Va), and U.S. Representatives Don Beyer (D-Va), Gerry Connolly (D-Va), Steny Hoyer (D-Md), Glenn Ivey (D-Md), Jennifer McClellan (D-Va), Kweisi Mfume (D-Md), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Jamie Raskin (DMd), Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md), Bobby Scott (D-Va), David Trone (D-Md), and Rob Wittman (R-Va).

One year ago, a July 2022 public opinion poll showed profound support for National Park Service status for the Chesapeake, with 83 percent of Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC, respondents in favor of establishing a CNRA. A congressional working group was formed in June 2022, and draft legislation was shared in November 2022. Hundreds of public comments were submitted.

National Parks Conservation Association president and CEO, Theresa Pierno, said, “There is only one Chesapeake Bay, and everyone deserves a chance to experience its wonders. Working together to create a Chesapeake National Recreation Area would expand public access to the largest estuary in the world, bring economic growth to nearby communities, and help the National Park Service, native Tribes, and Chesapeake

watermen interpret thousands of years of impactful history. Introducing legislation is the next step to make the dream of this park a reality.”

Chesapeake Conservancy president and CEO, Joel Dunn, notes that this is “a more than 30-year-long dream come true.” He says, “Establishing the CNRA expands resources for environmental protection... As a great gift to future generations, this legislation ensures everyone’s right to visit and recreate on our nation’s largest estuary while balancing the needs of those who live here and depend on the Bay for their livelihood.”

Learn more about United4CNRA, a coalition of organizations and people advocating for the CNRA, at united4cnra.com

# Photo by Will Keyworth

Youth Sailing Virginia Welcomes Its First Executive Director

Last month, as their first executive director, Youth Sailing Virginia (YSV) appointed Jacob Raymond, a seasoned professional with more than 14 years of experience in community sailing programs. Raymond’s unwavering commitment to sharing the benefits of sailing with individuals from diverse backgrounds has guided him in his career.

“I am both humbled and thrilled to embark on this journey with YSV,” expressed Jacob. His arrival comes at a momentous juncture, as the organization plans a 10year anniversary to celebrate facilitating the youth in Hampton Roads and beyond with unparalleled access to the sport of sailing.

“We’re ecstatic to welcome Jacob onboard… with (him) at the helm, we’re poised to elevate our programs and facility to unprecedented heights,” said co-founder Gary Bodie.

Raymond’s track record includes his previous role as the inaugural executive

Quest Pedestal

director at Community Sailing New Orleans, where he pioneered youth initiatives, spotlighting STEM education and maritime career exploration, and established adaptive sailing programs. Amidst the challenges posed by a pandemic and subsequent hurricanes, Raymond navigated Community Sailing New Orleans to serve more than 1400 individuals annually.

Raymond’s experience at Sail Nauticus in Norfolk, VA, further enhances his understanding of the Hampton Roads region’s unique maritime landscape. Prior to his time in Southeast Virginia, Raymond’s career took flight at College of Charleston Sailing, where he held the position of director of education. In this role, he orchestrated comprehensive adult and youth programs, championed initiatives for individuals with diverse physical and intellectual abilities, and collaborated

with the College of Charleston’s Math and Science Department to forge an innovative STEM-centered sailing curriculum.

As well as being an experienced Instructor Trainer for U.S. Sailing, Raymond also serves as a volunteer on the U.S. Sailing’s Community Sailing Committee and Nominating Committee. In 2016 U.S. Sailing bestowed upon him the prestigious Martin A. Luray Award, the highest accolade in the realm of community sailing.

Raymond says, “YSV has carved a distinctive niche as an inclusive and hospitable haven. I am thrilled to join the team, collaborating with a remarkable board of directors and dedicated staff to further our mission of enriching the community.”

Learn more at youthsailingva.org.

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Unsolved Mystery on the Chesapeake in 1900

Patuxent River boater, angler, and author Carol Booker recently published a new book called “The Waterman’s Widow” about a real-life whodunit that fascinated Marylanders in 1900. We reached out to learn more:

How did you come up with the idea for this nonfiction book?

While researching my book on the history of Cove Point, I came upon a 1900 Baltimore Sun news report about an oysterman’s mysterious death on Solomons Island… I found the story absolutely compelling and made up my mind to share it as my next book. Tell us about your “incredibly fun” research process.

I began on the internet, reading the newspaper accounts of the shooting, inquest, public reaction in the waterman’s community, and events leading up to the widow’s trial

for murder. My research took me to a number of places from Leonardtown to Baltimore… Several visits to the Maryland State Archives turned up important court records, such as Calvert County’s grand jury logs and indictments… Other trips included the St. Mary’s County and Calvert County historical societies and the Calvert Marine Museum research library… Every one of these “field trips” was like a treasure hunt!

What did you learn about the life of a 1900 waterman?

I learned a great deal besides the fact that oystering in 1900 was a backbreaking occupation, and that winters in those days were colder than in modern times… By 1900 the oyster population in the Chesapeake had been severely depleted. The U.S. Fish Commission warned that unless remedial actions were taken, the industry could plunge into

insignificance in 20 years. But it took money to replenish the oyster beds, and by 1900, after a decade of diminishing returns, few oystermen had any money to invest. This was the dilemma Capt. Littleton Condiff was facing when he was shot in his bed on a moonlit night in September 1900—possibly because of the decision he’d made in the face of that dilemma. Find both books at the St. Mary’s and Calvert County Historical Society bookstores, the Calvert Marine Museum, and online booksellers.

Bring Out Your Inner Willy Wonka

Imagine being under the sea and looking up to see the Schooner Virginia. That’s just a taste of what young visitors will experience when exploring the new exhibit called Aquaticus at the maritime discovery center, Nauticus, in Norfolk. The fanciful and colorful ship will float high above their heads. It is part of the second of five new exhibit galleries that are part of Reimagine

Nauticus, a redesign project expected to be completed next year.

“Aquaticus is a real first for us,” said Nauticus president and CEO, Stephen Kirkland. “It’s purposefully designed to be enjoyed by multi-generational families, and it’s just plain fun. It brings out my inner Willy Wonka.”

The adjacent redesigned aquarium exhibit called Our Nautical Neighbors is also open and features all new fish, tanks, and educational content and showcases species found in the Elizabeth River and Chesapeake Bay.

Those interested in coastal city resiliency will be fascinated by the new explore the Norfolk in Time exhibit, which opened earlier this year. Visitors are invited to imagine ascending over Norfolk in a hot air balloon simulation. Once “above” the city, they may look down and design a more resilient metropolis. Next they learn what

could happen if waves crashed into various types of city protection systems.

More new exhibits are scheduled to open next year. They will focus on topics such as the Port of Virginia, the Navy’s role in shaping our future, and skill-based “maker” activities. A refreshed visitor entryway is also planned.

The entire Reimagine Nauticus project is a $21.5 million transformation. The transformation is the largest enhancement and investment in Nauticus since it opened in 1994. The comprehensive project will parallel newly created “STEM to Stern” programming and chart a course for the next generation of families, learners, and professionals.

Nauticus is located along the waterfront in downtown Norfolk and is designed for all ages to enjoy marine discovery. Nauticus uses the museum, Battleship Wisconsin, a sailing center, and Schooner Virginia to tell the story of the maritime environment, industry, and the military. For more information, visit nauticus.org

# Aquaticus is one of serveral new exhibits at Nauticus, the maritime discovery center in Norfolk. Photo courtesy of Nauticus

Classic Wooden Sailboats Race Again in Annapolis

The Annual Classic Wooden Sailboat Race will continue its exciting tradition of showcasing the history and elegance of classically designed wooden sailboats during the weekend of September 9-10 in Annapolis.

This fun gathering will be a beautiful spectacle and informal opportunity for wooden sailboat enthusiasts to come together and compete in a low-key race against other wooden sailboats. The race is open to sailing vessels designed before 1970 with an overall length on deck of less than 65 feet and a hull built primarily of wood.

“This race is truly a lot of fun. We encourage anyone with a wooden sailboat (which meets the race criteria) to register. No race experience is required. For many of the racers, this is the only event they compete in. What the race gives them though is an opportunity to show off their boat, get advice from other wooden sailboat owners, and have a great time out on the water with their families, friends,

and pets,” said Marie Museler, former race organizer.

The race, hosted by the Chesapeake Traditional Sailing Association and Eastport Yacht Club, will take place on Sunday, September 10 at 11 a.m. on the Severn River at the entrance to Annapolis Harbor (weather permitting). The course is a pursuit-style race; the slowest boats will start first followed by the fastest, and the winner of each class will be determined by the length of time it took for them to complete the course.

If you are interested in participating in the race but do not own or have access to a classic wooden sailboat, the Schooner Woodwind crew once again invites you to participate aboard their boats which will be racing in the Spirit of Tradition Class. Tickets

prices include a 3.5-hour cruise, bagged lunch, soft drinks, bottled water, and tax. There will also be a cash bar (schoonerwoodwind.com).

Past participating boats have ranged in size from eight feet to 65 feet and come from as far as Canada and Australia. To register, visit eastportyc.org/classic. Registration closes on Thursday, September 7. For race announcements, follow: facebook.com/classicwoodensailboatrace

# Photo by Kate Gahs

EYC Foundation Grants Over $20K in Marine and Maritime Scholarships

The EYC Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Eastport Yacht Club, has awarded scholarships totaling over $20,000 to a group of exceptional students. These scholarships will facilitate their pursuit of marine and maritime education.

Each student will receive $1000 per semester, contingent upon maintaining academic excellence and dedicating themselves to the marine and maritime industries. Becky Ranzenbach, chair of the EYC Foundation, says, “We are thrilled to provide support to these students as they embark on their educational journeys.”

For the 2023-2024 academic year, six new students have been selected to receive scholarships. They are:

Caleb Brockett from Adamstown, MD, will continue to study naval architecture at Webb Institute in New York. After his undergraduate studies, he plans to pursue a Master’s degree in naval architecture. He is considering a career in either ship design with the Naval Surface Warfare Center or in commercial maritime salvage.

Luke Carter from Riva, MD, will study composite boat building at the Landing School in Maine. After his first year at the Landing School focusing on composite boatbuilding, Luke plans to study yacht design or marine systems during his second year. He plans a career in the marine industry as a yacht designer or owning his own business.

# Caleb Brockett

# Luke Carter

Archer Crane of Malvern, PA, will study marine engineering at Maine Maritime Academy. Archer, who spent nine months sailing the world on the Norwegian tall ship Sorlandet, plans to earn an undergraduate degree and an unlimited tonnage engineering officer’s license and pursue a career as an engineering officer aboard a ship with the goal of advancing to Chief Engineer.

Zachary Hardy of Falls Church, VA, will study marine transportation at Maine Maritime Academy. While earning his degree and an unlimited tonnage deck officer’s license, Zachary will consider career options as a Coast Guard officer, a ship’s officer on a commercial ship, or work in the yachting industry.

Julia Kruesi from Annapolis, MD, will study marine science at the University of Delaware. After completing her degree, Julia wants to help communities tackle marine environmental challenges. Her focus will be on marine pollution and ecosystem sustainability.

Beatrice Waterman from Catonsville, MD, will study marine transportation at Massachusetts Maritime Academy. After earning an undergraduate degree and an unlimited tonnage deck officer’s license, Beatrice intends to make her career in sailboat racing.

Additionally, the EYC Foundation has renewed scholarships for seven reapplicants. Learn more at eycfoundation.org

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# Beatrice Waterman

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Chesapeake Calendar presented by

2

For more details and links to event websites, visit spinsheet.com/calendar

September

cbmm charity boat Auction

Starting at 11 a.m. dozens of boats and watercraft, ranging in size and performance from cabin cruisers to sailing dinghies and everything in between, will be auctioned off to the highest bidders with no minimums or reserves. The gates open at 8 a.m. for this rain-or-shine event. All sales directly benefit CBMM’s education programs and the restoration and preservation of its historic structures and boats. There’s also a flea market, and food and beverages for sale. At the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, MD.

8-9 havre de Grace Waterfront Festival

The festival will kick off with a lighted boat parade on Friday evening: $10 registration fee at boatparadehdg. eventbrite.com or call (410) 939-2100.

The boats will cruise along the shoreline from the Amtrak bridge to the Concord Point Lighthouse Park. The festival runs from 5 to 11 p.m. and the boat parade starts at 8 p.m. On Saturday, enjoy the festival at Concord Point Park from 3 to 9 p.m. Live music, food trucks, beer garden, vendors, demonstrations, and a thrilling acrobatic show by The Pirates of the Colombian Caribbean. Fireworks will begin at 8 p.m.

9

18th Annual boatyard beach bash

4:30 to 10 p.m. at the Annapolis Maritime Museum. Soak in the sounds of Key West with live music by members of Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer band (among others). $150 general admission includes an open bar and a delicious meal! Presented by the Boatyard Bar & Grill. Raises funds for the museum’s environmental programs.

9 shaw bay raftup concert

Bring your dinghy, paddleboard, kayak, sailboat, or powerboat, and join the floating raftup to enjoy live music in Shaw Bay, near the mouth of the Wye River. Presented by ShoreRivers and the Miles-Wye Riverkeeper. The Eastport Oyster Boys will be making their 20th appearance and the Wye River Band will be back for their fourth at this free concert (donations are welcome), which aims to raise funds and awareness for clean water efforts on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

9 blue Water bash

2 to 5 p.m. at Barcocina in Baltimore, MD. Three hours of celebration that also provides vital support for Blue Water Baltimore’s programs across the watershed. On this 15th anniversary, they hope to raise $120,000.

9 third Annual portsmouth paddle battle

9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the Elizabeth River in Portsmouth, VA. SUP and kayak categories. New race option this year for tandem kayaks and canoes. The race course will once again be from High Street Basin in Olde Towne to the Hammerhead Crane on the Shipyard and back. Live music, food and drinks, prizes, events for children, and more. Proceeds will help The Friends support the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum and the Lightship Portsmouth Museum. Register: friendsofportsmouthnsm.org

10 Free Kids Fishing tournament

Hosted by North Bay Fishing Club from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Registration at 8:30 a.m. at North East Community Park, 250 West Walnut St., North East, MD. For age groups 5-8, 9-12, and 13-16. Loaner fishing rods and bait available or bring your own. Free picnic lunch for all with hot dogs, water, and snacks. RSVP to Daniel R. at dano5191@aol.com or Stan C. at stanleycebula@gmail.com

12 America’s boating courseboater safety education

America’s Boating Course, an eight-hour presentation open to the public on boating safety, equipment, rules of the road, buoys, and safe operations. Course meets four consecutive Tuesdays from 7 to 9 p.m. in Pasadena, MD. Price is $35. Contact Lou Kates at lmkates@comcast.net or (410) 937-0338 or (410) 272-0079 for registration. Presented by the Patapsco River Power Squadron/ America’s Boating Club Patapsco River.

Great Crabcakes • A Healthier Bay Sailing Fast • Fishing with Friends • Happy Kids

Committed to

14 ‘her helm’ exhibit opening and talk at cbmm

Through her portrait project, “Her Helm,” photographer Kristin Rutkowski documents female boat captains. Find an exhibit of her photographs and hear the background of her book project. 5:30 p.m., Van Lennep Auditorium, Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, St. Michaels, MD.

14-24 eYc Foundation Virtual Auction

This once-a-year fundraising effort helps continue Eastport Yacht Club Foundation’s annual programs like 5th Grade Stem Through Boating, Junior Sailing Scholarships, High School Marine and Maritime Career Expo, and more than $30,000 in Marine and Maritime Scholarships. Choose from dozens of fabulous items: cruises, getaways, dining experiences, local art, jewelry, and more at charityauction.bid/eycfoundation

Charity Boat Auction

16 oysters, blues, and brews

12 to 8 p.m. at Port Covington Marina in Baltimore, MD. Closes out the 2023 Chesapeake Fishing Open with a celebration of fresh oysters, soulful blues, and cold brews. Open to the public and free to attend.

24 south county Festival and crab Feast

1 to 6 p.m. at Herrington Harbour North in Tracys Landing, MD. Hosted by Southern Anne Arundel Chamber of Commerce. The festival is open to all for no cost—browse local vendors including farmers. Crab feast costs $100 ($35 for kids 10 and under and free for kids three and under).

26-30 trawlerfest baltimore

At Harbor East Marina in Baltimore, MD. In-water boat show with new and pre-owned cruising powerboats, firstclass education and demonstrations, the latest in marine products and services, and opportunities to share cruising adventures with fellow cruisers and industry experts.

28 the World is Your oyster Fest

5 p.m. at the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore, MD. A bivalve-lovers’ bash celebrating Chesapeake Bay oyster restoration! This is a fundraising event for Oyster Recovery Partnership, the nonprofit expert in Chesapeake Bay oyster restoration. Tickets: $125 at oysterrecovery.org

30 - Oct 1

sscA conference and Gam Seven Seas Cruising Association hosts its annual event at Maryland Yacht Club in Pasadena, MD. Slips and anchorage available. Registration opens July 15.

Do you have an upcoming event? send the details to:

editor@spinsheet.com

September Racing through Sep 26

bcYA tuesday night series Hosted by Baltimore City Yacht Association.

1-3

FbYc stingray point regatta

Hosted by Fishing Bay Yacht Club, Deltaville, VA.

2 Annapolis Labor Day regatta

3

9-10 iLcA Laser masters championship

Hosted by Fishing Bay Yacht Club, Deltaville, VA.

9-10 ssA J/70 invitational

Hosted by Severn Sailing Association, Annapolis, MD.

10

hYc middle Ground Light race

Hosted by Hampton Yacht Club.

10

Hosted by Annapolis Yacht Club.

J/105 Women’s regatta

Second annual event to be held off Annapolis. Hosted by the Sailing Club of the Chesapeake.

9 tri-services regatta

Hosted by Old Point Comfort Yacht Club, Norfolk Naval Sailing Association, and Lynn Haven YC.

9 Fall race to oxford

Hosted by USNA Varsity Offshore Sailing Team, Annapolis.

tAYc hammond regatta

Hosted by the Tred Avon YC. Open to ORC, PHRF, CRCA, CHESSS, Multihull, J/105, and Alberg 30.

16 hampton roads sunfish challenge and Dinghy Distance race

Hosted by Hampton Yacht Club.

16 hospice cup Annapolis, MD.

23

AYc Fall race to solomons

Hosted by Annapolis Yacht Club.

23 opcYc Yankee station series 6

Hosted by Old Point Comfort Yacht Club, Hampton, VA.

23 seafarers regatta

Hosted by Eastport Yacht Club and the Seafarers Foundation, Annapolis, MD.

24 ccVr Fall series 2

Hosted by CCV Racing, Southern Chesapeake Bay.

24 tAYc Fall open series

Hosted by the Tred Avon YC. Open to PHRF, One-design Melges 24, and Star.

27 - Oct 25

bbsA oktoberfest

Wednesday evenings. Hosted by Broad Bay Sailing Association, Norfolk, VA.

29 - Oct 1

rrYc hospice turkey shoot regatta

Hosted by Rappahannock River Yacht Club, Irvington, VA.

30 bbsA neptune’s Atlantic regatta

Hosted by Broad Bay Sailing Association, Norfolk, VA.

30 - Oct 1

AYc Fall series

Hosted by Annapolis Yacht Club.

October

3-8 Great chesapeake bay schooner race

Schooner race to Norfolk. Founded to promote public awareness of the Bay’s maritime heritage and encourage preservation and improvement of its natural resources. Educational and visitor events in Baltimore and Norfolk. Parade of sail in Baltimore Harbor Oct. 4. Race start near Bay Bridge at noon Oct. 5.

5 changemakers: celebrating environmental Leaders

5 to 8:30 p.m. in Baltimore, MD. This year’s annual fundraising event will bring together over 350 of our state’s most influential elected officials, business leaders, and environmental advocates to celebrate clean water, healthy air, and environmental justice. Presented by Maryland League of Conservation Voters.

5-8 Annapolis powerboat show Walk the docks in Historic Annapolis and explore new boats as well as boating supplies, navigation equipment, fishing gear, clothing, and marine accessories.

5-15 Weems & plath tent sale

Huge savings on discounted, overstock, and sample items. At 214 Eastern Avenue in Annapolis. October 5-15 from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

12-15 Annapolis sailboat show

Sailors from around the globe gather on miles of docks in historic Annapolis to experience hundreds of new and premiering boats, boating gear and accessories, financing options, all while enjoying tasting tents and connecting with fellow boaters.

14 party in the port

6 to 10 p.m. at Eastport Yacht Club (EYC) in Annapolis, MD. EYC’s boat show bash featuring live music, food, libations, and more. Tickets $20 in advance and $25 at the door.

21 hart-miller island run

Registration includes a race shirt, transportation to and from the island, and a race experience like no other. The race is limited to 120 registrants. The course is a complete a loop of the island (5.3 miles). The race benefits the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Friends of Maryland State Park Foundation.

27-29 sultana Downrigging

One of the largest annual tall ship gatherings in North America. A long weekend of Tall Ship sails, tours, live bluegrass music, lectures, exhibits, family activities, regional food, and more. Chestertown, MD.

28 oyster roast for Youth sailing Virginia

9th Annual Oyster Roast offers all-youcan-eat oysters, great food, craft beer from a local brewery, wine, and more. Supports YSV programs.

Net proceeds from the event will be donated to the Seafarers Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) registered Maryland Charity with a purpose to support underserved communities in Maryland, especially through its youth and senior activities.

For more information, contact: regatta@seafarersyc.com

Chesapeake Bay - Mouth of the Severn River

October Racing through Oct 25

bbsA oktoberfest

Wednesday evenings. Hosted by Broad Bay Sailing Association, Norfolk, VA.

through Oct 1

rrYc hospice turkey shoot

regatta Hosted by Rappahannock River Yacht Club, Irvington, VA.

through Oct 1

AYc Fall series

Hosted by Annapolis Yacht Club.

4-25 ccVr octoberfest series

Wednesdays in October.

Hosted by CCV Racing, Southern Chesapeake Bay.

7 bbsA Willoughby memorial race

Hosted by Broad Bay Sailing Association, Norfolk, VA.

7 opcYc thimble shoals challenge

Hosted by Old Point Comfort Yacht Club, Hampton, VA.

7-8 AYc Fall series 2 Hosted by Annapolis Yacht Club.

7-8 tAYc Fall star Wind Up

Hosted by Tred Avon YC. Open to Star, Melges 24, and Shields.

8 ccVr Fall series 3

Hosted by CCV Racing, Southern Chesapeake Bay.

14 bbsA championship for the bold mariner cup

Hosted by Broad Bay Sailing Association, Norfolk, VA.

15 ccVr triple tunnel race

Hosted by CCV Racing, Southern Chesapeake Bay.

15 tAYc Fall open series

Hosted by the Tred Avon YC. Open to PHRF, One-design Melges 24, and Star.

20-22 J/22 and J/24 east coast championships

Hosted by Severn Sailing Association, Annapolis, MD.

20-22 snipe north American championships

Hosted at Norfolk Yacht & Country Club.

21 bcYA harbor cup

Hosted by Baltimore City Yacht Association, Baltimore, MD.

21 opcYc ‘round the Lights race

Hosted by Old Point Comfort YC, Hampton, VA.

21-22 J/105 chesapeake bay championships

Hosted by Annapolis Yacht Club.

28 J/70 Fall brawl

Hosted by Eastport Yacht Club, Annapolis, MD.

28-29 halloween howl

Opti regatta hosted by Annapolis Yacht Club.

29 tAYc Fall open series Hosted by the Tred Avon YC. Open to PHRF, One-design Melges 24, and Star.

29 - Nov 26

hYc Frostbite series Hosted by Hampton Yacht Club on Sundays.

Party in the ‘Port is Eastport Yacht Club’s boat show bash featuring live music by A Classic Case, the high energy, six piece, all classic rock band of Stan & Joe’s Tavern fame that will have you dancing and singing all night long! Burgers, Hotdogs, Loaded Tots, EYC’s famous libations, and more will be available for purchase.

Make sure to visit Eastport Yacht Club at the Annapolis Sailboat Show (Booth AB23) and learn about EYC’s Light’s Parade, Jr. Fleet, and more!

Getting Started With a Fractional Boat Membership

As this issue of SpinSheet hits the docks, Erika Blackburn and Keanne Henry will have recently sailed their new-to-them Hunter, Lagniappe, to St. Michaels for the Universal Sailing Club’s 10th annual Souls at Sea Ceremony honoring lives lost during the middle passage. The event was hosted by the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, and the couple had plans to spend time there and to raft-up for the on-water remembrance ceremony. Here Erika and Keanne give us a peek into their sailing journey in their own words.

Finally, it was the right time to sail

We always talked about learning to sail but never seemed to find the right time. We finally got into sailing together during the coronavirus pandemic. At the time, it seemed like sailing would be an opportunity to get out of the house and travel a bit despite everything going on around us. We took American Sailing Association (ASA) courses 101 and 103 at SailTime Annapolis and loved it. We immediately joined SailTime to become members on one of their boats, so we could get time on the water to develop our skills.

In addition to the formal ASA courses, we worked with a couple of SailTime’s captains for half-day private lessons to improve various skills. We credit Captain Jeff with our docking skills. Thanks to him, Keanne is masterful at maneuvering in tight spaces and tricky docking scenarios. We also have taken a few online courses through NauticEd, and we spend a lot of time watching sailing YouTube channels to pick up some knowledge more informally.

Exploring the Bay

This is our third season sailing SailTime Annapolis’s 35-foot Beneteau. We’ve spent these seasons exploring the Chesapeake

Bay. We love day sailing out to our favorite lunch spots, Pirate’s Cove (on the West River), Cantler’s (off Whitehall Bay), or Libby’s (Kent Island). Sometimes we grab a friend or two and anchor out somewhere nice for a dip and a picnic. We do weekend destination sails with our sailing club friends. Rock Hall and Herrington Harbour have been our favorite places to overnight with fellow club members. What surprised you about sailing? We didn’t know how important it would be to understand how to maneuver the boat under power. We spent our first off-season studying all about sail trim, but with a 30-foot boat you also need to know how to motor safely when leaving and returning to the dock.

We also didn’t realize that sailing would be one of those experiences that continues to present new challenges. There’s so much to consider, and you’re always learning and growing.

Joining a sailing club and buying a boat.

We are hooked on sailing. We joined the Universal Sailing Club, which is a community of black sailors who sail the

Chesapeake together. Erika is the club’s social chair, and Keanne is the membership chair.

We recently purchased a 1993 Hunter 30T Lagniappe with a friend from our club. We keep her at Magothy Marina, and we’ve been doing small boat projects all summer to get her ready. In the future, we’re hoping to sail a DelMarVa circumnavigation and to bareboat charter in Martha’s Vineyard and the Caribbean.

What would you say to someone who is curious about learning to sail?

We’d recommend taking a few ASA courses and joining a sailing club to get some time on the water with other folks interested in learning.

Did you encounter any obstacles or barriers when you began sailing?

The biggest barriers were not knowing the Chesapeake, not knowing any other sailors, and not really having any real-life experiences sailing. The sailing club we joined has been great for us. We have so many new friends who share our interest in being on the water.

As told to Beth Crabtree

Why New and Aspiring Sailors Attend Boat Shows

Sailboat shows aren’t just for experienced sailors looking to purchase big boats and expensive gear. Such shows are also designed to help new and aspiring sailors get started sailing. Here are a few reasons a new sailor might want to attend a boat show.

Sailing Schools: Most sailing schools send representatives to sailboat shows. At the Annapolis Sailboat Show you’ll find courses that you can take right here on the Chesapeake Bay as well as courses offered during the winter in vacation spots such as the Caribbean. Talk to representatives from several schools. Ask lots of questions. You may want to start by inquiring about the types of boats the school uses and why, instructor to student ratio, price, and your options for access to time on the water on the schools’ boats after the course ends.

Get out on a boat: At the Annapolis Sailboat Show, October 12-15, the First Sail Workshop gives would-be sailors a taste of sailing with 45 minutes of classroom instruction and 90 minutes sailing with an instructor on a boat. Reservations are required at annapolisboatshows.com. Even without taking a class, you may board most of the boats on display and get a feel for which types seem most comfortable to you. Shop for sailing gear: Boat shows are known as places to find good deals on prices. Whether you’re shopping for your first pair of sailing shoes or sailing gloves, a lifejacket, or some quick-dry shorts, you’ll find everything you need

to get started (but remember, if you’re an outdoorsy person, most of what you need is probably already in your closet!)

Dream: Whether you dream of sailing a small boat, cruising overnight on the Chesapeake Bay, or vacationing on a sailboat in the Caribbean, at a big boat show you will find all kinds of inspiring displays and knowledgeable people to help flesh-out your dream and make it come true.

New sailors or those returning to sailing may want to seek instruction or coaching at a sailing school or club. Many such organizations exist on the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. They offer certifications for beginners, returning sailors hoping to brush up on seamanship skills, cruisers seeking bareboat chartering or navigation experience, and racers wanting to hone their skills. The following is a sampling of schools and clubs that offer sailing instruction on the Chesapeake. For a more complete list of schools offering certifications outside this region, visit US Sailing or American Sailing.

• Annapolis Sailing School annapolissailing.com

• Annapolis Naval Sailing Association ansa.org

• Blue Water Sailing School bwss.com

• Captain In You Sailing Schools, Inc. captaininyou.com

• DC Sail dcsail.org

• J/World Annapolis jworldannapolis.com

• SailTime sailtime.com/annapolis

Find a Sailing School art

• Sail Solomons sailsi.com

• West River Sailing Club learn2sailwrsc.com

# The First Sail Workshop at the 2022 Annapolis Sailboat Show

8

Ways Warmer Water Impacts Fish

As cooler September temperatures and fresher breezes come our way, the Chesapeake is winding down its latest version of “Hot Bay Summer.” Chesapeake sailors are familiar with “it’s not the heat, it’s the humidity” when talking about the typical Triple H days of August (hazy, hot, and humid). Certainly the “nothing will ever dry no matter how long I hang it on the railing” feeling is one that summer sailors know well. Living in a household where more fishing happens than sailing, I wondered how fish species are impacted by warming Bay temperatures due to the climate crisis.

In the Chesapeake the average summer water temperature has risen almost two degrees due to warming air temperatures. At the time of this writing, the Magothy River measured surface temperatures of

By Pamela Tenner Kellett

90 degrees. This area, the Mid Atlantic Bight, has water temperatures that are increasing two times the global average. Warming water temperatures in North America’s largest estuary impact fish species for a variety of reasons:

1. Warmer water holds less oxygen than colder water.

2. Warmer water increases the toxicity of some heavy metals.

3. Warmer water promotes harmful algal blooms which contribute to lower oxygen levels in the water.

4. Warmer waters disrupt spawning (striped bass spawn three weeks earlier than 50 years ago) and predator/prey relations, which impacts the entire food web.

5. Warmer waters can impact some species’ growth negatively.

6. Heat events can cause mass mortality.

7. Warmer water negatively impacts submerged aquatic vegetation which provides critical habitat and oxygen.

8. Warmer water can double a fish’s heart rate (rockfish in particular) and make it more difficult to swim, forage, and resist disease.

The Virginia Institute of Marine Science has been conducting research on different fish species’ preferences for different water temperatures. Their focal species are Atlantic croaker, summer

flounder, spot, and weakfish. They predict that the Bay will be used less by many species that will be forced to migrate north in search of cooler more oxygen rich waters. This will have a profound impact on the entire food chain. Many scientists predict there will be a “regime shift,” and the Chesapeake will look more like estuaries in North Carolina. Already there is a nascent shrimp industry in Virginia, as shrimp move north as the waters warm.

I paid a visit to our local tackle shop in Pasadena, MD, to chat with owner George Sarvinas and get some on the ground anecdotes regarding changes that the recreational fishing industry has experienced. George has owned Fishbones Bait and Tackle for five years and has lived and fished on the Magothy River for 40 years.

George confirmed that he has observed “dramatic changes” in species’ composition over the years. From earlier spawning of rockfish to the disappearance (and now possible reappearance) of croakers in the Upper Bay, rising temperatures are changing the food web. Bluefish are fewer and puppy drum and puffer fish are being caught north of the Bay Bridge. While it may seem difficult for sailors to appreciate (unless they are multi-tasking and also fishing), the Chesapeake is changing rapidly.

How can sailors help? Keep sailing! Reducing our carbon footprint is something sailors do best! Calculate your carbon footprint at: nature.org/en-us/getinvolved/how-to-help/carbon-footprintcalculator

# Maryland Department of Natural Resources conducts the annual striped bass spawning stock survey in the Northern Chesapeake Bay. Photo by Will Parson/ Chesapeake Bay Program

The Mainstay at Rock Hall

By Captain Mark Einstein

Abundant opportunities for exploration and discovery exist when cruising the Chesapeake Bay. Simply seeking out the Bay’s numerous small-town destinations and hidden gems often make up the very magic that helps transform our cruising dreams into reality. Rock Hall, often referred to as “The Pearl of the Chesapeake,” is one such destination located within easy reach by land or by sea on Maryland’s beautiful, uncongested upper Eastern Shore. A small town with a very big heart, Rock Hall offers some fabulous restaurants, marinas, shopping, and unforgettable views.

Add to that a very active and lively non-profit performance art center, The Mainstay, the “Home of Musical Magic.” Just a short hop from most marinas right on Main Street, the Mainstay sits in the center of town. The funky, small storefront concert venue is a distinctive and intimate live music center that packs a real punch for anyone who wishes to add a little culture to their cruising experience. The venue offers performances in all genres of music.

Executive director, Matt Mielnick and his steadfast crew of volunteers and board of directors are committed to featuring local, regional, national, and even international talent in an almost perfect acoustic setting at a price that can’t be beat. The warm and friendly listening room seats around 120 with approximately 50 to

60 shows a year as well as monthly open mic nights, singer/songwriter events, and a Thursday “pub night” that often features local performers and full-screen re-castings of past concerts.

The Mainstay was established as a nonprofit performing arts center in 1997 by retired Vassar and

# The outdoor concert space.

# The Mainstay on Main Street in Rock Hall is where visiting sailors go for exceptional musical experiences.

Washington College professor, fellow musician, and community activist, the late Tom McHugh. Through Tom’s remarkable ingenuity and diligent efforts, great performers such as Deanna Bogart; master guitarists, Frank Vignola and John Jorgenson;

bluegrass sensations, Seldom Scene, the Preservation Jazz Hall Society, and a long list of others have become regular performers at The Mainstay, always anxious to return.

At the top of that list, perhaps, is the late Charlie Byrd, the legendary, internationally renowned guitar virtuoso, who not only loved performing at The Mainstay but enjoyed sailing on the Chesapeake Bay. Until Charlie’s passing in 1999, The Charlie Byrd Trio performed often at The Mainstay. Since then, Charlie’s wife, Becky Byrd, has been essential to keeping The Mainstay sailing forward as a former board president and a continuous volunteer. Becky and crew have immortalized Charlie in the “Byrd Room” which contains a treasure trove of the musician’s photos and memorabilia as well as a delightful setting for a bar that is fully stocked with

wine, beer, mixed drinks, and snacks. Open during all concerts and events, the Byrd Room is also home to the Charlie Byrd Society. Sailing, singing, and good music have long fit perfectly together, and there is something for everyone at

# Executive director Matt Mielnick and his steadfast crew of volunteers and board are committed to featuring local, regional, national, and international talent in an almost perfect acoustic setting.

# The Byrd Room honors legend Charlie Byrd, guitar virtuoso and sailor, who loved playing at the Mainstay.

The Mainstay. Director Matt Mielnick is especially focused on presenting a variety of music and incorporating new and creative ideas into the magical experience. Two years ago, with the help of grant funding, an outdoor stage and amphitheater were built behind the main building, a wonderful addition, perfect for outdoor summer concerts and other events.

The monthly open mic night, held on the second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. welcomes anyone who wishes to perform on the main stage. There is no charge for admission and the bar stays open. Open Mic has become a very popular activity for locals and visiting sailors, often drawing a full house. Music, poetry, and stand-up comedy are all welcome. If you wish to perform, plan to arrive early to secure a spot.

The Mainstay is also home to the newly created Delmarva Singer Songwriter Association. The group meets on the first Tuesday of each month and provides support and performance opportunities to local and regional singer/songwriters. These meetings are open to anyone who might have an original song to share with the group.

Find a listing of concerts and events on The Mainstay’s website: mainstayrockhall.org. As a nonprofit The Mainstay relies heavily on grants and donations to keep the musical magic alive and has quite a bit to offer in return. If you are coming to Rock Hall by land or by sea, be sure to check the schedule and set your course for The Mainstay. It will surely leave you with something to sing about. P

# Becky at the bar.

M EET W ALT B ARTMAN , A RTIST AND I NSTRUCTOR

Interview by Gwen Mayes

Despite teaching art to more than 20,000 people around the world, renowned artist Walt Bartman finds the natural beauty of Tilghman Island his favorite spot from which to paint.

Why Tilghman Island?

I first came to Tilghman Island in the 1980s and was immediately astonished by its beauty. There were endless subjects to paint in every direction. Black Walnut Cove at the mouth of the Choptank River is still one of my favorite spots. I do some of my best painting from the same spot relying upon the change of seasons, colors, and lighting for a unique scene. Every time I am there, I’m energized by the light and am equally drawn to the beauty of a sunset as I am the energy and strength of a storm.

What have you learned from plein air painting?

As J.W.M. Turner, the most influential 19th century landscape artist, said, “Tie yourself to a mast.” Turner’s quote is enlightening. Being immersed in the rhythm of nature is the essence of painting in the “present.” The biggest lesson I have learned in mastering plein air painting is to realize your natural surroundings don’t give you a design; you must find one. Considering everything in nature is in motion and nothing remains the same, it is an incredible challenge I value most in making a painting. How would you describe your art?

Painting is my passion. For the past 50 years, my painting has been the catalyst for my life. Nature provides an endless number of visual sensations to paint. You can never run out of ideas because no two days are alike. The distinguishing characteristic about working outdoors is that the subjects are bathed in color. I would call my style of painting representational but not literal or realistic.

How are your workshops designed?

My popular Tilghman Island Workshops are offered four times annually—June, July, August, and October—and run approximately three days each. Students of all skill levels are welcome and can work in any medium they prefer including watercolor, oil, acrylic, and drawing. I’m a landscape artist at heart, so there’s always a special emphasis on plein air painting. The workshops include instruction on drawing, composition, and the best use of color. Lectures are recorded so that students can focus on their craft and assess their work later.

In what ways do you challenge students to “see more?”

In 2000, I was featured on CBS Charles Osgood’s “Sunday Morning” in a story about how I work with students to enable them to see painting as more than just making pictures. It is a record of their thoughts and awareness. I teach my students to think like artists and see color differently and hopefully, share my passion for painting. I’ve taught over 20,000 students in my lifetime, including Harry Cooper, Head of Modern Art at the National Gallery, and Mitch Rales, owner of Glenstone Museum in Potomac, MD.

Where will you teach next?

In early September this fall, I will teach a workshop in Crete, Greece. We’ve planned two painting sessions, for example, in the Heraklion area. You can easily spend a morning or afternoon strolling around the Old Town, seeing the sites, and soaking up the atmosphere. Heraklion grew up around the sea, and still today the old town focuses on the harbor. Every day we will be painting for a minimum of six to eight hours. There will also be the option for sunset and night painting. Closer to home there are numerous workshops at one of three studios in the area.

Where can folks learn more about your art and workshops?

Visit my website at walterbartman.com to view my work and roster of fall workshops.

# Walt Bartman teaching a painting workshop on the waterfront.

Stories of the Century Making the Last Days of Summer Count

SpinSheet Century Club members cherish these final days of summer, as they log their days on the water in all types of vessels to reach their goals of logging 100 on-water days by December 31. Among our enthusiastic group of Centurions are sailors, paddlers, anglers, and powerboaters. To see the leaderboard and learn how you can join the fun, visit spinsheet.com/century-club. All boaters are welcome!

# Rob Marino (82 days) takes the kids and friends tubing.

# Julia Mead (80 days) spent a semester on an 88-foot schooner in the Caribbean. Stay tuned for a future story in SpinSheet.

# Jayne Durden (92 days) flashing the smile you get when you get the gun at the Poplar Island Race.

# Cindy Wallach (192 days) paddling with her dogs in Martinique.

James Ronayne and crew sailing on the log canoe Mystery.

# Michael-Anne Ashford (92 days) watched the Severn Sailing Association Tuesday Night races by powerboat.

# Jeff Joy (117 days) sailing off Massachusetts in August.

# Top-scoring Century Club member David Sites (222 days) and Captain Jen on the Schooner Woodwind.

Chesapeake Bay Log Canoe Racing

The fastest boats fetched the best prices—or that’s how the legend goes for Chesapeake Bay log canoes. The traditional dugout fishing vessels, originally used for commercial oyster fishing in the 1800s and early 1900s, have only been used for racing on summer weekends since the 1920s.

These unique vessels with their over-canvassed rigs and plentiful (and sometimes beefy) crews are challenging to sail and a joy to watch. If you have not yet had the opportunity to spectate or compete in log canoe racing during the 2023 season, it is not too late. A few regatta dates are on the horizon on the Miles River:

• September 9-10: Miles River Yacht Club (MRYC) Labor Day Series

• September 16: MRYC Higgins/Commodore Cups

• September 17: Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum Bartlett Cup

Photos by John Rock of Tidewater Images

Eye on the Bay

# Photos by John Rock/ Tidewater Images

Sneak Peek at the Annapolis Sailboat Show

Oct O ber 12-15

Why You Should Go

The Annapolis Sailboat Show, which has been around for over 50 years, has grown into more than just a boat show. It’s a waterfront extravaganza. Whether you are seriously shopping for a boat, need some new sailing equipment, or are just curious about sailboats and sailors, this is the place to be.

A true mega-event, the Annapolis Show is the best and biggest in-water sailboat show in the country, and in our opinion, it is an event that shouldn’t be missed.

Stroll along the docks. Marvel at all the different types of boats. Learn a little or a lot about sailing. Browse the booths. Explore historic Annapolis. Dine at a local restaurant or bar. It’s really a great way to spend a fall day… or a whole weekend.

What to See and Do

It would be impossible to wrangle into a few paragraphs all that you can see and do, but here is our best shot at corralling the highlights.

Boats - You may board almost all of the boats. Everyone from dreamers to experienced sailors are welcome. Stand at the helm; pretend you’re leaving the dock. Go belowdecks; check out the living accommodations and navigation station. Can you imagine cooking and sleeping here? Want to start on a small boat? You’ll find those too. You will also find the tall ship Pride of Baltimore II on display and open for tours.

Gear and Equipment - You’ll be amazed at the number of huge tents filled with sailing gear and equipment. Shop and compare everything from boat shoes to sails to electronics. You’ll find that the show is an excellent place to find really good prices. Just ask, “Do you offer any boat show specials?”

Nautical and Outdoor Items - You don’t have to be a boater to find something to take home. Think sunglasses, non-slip footwear, Chesa-

peake-themed T-shirts, patio-friendly plates and tumblers, outdoor clothing, hats designed for sun protection, and much, much, more.

Explore Annapolis - When you’ve had your fill inside the show gates, there’s no better place to spend a fall weekend than Annapolis. Within walking distance are restaurants, historic landmarks, the US Naval Academy, a children’s playground, the state capital building, and live music venues.

Education - An impressive number of sailing and boating seminars are offered, of both the free and paid varieties. From beginner to life-long-learner, they’ve got you covered. You may also learn about sailing vacations on charter boats. Look for Vacation Basin; it’s filled with tourism information.

Read our October issue for more boat show coverage to include insider tips, parking strategies, what to wear, more new boats and gear, seminars, and our favorite Annapolis destinations.

Dates, times, tickets

October 12-15 at Annapolis City Dock

thursday (preview Day)

10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Friday through saturday 10 am. to 6:30 p.m.

sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Purchase Tickets at annapolisboatshows.com

thursday, preview Day

$45 in advance; $50 onsite; children aged seven years and up are full price, aged six years and under are free.

General Admission Friday - sunday

Adults: $25 in advance, $30 onsite; children aged seven to 12 years $10; children aged six years and under are free

two-Day combo tickets

two-Day Preview Day combo ticket: $65 in advance; children aged seven to 12 years pay full price; children aged 6 years and under are free

two-Day combo ticket: $45 in advance; not valid Thursday, October 12

cOO l, Ne W , AND U S ef U l boats and Products You Won’t Want to Miss at the Annapolis Sailboat Show

At print time, these beautiful boats and cool products are planned to be at the Annapolis Sailboat Show. Check back in our October issue for more boats and products that you won’t want to miss.

HH 44 catamaran

The HH44 is designed for sailors seeking style, performance, safety, and innovation. Electrified and carbon reinforced, this cat is a game changing, eco-friendly cruising yacht. On the cabin top is an array of solar panels. Swinging helms and pocket seats offer steering options, and the design also has safety in mind for children and pets. Available in ocean cruising and sport cruising versions. See it at Dock K2. hhcatamarans.com

cygnet 20

Bluewater Cruising Yachts brings you the Cygnet 20. With a gaff rig, classic look, large cockpit, and stable feel, you may sail, motor, or row this lightweight vessel. It is easy to tow, can be set up in just a couple of minutes, and can accommodate four adults. A great weekender. See it at land space 41. bwcy.com.au

Jeanneau Yachts 55

This bold monohull was inspired by modern cruising catamarans and is designed for an unparalleled live-aboard experience. The main companionway provides private access to the owner’s suite, which occupies twothirds of the interior space. The cockpit’s twin helms are positioned forward making room for spacious twin sundecks at the very aft. See it on Dock F1. jeanneau.com

Tuphblox are back! These blocks were off the market for many years after the closure of the original supplier. Users from around the world asked Barton to fill the gap, and they have. Tuphblox are manufactured with OEM Tufnol, marine grade stainless steel, and brass bearings. They are durable, free-running, and corrosion resistant and offer sailboat owners original aesthetics with maximum service. Find it at Tent AB 15A. bartonmarine.com

boats and Products You Won’t Want to Miss at the Annapolis Sailboat Show

Marlow Directional furler

For the cruiser/racer market, check out Marlow’s new directional furler. It features brightly colored arrow markers, in lime or red, designed to help sailors quickly identify the direction of the furl. The standard sacrificial polypropylene core can be upgraded to a D12 core for higher load systems. See it at land space X4A. marlowropes.com

onstan Orbit Winch

Ronstan’s new Orbit Winch is a performance-oriented, lightweight aluminum winch designed to offer lower line entry heights, maximum grip, and minimal rope wear. No tools are required for disassembly or maintenance. The patented QuickTrim feature allows sailors to ease line tension and make minor sail trim adjustments without removing the winch handle or taking the line out of the self-tailer. See it at land space 63. ronstan.com

J. Gordon & Company

Watching, Waiting, and Wondering a bout h urricanes

By John Herlig

It started the second week of June as a small yellow X on the National Hurricane Center (NHC) map. Morning visits to the NHC website are ritual in my world from June to November, steady like strong coffee and a bowl of oatmeal. Consistent, also, is my reaction to the map—the highs never get too high, and the lows never get too low.

I was less than thrilled on that June morning as I sat in the salon of Ave del Mar, my 1967 Rawson 30 cutter, staring at the NHC map. I was in Culebra, in the Spanish Virgin Islands, en route to Florida with no particular schedule to keep. The Cape Verde storm season doesn’t typically begin with any earnest until late July, but typical and weather seem to be drifting further and further apart with time. The familiar dull ache of foreboding began. Watching, waiting, and wondering can take a toll on you if you don’t know how to manage them; fortunately, I’d had more than my fair share of experience with all three. Soon, this tropical disturbance became an invest which grew into the depression that

would eventually be named Brett. The morning ritual of map checking became an every-six-hour ritual. My phone began to repeatedly ping with messages from friends, a hurricane ritual in its own right. While I was less than thrilled with the whole affair, things could have been a lot worse.

The spaghetti models spewed their usual madness across the weather pages as I, along with hundreds of other boaters in the Caribbean, kept watch. No one really knows, I reminded myself, where this storm may go or what it may do, so you take in the whole of the forecasts, examine the worst-case path, and formulate plans.

It its early days, the weather model consensus was that Brett would pass me to my north, leaving me in the favored southwest quadrant of winds. Compared to the rest of the anchored boats in Culebra, I was in good standing for this—anchored in 10 feet of water

and somewhat close to what would be a windward shore. One day my phone pinged again with a message from my friend Carolyn Shearlock.

“Have you looked at the map this morning?” she wrote. “What’s your plan?”

Sure enough, the forecasting models had all changed. Brett was now slated to pass right over my anchorage, maybe even a bit to my south. I was now anchored in the worst possible place, and my windward shore had become a lee shore.

“Move. Claim your spot early,” Carolyn lectured me, “because every

Cruising Life

boat in the area will be coming in to join you.”

I knew she was right. I scanned the charts and scoped out what I thought was a brilliant small lagoon on the southeastern side of the bay. A quick trip in the dinghy confirmed that it was an ideal spot for the southeast winds that might come with a hurricane, which Brett was now predicted to become. Back to the boat I flew. The engine warmed up as I raised the anchor. Boats poured into Ensenada Honda, Culebra’s idyllic anchorage. I glared suspiciously at each as they came through the inlet, confident each time that they had a target on my spot, that they were racing in to unseat my plan. But none did.

Ave did her best to speed across the cove. All of the threatening boats passed right by my target, heading to where the crowds were. I will never understand this; although I sure did appreciate that they did it. I puttered in through the mouth of the lagoon and dropped my anchor in 10 feet of water. There were six to seven feet of water right up to the mangrove-lined shore’s edge, and hills

blocked those winds that I anticipated from my east. The icing on the cake was that I was the only boat there. There I sat, far from the lights and noise of town and far from the lights and noise from other boats. Day by day, Brett tracked consistently more south and in several days’ time was far enough away that I didn’t even bother to prep the boat for storm conditions. As the tropical storm’s potential impact faded, so did the messages asking me of my plans. Things clumsily returned to normal.

It’s early yet in this hurricane season, and Brett won’t be the last yellow X that I will be forced to follow. The Cape Verde season is upon us. Of this we can be sure. If a storm comes to me, I will do everything within my powers to be fully prepared for it. Meanwhile, with coffee in hand I will check the NHC website every morning.

As my friend Carolyn so often reminds me, “The only thing you know for certain is that it is unlikely to go where they first predicted it to go.”

With any luck I’ll get to stick to watching and wondering, and we can leave worrying tucked safe away for another day.

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Braking on Bequia

By Zuzana Prochazka

We trundled along in Sally’s taxi, grabbing for the seatbacks as she lurched from one hairpin turn to the next on the very hilly island of Bequia. “I have to get new brakes every three months,” she shouted from the front seat. As I phantom braked in the back, I believed her.

We had sailed to Bequia in the Grenadines, a chain of islands in the Windward Isles that group together as one country under St. Vincent. Our first order of business was to learn the pronunciation of the island’s name—it’s Bek-way, not Bek-wia, so we corrected ourselves and shed at least a tiny part of our tourist identity by getting it right.

Bequia’s expansive Admiralty Bay off the main town of Port Elizabeth provides sheltered anchoring and lots of mooring balls. As we pulled in, we were introduced to the “boat boy” culture where men (and women) come out in their small boats to assist cruisers. They’re essential entrepreneurs who will help tie you up to a mooring, haul away trash, and take orders for fresh baked goodies that are rowed out to your boat the next morning.

We tied up the dinghy at the dock and strolled the waterfront street, one of just a handful in this small town. The shopping was plentiful and colorful, literally. Bright T-shirts flapped in

the breeze outside tiny gift and produce shops, and street vendors offered everything from fruit and locally made jewelry to carved coconut boats.

We visited Lawson Sargeant’s maritime museum where model replicas of old whaling ships are built to be historically accurate. We ducked into Mauvin’s Boat Shop where they’ll pack one of their painstakingly crafted tiny models and send them home for you. I got lost for a while examining the details of these miniature works of art and wished I had a healthier bank account to afford one.

Farther down the main street, we found the Belmont Walkway, a stone path that’s lined with cafes and bars such as the Whaleboner Bar, which has a bar, stools, and entrance made of whale vertebrae. We stopped for pizza at Mac’s and ice cream at the Gingerbread Hotel.

Fully fortified with way too many calories, we found a taxi to explore the windward side. It’s surprising how much there is to do on an island of only seven square miles. Sally first took us to the Hegg Turtle Sanctuary to meet Orton “Brother” King who spent 20 years on Bequia tending Hawksbill

turtles. He reared hatchlings at his farm until they could survive on their own at the age of three which is pretty early in a life that can span well over 100 years. I learned that a turtle can feel a good back scratching through its shell and happily splashes about for as long as you care to do the scratching.

Excellent beaches on both the leeward and windward sides provided us with plenty of stops to enjoy warm water, good snorkeling, and lots of tiny bars with tropical cocktails. We decided to do some hiking, which may not have been the best order in which to do things because like the driving, the hiking isn’t easy here. Both Mount Pleasant and Peggy’s Rock (which overlooks the bay) will give anyone a workout they won’t soon forget.

Sally wrapped up our day by taking us to Jack’s on Princess Margaret Beach which is complete with tiki torches and a stage for a steel drum band. She let us know that a water taxi could take us directly back to our boat from there. Although she was a wonderful (and informative) character with whom to spend the day, I was relieved that we’d not be driving back over the hills in the dark. At least in a dinghy, I wouldn’t be tempted to apply the brakes.

# A turtle in Bequia.

City Life in Guadeloupe

A cruising family steps outside the familiar and soaks it all in.

When you’re exploring by sailboat, breaking away from the pack often has great rewards. All of the kid boats headed south from Les Saintes while we zigzagged north into the center of the two main islands that make up Guadeloupe. Our puppy’s rabies vaccine was about to expire, and we can go precisely nowhere if the dogs don’t have updated vaccines; so we headed to the capital city of Pointe-à-Pitre to see the vet. The vet couldn’t squeeze us in for nearly a week, which worked out in our favor.

Our first order of business was fuel. Fueling up your sailboat in a French country can be nerve wracking because the French word for diesel is gazole (gas-oil). Our American brains autopilot that gazole sounds like gas, and gas in the diesel tank would be a disaster. The diesel fuel itself is also clear, while we Americans are used to seeing that tinted pink/red for marine diesel. It took a lot of high school French and a leap of faith to finally fill the tank.

We took a mooring ball off of the marina basin and settled into our new urban surroundings. On the edge of a shipping channel, we had a front row seat to cargo ships coming and going and the cranes that load

By Cindy Wallach

and unload the goods. We were also in view of a museum, a university, and commercial docks. With all of this action, there were still fish swimming around our boat begging for scraps and a beautiful sunset each evening.

Our next order of business was to see what food and shops were close by. Marina Bas-du-Fort has an easy dinghy dock and very well protected and maintained docks. Many boats we met here told us they stay over for hurricane season. The allure of French pastries all season long would definitely be a bonus. Within a short walking distance, we found cafes, a pastry shop, two well-stocked marine chandleries, laundry, pharmacy, medical offices, a barber shop, and groceries. We got in the habit of buying fresh quiche, baguette, and strawberries on our morning dog walks.

We sorted out where to catch the bus and where to rent a car. We rented a rare automatic transmission car and

set out to roam around the country and take in the many sights that you can’t get to by boat. We also drove to the largest grocery store we’d seen since Puerto Rico and stocked up.

The large shopping center left us a little dazed. When we got back to the boat, we decided to take a nature excursion by dinghy. There is a small

boat cut between the east and west main islands of Guadeloupe. On a map it looks like one butterflyshaped island, but zoom all the way in and you’ll see the cut between the islands. On the south end of the cut is the capital city of Pointe-A-Pitre, and on the north end is a beautiful national park. So you can enjoy city life and 20 minutes in the dinghy later snorkel in clear waters. It also means you can anchor in the national park, still enjoy the amenities of the city, and easily check out of the country at the city marina. Once upon a time sailboats could transit this cut, but the lift bridges are no longer working, so it’s small boats and dinghies only now.

Back in downtown Pointe-à-Pitre we set aside a whole day to take in the Memorial ACTe museum situated right on the harbor. It’s a modern museum with multilingual exhibits about the Caribbean slave trade and the indigenous people of these islands. It’s interactive, moving, and a refreshing piece of culture in a literal sea of tiki bars and rum tours that gloss over the deep scars of the trans-Atlantic slave trade.

Walking around Pointe-à-Pitre, we savored the murals, markets, shops, and cafes. The center of town holds the historic Guadeloupe Spice Market. It’s become quite the tourist destination with a fair share of trinkets and souvenirs. Cruisers and locals can also dig deep and find farm fresh produce and bulk spices. I managed to communicate to one vendor in my rusty French that we were here on a sailboat and stocking up for our family, and she took me to the produce tables and helped me get what I needed at a fair price.

We found Pointe-à-Pitre hard to pronounce, but easy to spend time in. It’s safe, friendly, and full of so many things that we were craving, namely culture and good food. My favorite thing to do in town was just wander the neighborhoods or hang out in the park and people watch.

There were dads and daughters buying a baguette on their way home from work and school, older ladies inspecting fresh fish as the boats pulled in to sell the catch of the day, groups of teens laughing together in the park,

and couples sharing a moment at a cafe over a nice glass of wine. It was such a treat to savor these slices of life without the touristy beach bar crowd, white-washed resorts, or beaches full

of other cruisers who look and sound just like me. That’s why we’re out here: to step away from the familiar and soak it all in. Cruising into larger cities offers that welcome change of pace. #

The World’s ToughesT roW

By Duncan Spencer

Annapolis sailor “Nini” (Lauren) Champion, who is preparing to row across the Atlantic in December, with her Canadian friend, Lisa Roland, 31, is not worried about the 25-foot boat, or the weather, or the fact that many people think she is just plain crazy.

“The hardest part is making it to the start line,” Champion, 30, said. Champion’s Team OceanGrown is one of only two women teams of 11 competing in the pair event of the 2023 ocean rowing race. There are other things that set them apart. Both women work in the professional sailing industry, and with 60,000 nautical miles between them, believe their experience with navigation and life at sea will help them in taking on the Atlantic by rowing vessel this December. They are raising money for kids who have aged out of foster care to pursue careers in the maritime industry.

Their race—rowing 3000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean from the Canary Islands to English Harbor, Antigua—is no longer just an extreme sport feat; it has become a regular event which has an audience and enthusiasts, rules, prizes, and even a history.

“We’ve been working on this project for three years, and we’re almost there,” Champion said in an interview with SpinSheet. In a way, she is lucky;

because the number of people planning to do “The World’s Toughest Row” (2023) has grown so large that the 2024 and 2025 events have already sold out.

Previously called the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge, now retitled The World’s Toughest Row, is the best known of a growing number of ocean rowing events in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, attracting modern adventurers who want to test the limits of human endurance, the limits of training, and perhaps the limits of “mental fortitude,” says Champion. The row for a pairs team averages 60 days to complete, though team Ocean Grown is pushing to reach the finish in less than 45 days, seven hours, and 25 minutes to set a new female pairs record.

During much of that time either Champion or Roland will be at their two sets of carbon fiber oars, sitting on sliding seats and pushing their boat, toward a faraway continent. They will be going backwards of course, for that’s how rowers row, at an estimated speed between two and four knots.

As might be suspected, the late SpinSheet photographer Dave “Toots” Dunigan, who died this spring at 74, had cheered the pair of young women on. “I think they are crazy,” Dunigan told me, “but they’re going to do it. More power to them.”

New sport and craft

Rowing was once the venue of short excursions in ordinary one man (or woman) racing boats, called sculls, and always in calm or enclosed water. A Chesapeake example is the annual “Wye Island” regatta, a rowing circumnavigation of the Eastern Shore island. But all has changed. Instead of straight-line racing for 2000 meters— the Olympic rowing protocol, which takes a highly trained athlete about seven minutes (more or less) and is done on rigorously prepared courses, the flattest possible water, and summer conditions—the new ocean sport is done on the North Atlantic (admittedly in the historic “trade wind” route of the world of sail freight). It’s done to make the task as difficult as possible.

Now the competing craft are doubleended straight keelboats specially built for the ocean, with tiny sleeping spaces, GPS satellite tracking, a camping-style galley with gimbals, osmosis water converters, a small rudder, an extensive list of safety gear—but absolutely no sails. Sails are a no-no. While an Olympic sculling boat weighs about 30 to 40 pounds, their ocean rowing vessel Invictus weighs 1800 pounds.

Designer and builder of most of the competing craft is Charlie Pitcher, 60, a rowing and sailing athlete who has

competed at a high level (America’s Cup, Admiral’s Cup) in the sailing world, and holds a record in the oceanrowing world with a 35-day 2013 row from La Gomera to Port St. Charles, Barbados. He also won the 2009 race.

“I saw a niche in the market,” Pitcher recalls. He set up manufacturing at Burnham on Crouch in the south of England in 2009 and now claims that his boats have entered and won in every category of ocean rowing.

He has built solo, pair, threeoar, fours, fives and a much larger concept, Roxie, a 12-person ocean rowing boat with eight rowing positions, offering eight berths. Pitcher

has built more than 130 ocean rowing boats as the racing event expanded and changed: at first it was the Atlantic Challenge, then the Woodvale event, then the Atlantic Campaign in 2012, and until last year the Talisker (now World’s Toughest Row).

How hard can it be?

The difficulties of rowing rather than sailing need little explanation. Rowing into a strong headwind is very challenging, and contestants deploy a bag-like sea anchor just to try not to go backwards so fast. Rowing with a strong tail wind is better; winds bring waves, which crash against

the oars, measuring more than six feet. Rowing two up is faster, with both people working, but there is the matter of fatigue and rest, both necessary in a 24-hour, non-stop effort. The customary southeast trade wind is the best condition for making progress and also a reason that the course is set from the Canaries to Antigua.

Atlantic Campaigns supervises racing. Races are accompanied by two safety vessels, plus land-based officials following progress via GPS tracking devices.

Champion and Roland have been training for more than a year. Considering conditions, it may be faster to row “two up” with both women rowing, or inevitably “one up,” as athletes must sleep. At times, past competitors have stopped rowing altogether, drifting backwards as slowly as possible with a canvas sea anchor deployed.

The team

Roland and Champion met three years ago, as they both ran yachts as professional sailors. Lisa Roland, a partner in a catamaran charter business (Unplugged Yacht Charters) in Antigua, BVI, is a Canadian with personal life experience she has turned into her mission: she was a foster child and wants to create scholarships which could feed foster children into careers in the yacht crewing world, aka the sailing industry.

The rootless life of a foster child first inspired her with the idea of linking foster care with the maritime industry. She knew the life of moving from ship to yacht to racing machine to powerboat and back to shore for the very seasonal work that exists.

“Nini” Champion grew up in Annapolis, sailed at the Annapolis Yacht Club and Severn Sailing Association, and cruised in the family’s Hylas. After graduation from the University of Maryland, she began the life of a professional sailor.

The competitors

The race has drawn the widest variety of entrants; for the “Pair Event” in which Roland and Champion are entered, there are a dozen entries predominantly from the United Kingdom. Champion explains that American regulations create an extra burden for them, because

# Lisa Roland and Nini Champion on Team Ocean Grown intend to row 3000 nautical miles starting December 12.

their boat, built like most of the other competing vessels by Rannoch Adventures of Burnham on Crouch, Essex, UK, must pass US import restrictions and will be shipped in a container on a freight ship to the starting area in La Gomera, Canaries.

There are five teams of British “pairs” (meaning two people, four oars), one Irish pair, one USA and Australian pair, one Scottish pair, and one German pair. Nini and Lisa, who count USA and Canada as homelands, round out the field. Their logical rivals are the only other women’s team: a Scottish pair, “She rOars,” Sabrina Simpson and Leanne Maiden.

As sailors and young women, Roland and Champion rail against the usual role of women on fully crewed racing boats: “We wanted to be on the foredeck,” Champion says.

She crewed aboard Taz, a Rachel Pugh 37, and has worked for The Rigging Company of Annapolis, which has recently expanded with a base in St. Thomas. Roland served as an officer on a tall ship and has experience captaining on a superyacht.

Sailing experience gives them an edge, Lisa explains, for every wind change gives them a chance of taking a fresh “slant” or attempting to choose the most favorable angle to the wind to steer.

The two alternate between training sessions in the Virgin Islands and fundraising at home in Annapolis.

Masters of their fate

Nini and Lisa were already friends when ocean rowing came up. Lisa had been in Antigua when the finishers at a previous

Tallisker Ocean Race came in, spreading excitement for a while. Nini has a big ocean rowing credit: she had done the “Around Scotland” rowing contest one year. She has skippered and co-skippered two expeditions in Rannoch Adventures 12-person ocean racing boats. Lisa then had a big idea. She’d noticed that competitors usually had to come up with a cause for which to raise money. She realized that in her own life she had the reason and the angle.

They found a used boat (built by Pitcher) named Invictus, and that struck the right note. The Navy men they met already knew the words to the poem by W.E. Henley. They decided to keep the name for the famous lines: “I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul.”

Roland said, “My life experience is behind what we are doing. I grew up not really having a family unit, but in my sailing life, the onboard environment became my family.”

As a paid hand, she rose through the grades of expertise, from deckhand to mate to yacht master and on to captain, depending on the size and type of yacht. (Since its founding in 1970 the worldwide Royal Yachting Association has offered courses to regulate training for young people who want to make a living doing yacht work.)

That was the missing connection she sought: Roland would connect foster children with their natural cohort, yacht crews and other maritime positions.

Through hell or high water

Ocean rowing goes way back to the days when dory men off the Grand Banks of Newfoundland were stranded by storms, and they either found land or drowned unknown and unreported. In 1896 two Norwegian seamen, Frank Samuelsen and George Harbo, rowed from New York to the Scilly isles in 55 days using four oars in a lapstreak oak rowing boat as an unsponsored venture.

As a dare or contest it began again with Chay Blyth, the British Army paratrooper, who with fellow paratrooper John Ridgway rowed an open dory across the Atlantic west to east in 92 days in 1966. Blyth went on to gain a knighthood after his singlehanded circumnavigation in British Steel in 1970 in 290 days.

The contest emerged from obscurity in 2005 when world champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist James Cracknell and Brit reality TV announcer Ben Fogle made a wellpublicized entry and a hit television documentary about the Atlantic row.

Aptly dubbed “Through Hell and High Water,” the film records near disaster when a capsize wrecked their electronics and their electric-powered watermaker quit, forcing them to use emergency water, which under the rules cost them first place. Fogle suffered a near nervous breakdown because of thirst, loneliness, and boredom, but Champion and Roland are unfazed. #

To donate and learn more visit oceangrown.co or visit Team Ocean Grown on Facebook and Instagram.

Fresh Breeze—Let’s Go! What Cruisers Love About Fall Sailing L L

Sailors-in-the-know tell us that fall offers some of the best sailing on the Chesapeake Bay. Obvious reasons include the fresh breeze, nice temperatures, and beautiful fall foliage.

Dig a little deeper and you’ll find that ardent fall cruisers delight in empty, or nearly empty, anchorages and marina visits that don’t require slip reservations. Cruising club members revel in their annual fall traditions and cruises focused on themes such as Oyster Roasts, Oktoberfests, and Chili-Cookoffs. And many sailing friends, whether or not they belong to a club, make plans to meet (by land or by boat) at the Annapolis Sailboat Show and/ or the Seven Seas Cruising Association’s Chesapeake Bay Gam, both held in the fall and packed with opportunities for fun, learning, and comradery.

Here, four Chesapeake sailors, each with lots of fall sailing experience, tell us what they love about sailing the Bay at this time of year.

Fall sailing may often be the best time to explore the Chesapeake Bay. Members of the Pearson Sailing Association, including us, enjoy sailing well into the fall—so much so that our club’s most attended event of the year is often our fall raftup and cruise. Cooler temperatures, crisp clear air, and dramatic sunsets bring us all out. One of our favorite spots to anchor is in the Wye River because of the stunning fall foliage there.

Depending on your starting point and how long you have to be out on the water, fall sailing in the Chesapeake Bay can be even more diverse than “in season.” Whether you like company or solitude, there are plenty of water towns and protected coves to suit anyone’s preference.

North of the Bay Bridge, the usual summer spots are still lovely to watch the waterfowl and foliage. Overnight favorites of mine are Still Pond and the indent at Worton Creek, but one of my favorite Chesapeake Bay cruises is to head south to the Rappahannock. From there, we explored both branches of the Corrotoman River. Both east and west were very picturesque with good anchorages. There is still a free ferry that crosses the Western at Merry Point, so keep an eye out when venturing up the river. You can easily paddleboard, kayak, or take the dinghy to explore the more shallow shorelines. It is a historically significant area for indigenous people, and it is not uncommon to find an arrowhead or two while walking the shoreline.

If you are looking for a plug-in on a cool night or more creature-comforts, you can head up Carter’s Creek just before the mouth of the Corrotoman and reserve a slip at the Tide’s Inn Marina in Irvington. After October 1, rates are cheaper and slips are easier to come by. They do charge a resort fee, but you get a lot for the fee including morning coffee, bikes to tour the town or take to the trails, wi-fi, laundry and pretty much free range of the facility and grounds. We had a great time there a few years back with sailors coming by land and sea spending a few days enjoying the amenities. If you want a smalltown feel, head around Towles Point and anchor out or grab a slip in Urbana, VA. It’s a quaint town that is very walkable and friendly. It’s a beautiful and peaceful time of year to enjoy the season change before the haul out with less boat traffic and fewer crab traps to avoid.

Susan Theuns, The Corinthians Chesapeake Bay Fleet

Martina Sestakova and Jordan Snyder, Pearson Sailing Association commodore and vice commodore

# On both the East and West Corrotoman River, you can paddleboard, kayak, or take the dinghy to explore shallow shorelines.

Photo by Susan Theuns

Selfishly, the best thing about fall sailing is the tranquility that returns to the Bay, creeks, and towns. Pulling into popular anchorages and realizing that you are the only boat there is awesome! Add to that gorgeous sunsets, cool cozy nights, and incoming flights of geese, and fall really is prime time for sailors and boaters. Of course, one must factor in shorter days, cold temps, and morning/evening dew (a good reason to turn in early and sleep in late).

With the cooler and breezier autumn weather, members of Parklawn Sailing Association, with its two 34-foot Catalina cruisers and a 30-foot Goman Express racer-cruiser, take longer cruises and expand their cruising grounds beyond the Middle Chesapeake. Either as club-sponsored or personal sails, the vessels have spent multiple days in September and October circumnavigating the Delmarva Peninsula with several stops at towns, rivers, and coves in the three states along the way, exploring the Choptank River and its many tributaries and historic villages, and poking around the many bays and towns on the western shore of Virginia from the Potomac to Norfolk. In addition to fall’s lower temperature and humidity, the fewer boat wakes, absence of anchored boats in coves, and less hectic marinas make for ideal cruising conditions.

Bill

Levitan, Parklawn Sailing Association

Greg Shields, Chesapeake Bay Tartan Sailing Club

# Gorgeous sunsets are one reason sailors love fall cruising. Photo by Greg Shields

# Mill Cove off the Patuxent River in November. Photo by Greg Shields

# An October cruise to Harnees Creek, where sailors from Gallivant and Full Circlle kayaked, SUPed, relaxed in the cockpit, and watched the wildlife, all with no one else around. Photo courtesy of Sue Mikulski

# Dunn Cove in October.

Photo by Jayne Durden

Attention Chesapeake Bay sailing clubs: share your club news and events in SpinSheet’s Club Notes section by sending a 350-word write-up and one or more clear photos of smiling faces or pretty boats to beth@spinsheet.com. Thanks to Club Notes section sponsor, YaZu Yachting! Find them at yazuyachting.com and on Facebook.

Another Memorable BOLD!

Beneteau Owners Living the Dream (BOLD) is the name of the annual extended cruising trips organized by Club Beneteau Chesapeake Bay (CB2). In June, ten CB2 sailboats completed a two-week trip down the Bay and back. We started in Herring Bay, with several boats arriving from the Northern Bay to meet at Herrington Harbour North.

The first leg was a sail to the Little Choptank with a night on the hook in Cherry Island Cove. A raftup was can-

celled due to high winds, but everyone made it to the host boat Reverie for dinner and trivia games (which we held almost every night with lots of laughs and spirited competition).

The second day we enjoyed a wonderful sail to Somers Cove Marina in Crisfield, MD, and used the terrific grilling area that evening. Day three we had another great sail to Onancock Warf Marina. The adjacent wonderful restaurant, Mallards, handled a group of 18 with ease. After a run to Cape Charles

the group took a couple of days to enjoy the town.

We had an exciting transit to Tidewater Yacht Marina in Portsmouth, VA. On entry to the Elizbeth River the group was delayed by the passing of two nuclear submarines with helicopter, Coast Guard, and Marine escort. The aircraft carrier George H. W. Bush, on its way to sea, also passed close by! We spent three days in Norfolk at the annual Harborfest, an event with tall ships, live music, excellent fireworks, and an extraordinary drone light show.

The next stop was the Riverwalk Landing Marina in Yorktown, VA, where there were many historic venues to visit and great restaurants to enjoy. We then travelled to Tides Inn Marina off the Rappahannock River. The marina is located at a four-star resort with a firstclass spa, free bikes, car transport, tennis, pickle ball, par three golf course, pool, and more.

The last part of the trip was a long run to Solomons Island and a short run back to Herring Bay. Hats off to commadore Chuck Smith, his wife Gretchen, and co-planners, rear commodore Joe and Birgit Navarre for putting together a fantastic two-week tour.

Reported

by Donna Morrisey

Jeanneau Annapolis Rendezvous

Submitted by Nancie Merritt

The Jeanneau Sailboat Owners (JSO) event for July was a Jeanneau Annapolis Rendezvous sponsored by Crusader Yachts and held at the Port Annapolis Marina.

The weekend included both JSO members as well as many other Jeanneau owners in the area. The festivities began on Friday evening with an amazing array of appetizers and drinks served in the marina pavilion where people mingled among the group. There were up to 15 boats in attendance with five additional boats whose home port was in nearby marinas. It was a wonderful chance to meet new Jeanneau owners as well as socialize with current friends.

Saturday morning began with a continental breakfast. Members spent hours lingering over coffee and getting acquainted with new friends. After breakfast, members were on their own for lunch. Participants had time to water taxi or dinghy into An-

napolis to explore the surrounding area. Next was the Back Creek scavenger hunt with a pirate theme. Participants went to designated places and performed required tasks to complete the event. Prizes were awarded for the best dad joke, the best costume, and the best mustache. And every boat received a prize with the ongoing daily raffle.

In the late afternoon designated boat owners hosted a craft cocktail happy hour with specialty cocktails and an assortment of appetizers. A catered dinner followed with live music provided by Doug Segree. Attendees danced and sang along well into the evening.

A Small Boat Marathon

By Mike Pitchford

Sunday morning capped off the weekend with another continental breakfast as members decided what time to leave before the expected rain. It was a great weekend full of fun activities in a nice setting. Thank you, Tia Titgemeyer of Crusader Yachts, for a delightful event.

If you are new to JSO and would like to join us, please contact Paul and Karen Novak at svopiebea@gmail.com. We welcome new members! We are a loosely formed group of Jeanneau owners who enjoy boating and socializing together. Learn more at groups.io/g/ JSOChesapeakeBay

As nice as the Chesapeake Bay is to sail upon, sometimes you just get the itch to explore a distant shore. And so it was that five sailboats and a dozen powerboats from the Annapolis Yacht Club headed to Long Island Sound for a few weeks in July.

Our exploration of the best of Long Island Sound included a stop in Greenport, NY. The fleet secured dockage at one of several marinas in Greenport and moorage a mile across the way at the historic Shelter Island Yacht Club.

At our stop in Greenport, we got to watch a small part of a very unique sailboat race. The Southold Yacht Club, located just west of Greenport, hosted the 52nd annual “World’s Longest Sunfish Race.” It is a race around Shelter Island. According to race director, Beth Fleisher, the race has become one of the most exciting, enduring, and popular competitions on the Sunfish Class calendar. Sunfish sailors from across the country have enjoyed spirited competition in sometimes challenging conditions that vary wildly from year to year.

As the crow flies, the nautical distance around Shelter Island, starting and finishing at Southold Yacht Club, is 21.3 miles. Since crows don’t tack however, it is estimated that the distance for the average race sailed over the years is the equivalent of a nautical marathon (approximately 26 miles).

The race committee keeps the direction of circumnavigation (clockwise or counterclockwise) a closely guarded secret until about an hour before race time. They say it is all about wind and currents around the island, but it surely adds to the excitement. This time, it was clockwise.

There were 75 Sunfish on the starting line and 62 finished the physically grueling race. Start to finish the race took over five hours for most competitors. The winner, Peter Beardsley, from nearby Shelter Island Yacht Club, finished first in four hours and 42 minutes. The final finishing Sunfish crossed the line in five hours and 24 minutes.

# AYC cruisers were lucky to see a “Sunfish marathon” at Southold YC. Photo by Annapolitian Gary Gensinger

Cruising Club Notes presented by Quality Cruising Yachts | Deltaville, VA

# The Corinthians’ Heritage Cruise to New England. Photo by Russ Borman

# In July, 15 past commodores attended Sailing Club of the Chesapeake’s P/C Ice Cream party hosted by Calvert and Liddy Chaney at their beautiful waterfront home off the West River.

# Round Bay Sailing Association members Chris Drury, his daughter Miriam, and Bob Murphy trying out new sails on Bob’s Johnson 18, Hie. Two Johnson 18s race on Round Bay in RBSA’s Wednesday night series.

# Janet Neves, Heather Howard, and Amanda Warren have all participated in Herrington Harbour Sailing Association’s Women Underway program. Read more on page 70.

# America’s Boating Club Wilmington members Carol Hanson, Laura Hepting, and Nina Brower Wyngaard at the club’s Burger and Brat event. Photo by Ralph Onesti

#UseALocalYachtBroker | Cruising Yacht Specialists

BCYC Cruises to Baltimore, Log Canoe Races, and More

Back Creek Yacht Club (BCYC) has had a busy summer. In July, to celebrate Independence Day, BCYC members, both power and sail, cruised up the Patapsco River past Fort McHenry and into the inner harbor of Baltimore. Their destination was Anchorage Marina where they were able to take in the sights and sounds of downtown Baltimore and had a prime viewing spot for the fireworks. Members also enjoyed an outing to Barcocina for dinner and drinks.

The next event was the Rock Hall Cruise, held at Haven Harbor North Marina. Court and Laura Treuth hosted a fantastic event that took “Surf and Turf” to a new level. Kabobs of marinated filet mignon were grilled slowly until perfection and then paired with a crab bomb of fresh backfin crab (with no filler) topped with Old Bay seasoning.

Upcoming events include a cruise to Oxford, MD, to watch the log canoe races and a Pig Roast on Rock Creek off the Patapsco River in Pasadena, MD. If you’d like to join the fun, visit backcreekyc.org to find out how!

Expires October 31, 2023

# Court and Laura Treuth

presented

Feisty Wind for the Women’s Regatta

Herrington Harbour Sailing Association (HHSA) is well known for supporting and fostering women’s sailing. For over 20 years, we’ve run the annual Women’s Regatta and this year was no different. On June 17, ten boats competed in this year’s regatta on a great day of feisty wind that enabled us to get three races in.

All boats in the regatta must be skippered and crewed by women only. HHSA boats included Blue Dolphin (Sholeh Lee), Chanceuse (Maryline O’Shea), Cimarron (Katie Wolfe), Avalon (Margaret Stewart and Beth Muller), Osprey (Mary McClellan) and Happy Place (Jayne Durden). This year we were joined by two Eastern Shore boats (3-6-9 skippered by Liz Principe from Cambridge Yacht Club and In the Red skippered by Antoinette Wilkins from CRCA). Etoile (Barbie Klik) joined us from Baltimore again, and we were delighted to welcome Valhalla (skip-

Quality Cruising Yachts | Deltaville, VA

pered by Erica Kraft and coordinated by Amy Harris) with the first ever all veteran women’s crew.

There were highs (incredible racing and great wind) and lows (a ripped sail) and an amazing awards party afterwards. Congratulations to all boats. Our class winners were Cimarron (Spinnaker), Avalon (Nonspin Racing) and Happy Place (Non-spin Cruising). The 2024 Women’s Regatta is scheduled for June 15 next year.

HHSA is now preparing for the second women’s event of the year, the HHSA Women’s Cruise on September 23 and

24. Again, this event is open to any women sailors around the Bay. Join us for a Zoom planning meeting on August 24. Are you ready to register or sign up as a skipper or crew? We can’t guarantee all crew signed up with a spot, but we’ve been pretty lucky at getting pretty close for the last few years. We will meet in a central middle Chesapeake Bay anchorage and raftup for some great socializing with other awesome women sailors. For more information, go to Women Underway at hhsa.org or contact womenunderway@hhsa.org

Impromptu Cruise Weekend: What Sailing Is All About

The sailing season has been a bit tricky this year. The Chesapeake Bay Tartan Sailing Club (CBTSC) event schedule has fought with Mother Nature numerous times. From extreme heat to no wind to severe weather forecasts—weather tended to keep our boats in our slips and land yachts became the common mode of travel.

Then came the weekend of July 22. The hazy, hot, and humid heat dome was

By Greg Shields

forecasted to disappear for a few days. But wait, there was no CBTSC event for that weekend! One of our members (we’ll call him Quick Draw Mininsohn) shot a quick email to members to see if we could put together an impromptu weekend cruise to the Little Choptank. This is how great things happen on the Bay! Five Tartan sailboats (three 3700s, one 41, and one 4600) gave the idea a thumbs up, and we all went to work organizing provisions,

arrival times, and rafting schemes. The forecast was for a beautiful weekend with low humidity… and wind! Yeah!

Three boats arrived Friday and two arrived Saturday. Something Special was anchor boat for AltaBird and ScotFree, and Phoenix was anchor boat for Quetzal. Sailing down the Little Choptank was perfect, rounding markers and then turning up into Hudson Creek behind Casson Point to see fellow Tartans waiting to greet you. As bumpers were dropped and lines tossed, we all knew we had Mother Nature on our side for a change. The rest of the weekend was what sailing is all about: exploring by dinghy, boat discussions, joint happy hours and meals, and lots of stories.

As the rafts broke up on Sunday, we all thanked the Mininsohns for the best weekend on the Bay so far this season. Let’s hope there are more to come. Find the CBTSC at cbtsc.org

# 3-6-9 racing in the HHSA Womens Regatta

# Sunset Hudson Creek. Photo by M.Mininsohn

Cruise Kicked Off Painlessly

By Hartley Gardner

The Sailing Club of the Chesapeake (SCC) annual Rendezvous Cruise is in the books with past commodore Bob Young participating for the 28th consecutive time. To kick off the cruise, cruise leaders Hartley Gardner and Lesly Johnstone served SCC pain killers, about which Joan Williams was overheard to say, “the cruise was kicked off painlessly.”

A favorite anchorage of every cruise south is Mill Creek off Ingram Bay, VA. The biannual Race for the Mop was held on Sunday. Mill Creek Sailing Association members, sailing on their Sunfish fleet, won the mop. The SCC team of Frank Martien, Julie King, Joe Jackins, and Alex Schlegel gave it their best including having to right a sunfish! Kent and Andrea Eanes welcomed everyone to the race party.

Monday afternoon was spent relaxing at a member’s home on the Great Wicomico followed by a magnificent dinner at Horn

Harbor, which opened on a Monday night just for SCC. The only storm of the day waited until sailors were back aboard in the anchorage. As it swept across the water, it gave the fleet a good washing!

A light sail across the Potomac to Point Lookout Marina on Smith Creek was followed by more breeze and a sail up the St. Mary’s River to Horseshoe Bend. The race was won by Dayenu (Teena Grodner and Steve Horvath), followed by MYLA and ATSA

A wonderful trip Thursday to historic St. Mary’s City included going aboard the recently built Dove. During the entire cruise, crews were challenged to “build a boat” with rubbish found at sea or that they had onboard. There was a race the last night and end of cruise barbeque at the home of Harry and Kati Keith on Mill Creek in Solomons. The race winner was Dayenu and their trusty vessel Shiraz

This was a fabulous cruise with a beautiful sunset to seal it!

SCC promotes sailing, cruising, and yacht racing afloat and ashore for the purpose of furthering the sport of sailing. Nearly 200 members sail, cruise, and race 140 vessels throughout the Bay, the Atlantic region, and on extended international voyages. Learn more at scc1944@ clubexpress.com.

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# Joy Young, Teena Grodner, and Joan Williams enjoying a beautiful sunset.

Cruising Club Notes presented by Quality Cruising Yachts | Deltaville, VA

Nautical Flea Market and Picnic: A Fun Day!

America’s Boating Club Wilmington (ABCW) and North Point Marina slip holders joined together to offer a Nautical Flea Market to boaters in the Rock Hall, MD, area. Mother Nature smiled upon us, and we were fortunate to have a beautiful July day.

The Corinthians’ Heritage Cruise

The Corinthians are in “full sail” with our summer sailing season.

July 1-4 was our “Follow the Fireworks” cruise, which included stops at St. Michaels, Plain Dealing Creek, and Oxford, MD. We finished in Cambridge for a final evening of fireworks and fun and gave Cambridge our vote for Best Fireworks Display.

The club’s recent Annual Cruise was a fantastic success! This year’s theme was a Heritage Cruise which included day trips in Cape Cod and Massachusetts Bay and many towns with some tie to our nation’s history. The group of 19 boats included vessels from each of The Corinthians’ fleets (Chesapeake, Mystic, Long Island, New England), with the Chesapeake Bay fleet represented by more than half the boats. Several new members joined the cruise and thoroughly enjoyed the comradery. For some, it was their first trip to New England.

After starting in Marion, MA, and gliding through the Cape Cod Canal at a smooth nine knots, the group enjoyed time in Provincetown where the Pilgrims landed in 1620. The second day of the cruise replicated the journey of the Pilgrims from Provincetown to Plymouth, where they eventually settled.

Boston, Gloucester, and two other stops on the southeast coast of the state were among the seven ports visited during the eight-day cruise. Members typically had their choice of staying in marinas, on mooring balls, or anchoring. Each morning began with a parade of vessels from the hosting harbor, followed by races to the next stop when winds permitted.

The weather cooperated for the most part, and everyone had a great time. Activities included shore-side tours, a welcome reception, a raftup dinner, and a dinghy race. Some participants even opted to do their own self-guided exploring. Finally, the entire gang of more than 50 skippers and crew gathered for a farewell dinner to re-live some of the memorable moments and to discuss future cruising plans of the organization.

Lots of laughs were shared. Many new friendships were formed, and several skippers arranged to meet in the weeks following the organized trip.

Interested in joining The Corinthians? Find information at thecorinthians.org or contact Woody Leach at (240) 606-8059.

The variety of boating items to choose from could supply a small boat, including galley ware, electronics, furnishings, mast climbers, books, cushions, anchor chain, various lines, clothes, and hardly used boots and shoes. The Nautical Flea Market proved to be a success not only for members of ABCW and the marina slip holders but also for those attendees who found desirable marine treasures. Buyers heard about our Flea Market through flyers posted throughout Rock Hall, on ABCW’s and North Point Marina’s Facebook pages, and through word-of-mouth.

Later that day approximately 25 ABCW members gathered to enjoy camaraderie during a tasty Burger and Brat picnic in the pavilion at North Point Marina. The event was well coordinated by social committee members Joan Barber and Betty Ingram with a trusty team of grill meisters and sous-chefs. Members provided appetizers and personal beverages. The evening was topped off with a birthday celebration of song and delicious cake in honor of former commander John Ingram and a beautiful Chesapeake Bay sunset!

During the summer, ABCW members enjoy monthly weekend raft ups or cook outs. Winter activities feature boating education and monthly social events with interesting speakers. Visit us at abc-wilmington.com or contact us at wspsboaters@gmail.com

# Heritage Cruise to New England. Photo by Russ Borman

# ABCW commander Richard Butler and his wife Terry at the Burger and Brats event. Photo by Ralph Onesti

Boater Education

The Patapsco River Power Squadron, also known as America’s Boating Club Patapsco River, will offer America’s Boating Course on four consecutive Tuesdays from 7 to 9 p.m. beginning September 12 and again starting October 24. The fee is $35 per student. This eight-hour presentation is open to the public and covers boating safety equipment, rules of the road, buoys, and safe operating procedures. This course is geared to new boaters, but experienced skippers will benefit from the refresher.

supply companies, and many more. The squadron maintains a rigorous schedule of marine education courses in boating safety, boat handling, coastal and offshore navigation courses, and many other elective courses and seminars, such as weather, engine maintenance, sailing, marine electronics, GPS, radar, VHF, anchoring. USPS members per-

form civic services and hold fellowship events.

Please contact education officer Lou Kates at lmkates@comcast.net or (410) 937-0338 or (410) 272-0079 to reserve your spot. Seating is limited. The course will be held at the Law Offices of Ray Shepard, 122 Riviera Drive, Pasadena, MD.

US Power Squadron-certified instructors Brian Becker, Thomas Schatz, and Louis Kates have mastered the art of teaching beginners and experts and have won many teaching awards among them. Brian, Tom, and Lou emphasize how much fun boating can be. This is a NASBLA approved course qualifying graduates for their Maryland Boating Safety Education Certificate, required for all boaters born on or after July 1, 1972.

The Patapsco River Power Squadron was chartered in 1916 and has been presenting nationally recognized education to recreational boaters for 107 years. Members of the USPS enjoy deep discounts on courses, boat insurance, and supplies/services from chandleries, office

Find the perfect home for your sailboat in SpinSheet's Chesapeake Bay Marinas Directory! In the listings below you will find marina information including available slips, transient slips, gas, diesel, pump outs, maximum boat length, water depth, maintenance, as well as other amenities such as restaurants, dock bars, and swimming pools.

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2023 Optimist National Championships

By Maxwell Plarr

“Hampton Will Step Up, If Desired” read the subject line of an email I sent March 7 to Beth Danilek, the class administrator of the United States Optimist Dinghy Association (USODA). Earlier that day USODA had announced that the scheduled host for the 2023 Opti Nationals was no longer able to commit to the event. Nationals were scheduled in four months. The class was in a panic putting out an emergency call for bids for an event host, or there would not be a national championship for the Opti Class this year.

My immediate reaction was sympathy, not action. To put this into perspective, in March my wife, Lexy, was eight months pregnant. Planning a national championship typically happens with a year’s worth of planning time and effort. Hampton Yacht Club (HYC) hosted the Opti Team Race Nationals for the past two years, so I thought there would be little interest for the class to return to Tidewater for a third year in a row… I didn’t give it much further thought that day until one of my sailing parents called. With enthusiastic promotion Lindsay Lopez convinced me to make the one call that would determine the fate of whether HYC would put in a bid to host: “Call your wife.”

Lexy is an incredible wife and mother, who has supported my sailing endeavors throughout many years. This was no different. She gave her approval, knowing we would navigate the way forward. The second call was to the commodore!

The focus of our athletes’ success at HYC has been due to hiring the best coaches that continue to implement a team-oriented, focused work ethic, while making it a fun, rewarding experience. Organization, modernization, and professionalization. It’s how HYC Coach Juan Manuel “Paton” Briones coached the team and James Allgeier to winning the 2021 Nationals. On these principles HYC would ensure there would be an Opti Nationals this year.

Upon approval from USODA I quickly assembled the regatta committee: Leigh Chapman would take on a co-chair position and develop the budget; Morgan Johnson would be the volunteer coordinator; and Lindsay Lopez would head sponsorship. This event simply would not have happened without them.

Teams would be welcomed on July 24, kick off with Team Race Nationals from July 26-28, followed by Girls Nationals on July 30, and culminate with Fleet Nationals July 31-August 3. I immediately started making phone calls to secure

Mitch Brindley and Kevin Reeds as principal race officers (PRO), Rob Overton as chief umpire, and Jerry Thompson as a chief judge so that they could secure the 18 umpires and 12 judges necessary to run the event.

Planning for Nationals took a slight pause for me on April 25 when Lexy and I welcomed our son, Camden, into the world. I was able to spend a wonderful two weeks with family and take in the joy of fatherhood. As Lexy took her maternity leave, the regatta committee and I continued to hammer out details…

# Photos by Will Keyworth for Hampton YC

Youth & Collegiate Focus

The Team Race opened with 13 teams participating. Team racing in Optis is a 4 vs. 4 format, but teams can consist of up to five sailors. Four boats from one team compete against four boats from another team with both teams utilizing speed, maneuvers, mark room, and right of way to promote their teammates into a better position in the fleet. The fleet sails a “Digital N” course that features a windward mark left to starboard, a reach, a downwind run with a leeward mark left to port, another reach, and a final beat to finish.

The races are short, roughly 10-12 minutes. Each team must sail against all of the other teams, with 13 teams that’s 78 races in a Round Robin. Fortunately, Mother Nature delivered! PRO Mitch Brindley with the help of his race committee volunteers completed two full rounds before the finals.

CRYC Spectra and CRYC Vectran, LISOT Black, and Carolina Yacht Club (SC) were competing for the top spots going into the finals ending with both Coral Reef teams vying for the championship. CRYC Vectran came out on top in the best of 5 series. Both Coral Reef teams qualified for the top two berths to the IODA Team Cup in Berlin later this October.

For Girls Nationals, on Sunday, it blew! The girls faced a 15- to 20-knot northerly. The conditions were spectacular! The course for the Girls and the Fleet Race Championships is a trapezoid. The girls had 97 boats in the fleet all on the same starting line! Elizabeth Xydas of Coral Reef Yacht Club came away with the win!

The Fleet Race National Championship was capped at 250 competitors with up to 50 boats allowed to participate in Green Fleet. The Optimist Class Green Fleet is an opportunity for sailors learning to race to be openly coached around the racecourse. Protests are prohibited and the overall award for success is graduating to the Championship Fleet.

The Championship Fleet had to be broken down into three flights of roughly 70 boats to manage the start line… After the big wind for Girls Nationals a lot of the pressure left Hampton Roads. There was enough southwest breeze to start all three fleets, but quickly the wind dissipated and the current from a full moon started making forward progress grind to a halt. Due to not enough boats finishing, PRO Kevin Reeds eliminated the unfair set of races Monday and awaited sailable championship conditions on Tuesday.

Tuesday morning, the breeze began to fill from the northeast ranging from eight to 12 knots. Kevin and his RC team were able to complete four races for each flight. This allowed for a great demonstration of abilities. The flights would be re-ranked going into Wednesday. As the pressure filled from the east, the goal of the day was to complete three races to complete the

qualifying series limit of seven races. The complete qualifying series would determine the top 70 sailors to compete in the Gold Fleet. The conditions were excellent with great wind and tricky current.

On Thursday, a small southerly turned into a southwesterly that allowed Gold and Silver to complete one championship race. As the fleet awaited breeze, I rode around on the media boat with Will Keyworth. It was an awe-inspiring site. Hundreds of white squares dawned the horizon. I loved it. Knowing this was the last day of an awesome event, I couldn’t help but take in a moment of pride! HYC did this! The club hosted Fleet Race Nationals only once before in 1999 off the beach on Stawberry Banks. It was roughly half the size but nonetheless important. To me, this is what our club does best, whether for juniors or adults, HYC is a boating club.

Coral Reef Yacht Club had once again risen to the top of the fleet. Annie Ulmer, with an impressive scoreline, came away with the win. What is perhaps more impressive is the sweep of all three events by Coral Reef Yacht Club. Coaches Omari Scott and Bernat Gali Bou have been absolute forces in south Florida, and fortunate for us both coaches have ties to HYC. Bernat has been a guest coach for the Hampton Opti Team occasionally, and Omari sailed at Hampton University... A huge congratulations to both coaches and sailors!

Find full results at usoda.org

Ahh, September! Labor Day Racing

Labor Day on the Chesapeake ushers in a season of great sailing conditions, terrific holiday weekend events, and a pang of sadness as the summer comes to its close on the fall equinox, Saturday, September 23.

Although sailors carry on weeknight racing through fall in Baltimore and down in Hampton, VA, some clubs stop racing by the holiday weekend, such as Annapolis Yacht Club (Wednesdays). A few other local clubs, such as Severn Sailing Association (Tuesdays), carry on for a few more weeks. These clubs don’t stop weeknight racing because they’re shutting down racing for the season—far from it! The weekend racing scene from Labor Day through Halloween is jam-packed with action.

A number of noteworthy regattas unfold over the Labor Day weekend. AYC and Eastport Yacht Clubs co-host the Annapolis Labor Day Regatta, a Saturday-only event, followed by a party at EYC. The next day the Sailing Club of the Chesapeake will host the J/105 Women’s Regatta for the second year in a row; registration is open on Yachtscoring.

Fishing Bay Yacht Club (FBYC) in Deltaville, VA, hosts its popular Stingray Point Regatta, September 1-3. The event

will be open to PHRF boats (A, B, C, Non-Spin, CC) holding a valid PHRF of the Chesapeake certificate, and cruising boats having a provisional handicap rating assigned by FBYC.

For one-design sailors, SSA will run its Thistle Blue Crab Regatta and Snipe Fall Series Saturday and Sunday.

If you look at the racing calendar on page 32 and don’t see your club’s race on it, send a note to editor@spinsheet.com with the details, dates, and links. We will add it to our online calendar and include your results in the SpinSheet Racing Results, Presented by Mount Gay Rum, we send on Mondays through Halloween. #

Join the SpinSheet Racing Team!

All active racing sailors, whether they’re one-design or big boat racers, may qualify for the SpinSheet Racing Team. Hop online at spinsheet.com/racing-team and log your points. Those who qualify by December 15 will receive a high-tech team shirt by Team One Newport and an invitation to our Racing Team and Century Club celebration in the winter.

# Hawk Caldwell and Clarke McKinney’s Solomons-based Wild Horses team at the FBYC Stingray Point Regatta. The 2023 event runs September 1-3. Photo by Paul Almany

The Governor’s Cup at 50

By Capt. Steven Toole

A hundred crews of racing sailors showed up at four separate starts—Annapolis, Solomons, the Potomac, and Fishing Bay—for the overnight race down (or up) the Bay to the St. Mary’s River for the 50th anniversary of the St. Mary’s College of Maryland

Governor’s Cup Yacht Race August 4-5. Capt. Steven Toole aboard the J/120 Hot Pepper shares his story about the 70-mile overnighter:

Light wind from the south graced the Annapolis start of the 2023 St. Mary’s College of Maryland

Governor’s Cup on Friday, August 4. The Pride of Baltimore took the ceremonial first start of the race, in all her glory. The fleet divided into boats continuing on starboard tack toward the Eastern Shore vs. those on port tack heading south down the Bay. Mild temperatures and low humidity made for a comfortable afternoon, with calm waves and little traffic from powerboats or commercial vessels. As the afternoon turned to early evening, winds died down to low single digits. A flood tide kept my J/120

Hot Pepper in shallow water to avoid a half- to one-knot current knock, while much of the fleet appeared unconcerned as they hugged the Eastern Shore where deeper water flows through the shipping lane.

At 5:50 p.m. I was shocked to see the depth in the middle of the Bay drop instantly from 35 feet to eight feet to 15 and back to 35. As I pondered the cause of this and considered electronics malfunction or a very large submerged object, my curiosity was answered by a bottlenose dolphin breaching the surface abaft our starboard beam. About a minute later, again broad on our port bow. This breaching pattern continued to alternate from port to starboard for another 20-30 minutes as we trotted down the Bay with our newest mammal companion seemingly guiding our way. As it turns out, dolphins don’t make the best tacticians, as our results in this race may clearly reflect. It was truly a magical and memorable moment nonetheless.

Romances with nature aside, the wind gradually rotated easterly throughout the evening, in the six- to eight-knot range. After dark, we found ourselves converging with a southbound barge at roughly the same speed, forcing our tack to port for what seemed like an eternity until the vessel eventually outpaced us. A

# The Pride of Baltimore at the Annapolis start. Photos by Ted Morgan

# The Reichel Pugh 45 Katsu placed first in ORC 1.

TASTE THE GOOD LIFE

2023 Governor’s Cup First-Place Finishers

From four different starting points to St. Mary’s City.

Potomac

PHRF Spin Snuzuluz (Ranger 33) Non-Spin Maria’s Mark (Catalina 27 & 270 FK/WK)

Fishing Bay

PHRF Schiehallion (Beneteau First 305)

Solomons

CRCA ORR-Ez Bad Cat (J/111)

CMA PHRF Cruiser Weatherly (Tartan 30 & 30C)

CMA Nice Tri (Dragonfly 28 Sport)

CHESSS Coyote (C&C 115)

Annapolis

CMA Dual Force (Seawind 1190)

CRCA Racer Smoke ‘n Oakum (J/105)

CRCA Cruiser Barba Roja (Pearson 31-2 WK)

ORC 1 KATSU (Reichel-Pugh 45)

ORC 2 Ma’m’selle (J/122)

PHRF Spin A One Trick Pony (Melges 32)

PHRF Spin B/C Alaris (Block Island 40)

waxing gibbous moonrise at 10:22 p.m. provided ample illumination topside throughout the night.

We practiced two-hour shift rotations among our six crew on Hot Pepper, with three crew members assigned to help and navigate and three assigned to sail trim. Each crew had four hours on deck, followed by two hours of rest to keep everyone sharp and alert for safety’s sake. Racing upwind with only our main and jib meant fewer hands needed topside.

At 1 a.m. on Saturday morning, I dropped below to rest, only to hear my mind racing about the barge, the current, our strategy, and, oh yes, that dolphin tactician. Thirty minutes into my rest I heard the helmsman call to

hoist the spinnaker, as wind continued to rotate eastward enough to carry the chute. We launched it on our starboard side and carried the spinnaker all the way down to the Point Lookout turn mark at the mouth of the Potomac just before sunrise.

A beam reach up the Potomac made for a delightful leg, with competitors close by in every direction. Turning to starboard at the Saint Mary’s River Junction buoy “SM” meant a beat to windward for the final 6.9 nm up the narrow and shallow river. It was an exciting tacking battle for us among other boats such as Pursuit, Magic Dragon, and ReJoyce.

To add to the excitement, our electronics shut down completely just two nm from the finish, as our house batteries could no longer support them after 18

hours of continuous drain without recharging. We crossed the finish line between The Dove anchored on station and the cross on Church Point just before 9 a.m. on Saturday morning, using nothing more than our binnacle compass, and a little help from our Navionics apps.

At the race party, a calypso band welcomed us ashore. Food trucks served up a variety of appetizing delights. Two other bands took the stage throughout the day as racers came and went. For me personally, it was a great return to a race I haven’t done in 25-plus years, and my first time as skipper. I’m very proud of my crew, which included David Dodson, Sean Rodgers, Roger Clapp, Patrick Dowling, and his daughter Sky. We look forward to racing again in 2024. #

# The J/122 Moxie.

# Josh Colwell’s Orgazmatron placed second in the Annapolis CMA class.

TASTE THE GOOD LIFE

Tradition on the Tred Avon River

Following longtime summer tradition, the Tred Avon Yacht Club hosted its Race to Oxford on August 11 and Oxford Regatta August 12-13. This is a family affair for many racing sailors in Chesapeake country as there are opportunities for every age and type of sailor from a casual cruiser-racer to a one-design champion and of course, for log canoe sailors and spectators.

Breezy sailing conditions met sailors for the distance race and the weekend settled into the light winds we expect in August on the Choptank and Tred Avon Rivers. On Sunday afternoon, racing sailors donned their finest for an awards party on the lawn of the Harleigh Mansion. Find full results at tayc.com and photos for purchase at spinsheet.com/photos.

Race to Oxford Results

CHESSS

1. Julianne DeGraw Fettus, Bennu

2. Robert Dunigan and David Tabor, Jane Says

3. Rich Griner, Coyote

CRCA

1. Heidi & Dan Bay, Wildfire

2. Robert Michaelson, AnnaMae

3. David Donaldson, Jahazi

ORC

1. John White, Country Squire

2. Michael Johns, Witch’s Flower

3. Kevin McNeil, Seabiscuit

PHRF

1. Jon Opert, Orion

2. Mike Rajacich, Big Time

3. Beau Van Metre, Running Tide

# Heidi and Dan Bay from the West River Sailing Club topped the CRCA class. Photos by Will Keyworth

TASTE THE GOOD LIFE

Oxford Regatta Results

Opti Green

1. Colin Schwab

2. Whitman Hwa-Crabbe

3. Nellie Wood

Opti Red

1. Will Mohler

2. Jake Beaver

3. Clarke Garrett

Opti White

1. Cyrus Garrett

2. Samantha (Sammy) Feinstone

3. Eleanore Cowles

Opti Blue

1. Adam Butz

2. Henry Latell

3. Grace Crespin

Penguin Class

1. William Lawson/M.K. Fowler

2. Jonathan Bartlett/Annie Bartlett

3. Chris Conway/Diana Conway

Club 420

1. Will Friedell/Reese Corckran

2. Nate Long/Owen MacWilliams

3. Justinas Petkauskas/Madeleine Garrett

Junior ILCA 6

1. Conor Mastromarco

2. John Thomas Mason

3. Robert Carey Jr

Shields

1. R. J. Cooper/Gabie Vicens/ Carroll Vicens/Dawson Cooper

2. Harry Seemans/Don Elliott/ Patrick Firth

3. Jay Dayton/Allison Rogers

Star

1. Matt Rajacich/Quinton Gallon

2. Alan Campbell/John Foster

3. Robert Lippincott/James Golden

Log Canoes

1. Michael Keene, Persistence

2. Corbin Penwell, Island Blossom

3. Sean Callahan, Billie P Hall

# A typical scene onshore at the Oxford Regatta.

# A young team of log canoe sailors.

BCYA’s Race to Baltimore: Star Spangled Sailing

The Baltimore City Yacht Association’s (BCYA) Race to Baltimore has become a summer favorite for racers up and down the Bay. This year’s race July 15 saw almost 40 boats compete in seven classes, including healthy showings in both the PHRF A and multihull fleets.

While in recent memory the race has been known to include some challenging weather—everything from record-breaking heat, to torrential thunderstorms, and even the initial forming of a water spout one year—the conditions for this year’s race proved to be favorable on all accounts: more sun than clouds, no rain or storms in sight, and plenty of wind! There were steady 10-15 knot breezes throughout the day, which started light

By Adam Podbielski and Rich Shores

but kept building well into the afternoon.

Racers started with an upwind leg from the rendezvous at the mouth of the Magothy, heading south toward the Bay Bridge. They rounded their first mark and headed north to round Craighill Light, before heading to the finish in Baltimore’s scenic Inner Harbor. A south-southwest breeze slowly clocked to a south-southeast breeze, making for a few long runs and some tired arms for the sail trimmers. It’s always a photo finish when the breeze fills in from behind and pushes a fleet of colorful spinnakers across the line.

This year, BCYA partnered with the Pride of Baltimore II, the iconic clipper ship built by master shipwrights right in the heart of Baltimore. The Pride

anchored at the finish to greet racers and fired off a double cannon salute for the official close of the race at 5:30 p.m.

Of course, no BCYA race is complete without a killer awards party. This year was no exception. Anchorage Marina hosts this party each year and provides the best party dock in town, with great views of the beautiful Baltimore skylie as well as racers crossing the finish line. Battle-worn sailors recharged with delicious food from Annapolis Smokehouse and refreshing libations from Union Craft.

Be sure to join BCYA for its fall race, the Baltimore Harbor Cup, on October 21, and experience all of the great fun that racing north of the Bay Bridge has to offer! Learn more at bcya.com.

# Drone photo of the finish by Thomas Harbin

# Party photos by Clare Molina

# SpinSheet Racing Team and Century Club members Drew Mutch and Michael-Anne Ashford won aboard Just Wing It.

AYC Two Bridge Fiasco

On Sunday, July 30, Annapolis Yacht Club (AYC) hosted its Two Bridge Fiasco, a double- or singlehanded pursuit-type race for all sailing vessels. Competitors chose which of two bridges—the Naval Academy or Chesapeake Bay Bridge—to head to first. This made the finish, with racers crossing from both directions, a true fiasco.

Fifty-five teams competed in the 2023 event, which is the third annual. This race may be the best thing to come out of Covid! Find full results at yachtscoring.com and photos for purchase at spinsheet.com/photos

PHRF and Portsmouth Top Three Results

1. Just Wing It, J/22, Drew Mutch

2. Deep State, Viper 640, Walt Pletcher

3. Uno Mas, J/70, David Schoene

Photos by Will Keyworth

# Celia and Tony Moynagh on Elvis.

# Walt Pletcher and Brian DeBrincat on the Viper 640 Deep State placed second.

# Gisela and Patrick Shaughnessy on Swiss Miss.

TASTE THE GOOD LIFE

Show Up and Throw Down!

Chesapeake Sailors at the Hinman Masters Champions

Starting strong is important in any team race regatta. Equally as valuable is improving along the way. The victories earned by the New York Yacht Club McDowell team over the first two days of the New York Yacht Club (NYYC) Invitational Team Race Regatta for the Commodore George R. Hinman Masters Trophy put the home team in a position to challenge Southern Yacht Club for the title. But the losses provided them with the lessons they needed to win it.

“In the races we lost [to Southern Yacht Club during the round-robins] we made mistakes,” says Chris McDowell, team captain for the NYYC squad. “They were really good, and they capitalized on our mistakes. Over the event, our crew work in each boat got better and our boat-to-boat interactions got smarter. Even though we did lose races, we learned from the losses, and everybody worked together. As the wind built, the crew work that had

been building all weekend really made a difference.”

Yacht club teams competed by invitation only in the 2023 Hinman Masters, August 11-13, in Newport, RI, in Sonars with three to five sailors per boat. Skippers had to be at least 45 years of age; crew members had to be at least 40.

After three full round-robins among the eight teams, Southern, with 17 wins, and NYYC McDowell, with 16 wins, had separated from the remaining teams. A best-of-five championship series would determine the winner. New York only needed three races to seal the win for the second year in a row. Eastport Yacht Club, Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club (Oyster Bay, NY), and Noroton Yacht Club (Darien, CT) rounded out the top five.

Annapolis sailor Sam Septembre, who crewed on the winning NYYC team, says, “I’ve always wanted to win this trophy.”

As for what makes this regatta exceptional, Septembre says, “The camaraderie that is unlike any other sailing event I’ve done. Everyone is genuinely excited for each other to do well. There are sailors there I’ve known for decades, and we have a lot of fun. It’s some of the highest level competitions I’ve ever been in.”

He notes that he loves all types of sailing, but fleet racing seems “boring” in comparison to team racing.

“Ninety races were executed in three days… who does that?! Each race is seven minutes long. The intensity is so high. Knowing the rules inside out and knowing your role really well are important. I do my job; I try to stay focused.”

Septembre’s teammate, sailor Brett Davis, who has attempted to win the Hinman Masters five times, says, “It was widely agreed that this was by far the deepest talent we have seen at this regatta. Every single team was

# The Eastport YC team. Photo courtesy of James Appel

TASTE THE GOOD LIFE

talented. We gave up trying to count Olympic Medals, World Championships, and America’s Cup campaigns among us.”

As for what he enjoys about team racing in general and this event in particular, he says, “I love how team racing is inherently social. On the dock, between racing, and even in the thick of battle, there is humor and good will between and among teams. The Hinman Masters event is special in that it is run perfectly. NYYC provides the boats, the venue, and a best-in-class race committee. We just show up and throw down. It is the perfect model for adult sailing, especially team racing.”

Davis adds, “Our skipper and team captain, Chris McDowell, is a truly exceptional sailor. He sails the boat differently than anyone I have known, and his team racing style vexes the competition. His boat speed is legendary. On top of this, he is 100 percent about the team and a load of fun. I love that we are the only boat with music playing in our boat while racing. It sets the mood and makes for better tempo in our tacking duels.”

EYC team captain James Appel has competed in this event six times; the

EYC team has competed for seven years. Skippers on this year’s team were RD Burley, Ryan Cox, and Brad Rodi. Other team members included Dean Balcirak, Susie Balcirak, Reid McLaughlin, Blanca Funes, Tracey Haley (Friday), Jaimie Fontenella, Carl Smit, Mary Ewenson, and Michael-

Anne Ashford. Appel gives credit to Gavin O’Hare for putting the team together; O’Hare served as an umpire this year.

Appel echoes what the others said about the depth of competition: “There’s not a bad sailor on any of the boats, on any of the teams. Most of the sailors sailed in college, and they’re Olympic, national and world champions, college sailors of the year.”

When it comes to sailing at NYYC, Appel says, “They are a premier club. Everything they do is over the top. They are incredible. The boats are in amazing condition. Every single boat works and is in really good shape. They have a full-time professional boat maintenance person. If there’s ever a problem, he’s on the water. They fix it within minutes. It’s a very difficult regatta to run logistically, it runs seamlessly.”

As for the shoreside events, he notes how fun it was to dress up for the Friday night cocktail party. He said the Saturday night sit-down dinner was impressive. “It’s not just some rubber chicken dinner—we had filet mignon! You’re not going to find that at other regattas.”

Find complete scores at nyyc.org/2023-hinman-masters.

# The NYYC McDowell team placed first. Photo by Stuart Streuli

# The winning NYYC team. Photo by Julia Boron/ NYYC

TASTE THE GOOD LIFE

Annapolis Sailors at the J/24 North Americans

Annapolis sailors traveled to Sandusky, OH, August 8-13 for the J/24 North American Championship Regatta at Sandusky Sailing Club.

Tony Parker’s Annapolis-based Bangor Packet placed sixth out of 28 competing boats.

“We’re always chasing down Tony—he’s so fast!” says Kelly FitzGerald whose team aboard Rush Hour placed eighth. She was the top female skipper of four total at the event; two of the four were all-women teams.

Find full results at yachtscoring.com

# Kelly Fitzgerald’s Rush Hour (#3497 in pink and blue) and Tony Parker’s Bangor Packet (#58 in lead). Photo by Christopher Howell

Small Boat Scene Taking Your Lumps

By Kim Couranz

Working on your “slop and chop” technique… and patience.

Afew weeks ago, I enjoyed racing my ILCA 6 out in the Bay one day and at the mouth of the Severn River off Bay Ridge the other day. Saturday was super hot, but after a front went through, Sunday was much more enjoyable (at least from a temperature standpoint). Both days included some pleasant breeze: Saturday started off light but built to almost 15 knots, while Sunday was more seven to 10-ish.

With spectacular summer conditions like that, you’d better believe that the ILCA 6 and ILCA 7s weren’t the only boats out on the Bay. Bigger boats had fun racing the Annapolis Yacht Club Two Bridge Fiasco on Sunday, and there were also many cruising sailboats and a ton of powerboats out all weekend long.

And that means… a lot of chop. With so many people enjoying time on the Bay, there are lots of boat wakes interacting and causing all sorts of liquid chaos. Instead of a somewhat-regular wave/swell height and directions, the lumps come at you from every direction. It’s impossible to get a rhythm steering over/around/through waves. So, you’ve got to adapt—your mindset as well as your boat setup and boathandling.

We’re all in it together.

It may not seem like it—especially when your competitors just a hundred yards away seem to be in a magical flat spot in the water—but on days like these, every-

one is struggling with the chop. Yes, it’s hard, and it’s frustrating. But somehow, knowing that it’s not just you dealing with the chop makes it a little more palatable. Those folks in that magical flat spot—don’t worry, they’ll get their moments in the washing machine, too. Everyone “gets” to enjoy that at some point. Or rather, at many points.

Accept reality.

You can’t just wish the slop away, so accept it and adjust the way you’re sailing. To find success that weekend, I repeatedly had to remind myself—usually out loud (yes, on a singlehanded boat!)—to

sail differently than I would have in the absence of all those annoying waves. Tacking in on what might have been the port-tack layline on a non-choppy day? Nope, not gonna happen. I had to say, “You can’t point right at the mark. Just go for that tanker for a while.”

Change what you can.

Your angles will get bigger upwind, and you need to create a more powerful sail plan (are you easing outhaul, cunningham, etc.?). How you sail downwind may need to change, too. Dead downwind is likely not going to work. Heating it up to power through the chop—even if it takes your angle farther from your downwind mark(s)—is important. Remember, on most boats, it’s way easier to keep the boat moving than to get it moving once you have stopped. Heat it up downwind. Keep it footing upwind, and keep it rolling!

Patience is key.

This is related to accepting reality. Find yourself in a hole, with no wind and lots of chop? Your gut instinct may be to tack or gybe to get out of a bad situation. But don’t make a bad situation worse! Take a deep breath and

# Photos by Dan Phelps

# Changing gears more accurately than your competitors can gain you needed boatlengths over the course of a leg.

evaluate whether changing course will indeed make your situation better. Make sure that when you tack, you’re heading into better breeze. It is super hard to keep your head out of the boat on days like this, because you’re so busy tweaking your control lines and getting all bounced around. It’s important to keep an eye out for where the windier spots are so that you can take advantage of them. Optimally, you connect those dots and avoid the holes… but that’s rarely 100 percent feasible, so just doing as best you can will have to get you through.

Don’t hesitate to take opportunities!

Just because it’s hard and frustrating doesn’t mean that you can’t take charge of your situation. In fact, it’s all the more important to capitalize on the good times. See a good puff out on the right side? Hit it hard. See it, believe it, act on it. Wind drop off and your sail

controls are too tight—but it looks like the breeze will fill in again in another minute? Don’t just accept that your sail will be set up right for when the breeze comes back. Ease off your controls to deal with the light spot as best you can, then pull ’em back on again when the breeze returns. Changing gears more

accurately than your competitors can absolutely gain you needed boatlengths over the course of a leg.

Slop and chop isn’t the most fun, but it is one of the more challenging conditions racing sailors can experience. We can’t wish it away, so develop your technique and focus and you’ll thrive in it! #

About the Author: SpinSheet Small Boat columnist for more than a dozen years, Kim Couranz has earned several national and world titles in Laser Radials (ILCA 6) and Snipes. She has also raced J/22s, J/24s, and Ynglings on an international level.

# Photo by Ted Morgan

Throw Predictions Away!

By David Flynn

We have come a long way since I first started distance racing. We actually know where we are all the time down to a couple of feet! We have sophisticated instruments which, if calibrated properly, give us true wind direction, angle, speed, and more with a high degree of accuracy. Perhaps the biggest change is that weather forecasting has come a long way. We all follow along for days before a big race as the picture becomes clear. There are many good sources. High-end teams even hire forecasters on a private basis to get weather specific for your boat.

In a sailboat race if you know what the wind speed and direction are going to be, your strategy becomes pretty clear. To further simplify the process, we even have routing software which can integrate our boat’s performance (polars) with the latest weather and predict optimum course to get there fastest. This is almost like cheating except it comes with a few caveats. There are times when we need to be reminded that this is not a video game and that we need to get back to the fundamentals.

The biggest problem arises when weather predictions, as good as they have

become, are not reliable. It is still very hard to predict localized conditions. Big picture? No problem. What is going to happen in a couple of square miles at a given time? Tough. A classic case that brought this lesson back home was the 2023 Chicago to Mackinac Race. Our team on the Virginia-based Meridian had all the tools and a top-notch navigator, Mark Wheeler, who knew how to use them. For a week leading up to the race we would look at five or six different weather models and run our routing software to figure out the best path and arrival time. It has become a game with the crew who know not to trust predictions made a week out. Usually, the scenario will change significantly almost every day.

The problem this year was that all the models predicted very light air. There was very little “gradient” wind (big picture) that the models rely on. Small changes in the predicted gradient wind make for big changes in optimum routing. It was telling that there was so much variation every day and little consensus between the models. We were fortunate to have the services of Mark Thornton of LakeErieWX, a top meteorologist, helping us analyze the data. His comments just before the race were telling:

“The routing algorithm assumes the forecast is 100-percent correct over the

# It is remarkable how spread out a fleet can get in a long race. Be patient. Don’t panic. Just win your side. Photo by Will Keyworth

Racer’s Edge

entire duration of the race. Decreases in forecast accuracy related to a weak barometric pressure field are not accounted for when the optimum route is calculated. The bottom line is that my confidence in the forecast and routing solution is less than average.”

In other words, since there will not be much gradient wind, all bets are off. Throw the predictions away! So, what do you do?

Look out the window

With all the cool tools now available it is easy to get obsessed with our computer screens. I have seen top navigators spend almost an entire race down below downloading the latest weather (grib) files and re-running routing software. At times like these, it is time to come up on deck and take a look around. You have to sail what you can see.

The start of the Mac Race was supposed to be reaching or running in light air. Low and behold, just as we entered our starting sequence, we noticed a dark cloud approaching off the Chicago shoreline. No thunderstorms were predicted. Up the course boats were beginning to do some weird things in terms of where they were heading. All of a sudden there were 20-plus knots on the nose, and the start was a beat. This was particularly awkward since we had stripped the boat down and were only carrying one jib: the light #1. Local clouds and small cells continued to play a part throughout the race.

With darkness you are pretty much on your own. However, many of the big races now use onboard tracking. This is a wonderful tool to see how everybody is doing. Are the boats farther east or west doing better? What is happening up ahead with the fastest boats?

Velocity Made Good on Course (VMC)

The fundamental principle of any distance racing strategy is to get closer to the next turning mark. Imagine a series of concentric rings emanating from the mark. We don’t really care what the straight-line course is. We can be left or right of that original “rhumb line” course. It makes no difference as long as we are further up the ladder rungs of those concentric rings and closer to the mark.

Pick the fastest angle for the wind direction and velocity you have at the moment that will take you generally in the direction you want to go. Don’t obsess with the original straight-line course. The wind is going to change particularly in light conditions. There will be parking lots followed by new breeze filling in. All we want to do is be farther up the track when these things happen.

Win your neighborhood

It is remarkable how spread out a fleet can get when are all trying to get to the same place. The divergence from east to west in a race such as the Chicago to Mackinac which basically heads north is pretty mind boggling. Be patient. Don’t panic. Just win your side. Keep the boat moving at all costs, and grind down the boats you can see. If boats

from the other side of the course end up ahead, there is nothing you can do.

Once committed to a path, you don’t have access to a beam that can magically transport you to another part of the racetrack. There will be other opportunities. In this race, the boats that went east early on ended making out relative to those of us who took a more westerly approach to the problem. Never fear! We all stopped to re-group at the Manitou Islands (some 60 miles from the finish). Everybody got to start again with the biggest, fastest boats who had gotten there first suffering the most.

Just remember to keep things in perspective. This is distance handicap racing with boats of all sizes in light air. There is a big luck factor that goes into winning one of these races. Enjoy the wonders of nature, the stretches of good sailing, and the camaraderie of sailing with friends. #

# Pick the fastest angle for the wind direction and velocity you have at the moment that will take you in the direction you want to go. Photo by Will Keyworth

National Heritage Area

The Northern Neck officially launched the Northern Neck National Heritage Area with a celebration at Stratford Hall, on July 17, more than two decades after the Northern Neck Planning District Commission—working with numerous stakeholders, elected representatives, and the National Park Service—began the effort to earn National Heritage Area (NHA) designation for the region. A National Heritage Area, said the Northern Neck Planning District Commission’s executive director, Jerry W. Davis, defines “‘places where historic, cultural, and natural resources combine to form a cohesive, nationally important landscape.’ That perfectly describes the Northern Neck.” Erik S. Kreusch, National Heritage Area coordinator at the Northeast Regional Office of the National Park Service in Philadelphia, addressed the next step in the process. “We have three years to develop a Management Plan,” said Kreusch. “Its goal is to make the organization sustainable to allow the Northern Neck National Heritage Area to honor the history of the Northern Neck, engage museums, the community, and the region’s tribes to tell their stories. All this “aligns very much with the mission of the National Park Service,” he added.

Elizabeth S. Vehmeyer, assistant coordinator for the National Heritage Area Program at the National Park Service in Washington DC, explained that although the first National Heritage Area was designated in 1984, and today there are 62 of them in 36 states, the Northern Neck became one, in January of 2023, along with the establishment of a system of National Heritage Areas across the country. “NHAs are grassroots efforts,” Vehmeyer said, “community-driven public-private partnerships that support, preserve, promote, and celebrate our nation’s history, its cultures, its peoples, and places. They are partners with the National Park Service.” A National Heritage Area does not create ownership by the Federal Government, she added, the way a National Park would. “NHAs are administered locally, making your participation and your voice in this process welcome and essential for the success of the National Heritage Area,” she said. northernneck.org

Small Craft Standards

The American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) has published its 63rd supplement to Standards and Technical Information Reports for Small Craft. The annual publication provides the international marine industry with the latest updates to the boat building and repair standards used for over 90 percent of the boats constructed in the United States. On August 16, ABYC hosted a complimentary webinar, offering an overview of the 14 updated standards and the available compliance resources. These resources are designed to assist the industry in proactively meeting the demands of the 2025 model year requirements. “In Supplement 63, we’ve implemented updates to enhance safety and adapt to the evolving landscape of boat construction and technologies,” said Brian Goodwin ABYC technical director. “Notably the standards for Fire Fighting Equipment (A-4), Steering Systems (P-17 and P-22), and Emergency Engine/Propulsion Cut-Off Devices (A-33) have undergone systematic reviews and improvements.” ABYC members can access the standards and technical tools on ABYC’s website via the standards library. ABYC standards are continually researched, developed, and revised by over 400 volunteer technical experts and marine professionals participating in Project Technical Committees (PTCs). Visit abycinc.org/publications to purchase Standards and Technical Information Reports for Small Craft, Supplement 63 manual. To learn about how to get involved in standards development visit abycinc.org/getinvolved.

New Sales Director

Dream Yacht Sales & Ownership welcomes Amanda Haley as the new yacht sales director for North America. Amanda joins the company with years of industry experience in both yacht brokerage and most recently charter ownership sales for Navigare Yachting. Living aboard a 50-foot monohull herself, Amanda found her passion in helping other individuals find just the right boat for them and educating boaters about the vast possibilities charter management programs offer to make their sailing dreams a reality. She now brings this expertise to her new role where she continues to inspire others to pursue their dreams on the water. Her experience is also welcomed for expanding retail sales in the East Coast U.S. and Florida, where Dream Yacht is the exclusive dealer for Bali Catamarans. Amanda Haley is a dream-chasing sailor, renowned for her unwavering passion and expertise in the yachting industry. With her USCG 50-Ton Master License and a wealth of experience as a captain, she has successfully completed numerous 700+ nautical mile deliveries along the East coast of North America, Central America, and throughout the Caribbean. She is also an American Sailing Association (ASA) instructor certified in levels 101 to 114 and a mother of four. dreamyachtcharter.com

Prestigious Recognition

Pocket Yacht Company announces its recognition as the world’s largest dealer for Ranger Tugs. This esteemed award was presented to Pocket Yacht Company during the dealer meeting held in Seattle, WA. Industry professionals and dealership representatives were brought together as Pocket Yacht Company was acknowledged for its exceptional commitment to delivering outstanding sales and exceptional customer service. “We are incredibly honored to receive this esteemed award,” said Mark Schulstad, owner and managing director of the Pocket Yacht Company. “Our partnership with Fluid Motion Marine has been integral to our success from the beginning, and we are proud to represent all three of their brands including Ranger Tugs, Cutwater Boats, and Solara Boats. This achievement motivates us to continue delivering exceptional service and providing boaters with memories for years to come.” The recognition of Pocket Yacht Company as the world’s largest dealer of Ranger Tugs is a testament to the company’s unwavering dedication to serving the boating community with a passion for the water and a commitment to excellence. To accompany this award, Pocket Yacht was also recognized as a top dealer for Cutwater Boats. pocketyacht.com

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Very successful racer. Includes all equipment for racing/cruising, many spares/extras. Faired keel and rudder. Comes w/ dual axle trailer (needs paint) and dock box. $5,000 Email for more info and photos rtpotee@cablespeed.com

Pearson 30 - Many Upgrades! Renovated Atomic 4, wiring, wheel, large bimini, new rigging, roller furler, mainsail, traveler, toilet, batteries, depth finder, cabin carpet, tiller box, Galvanic Isolator, Garmin plotter, Gel coat. $10,000 Call 410.268.1058

Bauer 10 Sailing Dinghy Fully rigged, nice shape. $2,500 Please call 410.459.5670

American

J/24 with Trailer

FEATURED BROKERAGE

Brokerage & Classified

1983 Catalina 30 Well-maintained, w/ lots of heart and soul. Tall Rig, Fin Keel (5’3” draft). 21Hp Universal diesel, mainsail, 130% genoa, all rigging in good condition. Fast and fun sailboat w/ lots of room in cockpit and cabin. Many recent upgrades. Available for viewing and sea trial at Selby Bay Yacht Club, Edgewater, MD. Asking $15,000 Call 202.368.2431 or gprickett rockcreekstrat.com https://bit.ly/3OE76Zs

31’ Pearson MkII 1988 Excellent condition. Firm solid deck. New 130% Genoa 2023. Like new fully battened main. Wing keel 3’-11”. Autopilot. Recent Raymarine VHF, depth, and speed. Bimini and dodger. Cozy & clean below decks. Superb solid family cruiser, single hander. Bottom painted March 2023. $29,900 Contact (text: 804.221.7290) or petert3@outlook.com

(Ritual) 1974 Carter 33 Two owners, commissioned for offshore racing, hull 5/10, 1985 FWC engine low hours, 1993 double tapered mast, cruiser ready. $6,500 YPM Lancaster, VA. Jeff 804.690.2214. Inventory and photos, visit www.ritual.piwigo.com

(No Surrender) 1998 J/Boats J120

Offshore ready, J 120, USA 77. Fully equipped and ready for offshore racing. Well maintained and in great shape. Full complement of racing sails. Excellent electronics package. Email - ricksailscnc@hotmail.com

Sabre 38’ Mark 1 Divorce sale. $10,000 Boat needs work. Sails included. Make this boat your summer/fall project! Call 410.703.5699 or email 21401naptown@gmail.com

37’ Pacific Seacraft 37 ’03 Extensive recent refit. Full-width forward bunk. Newer canvas and sails. Beautiful teak interior. Asking $178,000 Call Rod Rowan 703.813.0460 or www.CrusaderYachts.com

39’ Excess 12 ‘22 Another Excess Boat of Year Winner! Cruise Ready Excess 12 #29 is ready for delivery NOW! Call CYS offices and speak w/ your favorite Broker! REDUCED $640,000 410.269.0939 or www.CrusaderYachts.com

Hunter 33.5 1989 Excellent condition. Yanmar 2GM20F, North Sails, Doyle Cradle Cover (2019), Hawkeye Depth gauge (2023), and other upgrades. Boat is ready to sail. $25,000 Contact: sbailey128@gmail.com

(Wings) 2020 J Boats J/121

Fully equipped Racer/Cruiser in pristine condition. Meticulously maintained and boasts exceptional race record. Includes full set of racing sails, newly coated race bottom, water ballast, and Garmin electronics. Contact: 718.764.7215 or michaelb@mcmyacht.com www.bit.ly/42OIUZJ

37’ Beneteau Oceanis 2009 Shoal draft, conventional main, new sails, canvas, standing-running rigging, engine mounts, bronze thru-hulls. 16k AC-Heat, lithium house bank w/ 100 Amp Alternator, folding prop, Dinghy, 3.5Hp Nissan. $119,000 Call/Text 843.301.2097 or gleasonsails@gmail.com www.bit.ly/3L9LAuP

37’ Excess 11 ‘23 Model Year, Boat of the YEAR winner! This new catamaran has won awards around the worldCome see what it’s all about! 37-foot Performance cruiser! Hull #75 IN STOCK. Reduced $575,000 Call 410.269.0939 or www.CrusaderYachts.com

38’

386 ‘04 Quality build midsize cruiser. Cruise Equipped, Air, Solar, Updated Electronics and moreNew Main. Asking $189,000 Call Dan Bacot 757.813.0460 or www.CrusaderYachts.com

41’ Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 410 ‘23 Hull #242 IN STOCK! Very wellequipped! Call your Favorite CYS broker today for more info! Available now! Reduced - $430,000 Call 410.269.0939 or www.CrusaderYachts.com

38’

Sun Odyssey 380 ‘23 #83 Two Cabin LayoutOne Head, Performance Pack, Laminate sails, Bow Thruster, air con and more! Ready for delivery. $390,000 Call Crusader 410.269.0939 or www.CrusaderYachts.com

44’ Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 440 ’23 #390 In Stock and Ready for delivery! Loaded - Genset, Air, Thruster, Radar, Freezer and More… Price reduced $620,000 Trades Considered. Call Crusader 410.269.0939 or www.CrusaderYachts.com

38’ Sabre 38 Mk II ’88 Classic design. Lightly used, professionally maintained. AC/Heat, windlass and more. Mostly freshwater sailed. Asking $115,000 Call Rod Rowan 703.813.0460 or www.CrusaderYachts.com

49’ Excess Catamaran 15 ‘23 Pulse Line Rigged. Loaded w/ cruising gear and elegance not yet seen in family cruising cats! Hull #14 IN STOCK!! Deposit NOW - Close/Deliver in Summer 2023! Call your favorite CYS Broker for more info! Reduced $1,275,000 Call 410.269.0939 or www.CrusaderYachts.com

7078 Bembe Beach Rd., Annapolis, MD 21403

Sabre

Jeanneau

find more sailboat listings and boat reviews, visit spinsheet.com

C45 —

FALL: CR34, C38, C46, C50

Brokerage & Classified

49’ Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 490 ‘23 Performance Cruiser, Furling mast, Air, Gen, Thruster, and more, ready to go cruising! Hull #168 IN STOCK!! Deliver Summer 2023! Reduced - $725,000 Call today to schedule a showing w/ your favorite CYS Broker! 410.269.0939 or www.CrusaderYachts.com

(Elf) 35’ George Lawley & Son 1888 $249,000 Fletcher C. Bauman 410.263.2000 fletcher@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

(Anna May) 38’ Wauquiez ‘86 $65,000 Brent Anderson 651.528.4198 brent@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

51’ Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 519 ‘17 Great equipment list on this late model Jeanneau. All set for coastal or offshore cruising. Blue Hull, Davits, Genset, Thruster, Air Con, Water Maker, Solar and more! 3 Cabin, 2 head layout. Price reduced, asking $395,000 Call Gordon Bennett 410.739.4432 or www.CrusaderYachts.com

(Confidante) 36’ Vancouver ‘82 $60,000 Dan Williams 502.881.7475 d williams@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

(Native) 38’ Herreshoff ‘70 Lin Earley 757.672.2778 lin@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

Leave 10% Brokerage Fees in Your Wake Jay Porterfield • Knot 10 Sail (410) 977-9460 • jay@knot10.com

2001 Lagoon 380 3-stateroom owner version. Generator, ac/heat. Call Jay 410.977.9460 jay@knot10.com

www.knot10.com

43’ Jouet 1280 Most well-designed motor sailor I have ever seen! Perfect condition. This is a must see! Visit Knot10.com and look at her! Call Jay 410.977.9460 jay@knot10.com

www.knot10.com

(karen Marie) 36’ Union ‘84 $70,000 Dan Williams 502.881.7475 d williams@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

(Pride) 40’ Tartan ‘85 $80,000 Dan Williams 502.881.7475 d williams@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

2005 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 54 DS Captain’s layout. Full B&G Yacht Electronics. Call Jay 410.977.9460 jay@knot10.com www.knot10.com

7330 Edgewood Road, Suite 1 Annapolis, MD 21403

66’ CNB 66 ‘21

Well-equipped for offshore/distance cruising comfort. 4 cabins/4 heads w/ Captain/Crew cabin in bow. Reduced - $2,499,000 Call Gordon Bennett 410.739.4432 or www.CrusaderYachts.com

(Adventure) 37’ Tartan ‘79 $58,500 Lin Earley 757.672.2778 lin@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

409 Chester Avenue, Suite A Annapolis, MD 21403

1.855.266.5676 | info@curtisstokes.net

www.curtisstokes.net

(Cloud 9) 34’ Catalina ‘88 $37,500 Lin Earley 757.672.2778 lin@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

(Zephyrus) 37’ Irwin ‘74 $19,000 Dan Williams 502.881.7475 d williams@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

(Chaucer Blue) 41’ Morgan ‘77 $60,000 Justin Lawrence 802.272.5208 jlawrence @curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

2005 J Boats J/100 Epitome of class and performance. Most sought after daysailer model year. Contact David Malkin at 443.790.2786 or David@NorthPointYachtSales.com www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

1997 Tartan 3500 Nicely maintained w/ recent upgrades. Perfect for weekend or extended cruises. Contact Troy Waller at 804.885.4090 or Troy@NorthPointYachtSales.com www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

(Quetzalcoatl) 45’ Bruce Roberts ‘98 $110,000 Jason Hinsch 410.507.1259 jason@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

1998 Tartan 3500 Very wellmaintained performance cruiser/racer. New electronics, service up to date plus many updates, this boat is ready to sail. Contact Chris Beardsley at 804.885.4090 or Chris@NorthPointYachtSales.com www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

2003 J Boats J/109 Proven winner. Whether a serious racer or weekend warrior, this boat is a true competitor. Contact Bob Oberg at 410.320.3385 or Bob@NorthPointYachtSales.com www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

(Artful Dodger) 49’ Hanse ‘11

1995 Sabre 362 Great sailing yacht, very well-maintained and upgraded. Call today for more information. Contact Bob Oberg at 410.320.3385 or Bob@NorthPointYachtSales.com www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

2000 J Boats J/120 Carbon fiber mast, new aluminum boom, UBI Major roller furling system, new Volvo D2-40 engine and 130S saildrive, plus many recent upgrades. Contact Jack McGuire at 401.290.7066 or Jack@NorthPointYachtSales.com www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

2006 Hunter 41 Deck Salon Very wellmaintained and equipped for cruising w/ recent electronics upgrades and spacious accommodations. Contact Chris Beardsley at 804.885.4090 or Chris@NorthPointYachtSales.com www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

2016 Hanse 415 Very nice performance cruiser, easily sailed shorthanded and comfortable for extended stays on board. Contact Chris Beardsley at 804.885.4090 or Chris@NorthPointYachtSales.com www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

1977 Baltic 42 Newly finished restoration project w/ updated rigging, running rigging, deck hardware, paint, engine, and much more. See it to believe it! Contact Mike Coe at 410.387.8859 or Mike@NorthPointYachtSales.com www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

2001 J Boats 42 A carbon mast and shoal draft keel makes this a great cruiser w/ racing performance. Wellequipped for new adventures. Contact Bob Oberg at 410.320.3385 or Bob@NorthPointYachtSales.com www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

2022 Hanse 460 Rare opportunity jump in line on a boat that has over a year wait. She is commissioned and in Annapolis waiting for her next owners. Contact Jack McGuire at 401.290.7066 or Jack@NorthPointYachtSales.com www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

2011 Beneteau Oceanis 50 Four cabin arrangement w/ two heads, sleek coach roof, long side windows, fully integrated mainsail arch. Contact Troy Waller at 804.885.4090 or Troy@NorthPointYachtSales.com www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

Brokers for Fine Yachts Brokers for Fine Yachts

Annapolis, MD 410-571-3605

Rock Hall, MD 410-639-2777

Deltaville, VA 804-776-0604

Charleston, SC 843-872-8080

Palmetto, FL 941-212-6121

www.SJYACHTS.com

Island Packet Yachts 27’-52’ List your Island Packet with the Experts! S&J Yachts is the World leader in selling IPs. No team knows these boats better! We have buyers looking now for these excellent cruising yachts. Call S&J now for a free market evaluation. 410.639.2777 www.sjyachts.com

2009 Catalina 375 Many wonderful features: Reverse cycle heat/air, beautiful cockpit canvas w/ sunshades, ocean air shades & screens for all overheads. Separate stall shower, convertible salon table, center-line queen forward converts to traditional v-berth. $167,500 S&J Yachts 410.639.2777 www.sjyachts.com

2013 Marlow-Hunter 40 Stunning freshly painted blue hull, new bottom paint, hard bimini, 760 engine hours, bow thruster, clean interior, two cabin layout. Beautifully kept boat! $249,000 Charleston, SC. S&J Yachts 410.639.2777 www.sjyachts.com

Pacific Seacraft 31 ‘19 well-equipped w/ optional equipment, incl. cutter rig, shoal draft keel (4”), bow thruster,

2019 Blue

40 Lightly used, nearly new condition & ready for a new owner & new adventures. Solar, arch, A/C, & shoal draft keel make it ideal for fast cruising just about anywhere!

$499,900 Palmetto, FL. S&J Yachts 410.639.2777 www.sjyachts.com

Extremely well-cared for, superoptioned 2stateroom/2head layout. Lots of privacy for 2 couples. Roller Furling Mainsail, varnished cherry cabinetry, teak flooring in cockpit; one of the newest 423 models on the market. $178,000 S&J Yachts 410.639.2777 www.sjyachts.com

www.sjyachts.com

$998,000 S&J Yachts 410.971.1071 www.sjyachts.com

Switching from sail to power? Sit inside in comfort & trim all sails at the push of a button. Enjoy sailing or power like a displacement trawler. Large centerline berth. Spacious galley. Shoal draft. $259,000 S&J Yachts 410.639.2777 www.sjyachts.com

Deck Salon shoal draft cruiser, great views & all the options; 3 elec winches, generator, bow thruster, laundry/workshop… great 2 cabin accom’s & centerline fwd berth.

$230,000 S&J Yachts 252.864.9111 www.sjyachts.com

410.639.2777 www.sjyachts.com

2008 Island Packet 465 Located in St Petersburg, FL – Super clean, center cockpit cruiser, loaded with equipment! 2021 electronics, water maker, generator, arch/davits, thruster, and plenty of space/storage. $445,000 S&J Yachts 843.872.8080

1987 Bristol 47.7 Spacious 2cabin/2head, ICW friendly design, comfortably suited for 6 aft cockpit, keel centerboard, A/C, Volvo diesel, plus many sail combinations and modern upgrades. $155,000 S&J Yachts

Southerly 57 ‘10 Luxurious Bluewater Performance Cruiser! Raised salon with panoramic views. Great cockpit for entertaining. Variable swing keel from 3’ 6” to 10’ 9” at the push of a button. Large transom platform/garage.

Jacket

41’ Island Packet SP Cruiser ‘08

2008 Beneteau Oceanis 423

Catalina Morgan 440 2005 Superb galley-up

Anne & Jon Hutchings

17218 General Puller Hwy, Deltaville, VA

Anne: 804-567-0092 | Jon: 804-567-0093

www.yazuyachting.com

31’ Catalina 310 ’03 Compact pocket cruiser. Good condition. Simple systems, large cockpit easy sailing. Battened Mainsail, new Genoa (2022), Universal 25Hp engine. $67,000 Urbanna, VA. Call Anne Hutchings 804.567.0092 or anne@yazuyachting.com www.yazuyachting.com

31’ Island Packet 31 ’84 This IP Classic is a ‘Big Little Boat’. Large cockpit, spacious interior. Standing Rigging 2019, Kato Davits, Refrigeration, Yanmar 27Hp engine w/ 1600 hours, Wheel Pilot. GREAT VALUE. $42,500 Deltaville, VA. Call Anne Hutchings 804.567.0092 or anne@yazuyachting.com www.yazuyachting.com

38’ Island Packet 38 ’88 Chainplates and holding tank replaced; many recent updates. Solar, Wind Generator, anchor chain & washdown 2020, standing rigging 2015; bow roller, electric windlass & autopilot 2018; 9’ dinghy. Loads more. $117,000 Deltaville, VA. Call Anne Hutchings 804.567.0092 or anne@yazuyachting.com

www.yazuyachting.com

44’ Beneteau 44 Center Cockpit ’94 Farr hull, cutter rigged. 3 Cabin, 2 head. New holding tank, new inverter/ transformer 2023; new sails, KATO Davits, Raymarine Axiom 9, AIS 700 2020. Aircon, Genset (220V), Radar. $114,900 Deltaville, VA. Call Jon Hutchings 804.567.0093 or jon@yazuyachting.com

www.yazuyachting.com

35’ Young Sun 35 ’82 Solid Taiwanese built, full keel, double ender. Just arrived from the Caribbean. Solar, arch, Monitor Windvane, bowthruster, 12V water maker, new standing rigging 2021, ROCNA anchor w/ 150’ chain –and much more. $59,000 Deltaville, VA. Call Jon Hutchings 804.567.0093 or jon@yazuyachting.com www.yazuyachting.com

39’ Bongers 39 ’91 South African design & build, just in from Caribbean and Atlantic crossing. Windvane, Arch, Solar, Wind Generator, Lithium Batteries, Victron Inverter, SSB, Dinghy & Outboard. Loaded w/ spares & Cruising gear. $82,500 Deltaville, VA. Call Jon Hutchings 804.567.0093 or jon@yazuyachting.com

www.yazuyachting.com

Read boat reviews online at spinsheet.com

VIDEOS  WANTED  WOODWORKING

MAR k ETPLACE & CLASSIFIED SECTIONS

ACCESSORIES

Boye knives The “Cadillac” of boat knives. Rustproof cobalt blades cut Dyneema fast and clean. Ultimate safety knife for emergencies/everyday use. Rave reviews; artisan made in USA since 1971. www.boyeknives.com

ART

Seaside Treasures Shop for nautical decor, beach decor, and more for your lake cottage or beach home! A family run business since 2001. Use coupon “SPINSHEET10” for 10% off! ContactUs@SeasideTreasures.com www.SeasideTreasures.com

BOO k S

FOR SALE: 75 Classic Sailing Books They are some of the greatest sailing stories that have ever been written. Please email me for a complete copy of the listings: mphsails1@gmail.com

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

advertise in the Brokerage and Classified sections, contact beatrice@spinsheet.com

ELECTRONICS

EQUIPMENT

CREW

Offshore Passage Opportunities Your Offshore Sailing Network. Celebrating twenty years helping sailors sail offshore for free. Learn by doing. Gain Quality Sea Time! Call 800.4.PASSAGe (800.472.7724). Keep the Dream Alive for the Price of a Good Winch Handle! Since 1993. admin@sailopo.com www.sailopo.com

DELIVERIES

Endurance Yacht Deliveries Local and long distance. Twenty-five years of experience with clean insurance approved resume. Power and sail. Please call Simon Edwards 410.212.9579 or email stredwards@gmail.com www.enduranceyachtdeliveries.com

EQUIPMENT

H ELP WANTED

Boat Show Help Wanted - FREE Show Tickets and More Annapolis Boat Shows is hiring for the Fall 2023 Boat Shows. Work is available August through the Shows in October. Jobs range from water crew to gate support. Hourly wage, some meals, and free entry into show included. Completion bonus available. Learn more and apply at: www.annapolisboatshows.com/job-opportunities

Head Sailing Coach Opportunity St. Mary’s Ryken High School (SMR) is immediately seeking a Head Sailing Coach for the 2023-2024 School Year. For more information and/or to apply, please visit: www.bit.ly/47iSZBs

M ARINE S ERVICES SAILS HELP WANTED

Yacht Sales - Curtis Stokes and Associates, Inc. is hiring new salespeople for our Chesapeake area operation. Candidates must be honest, ethical and have boating experience. This is a commission only position. Contact Curtis Stokes at 410.919.4900 or curtis@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

M ARINE ENGINES

TORQEEDO Travel 1003S Electric Outboard Long range battery, 3 Hp, Perfect for daysailers up to 3,000 pounds, tenders, dinghies, duck boats. Quiet and lightweight, perfect condition. Used twice. Includes carrying bag for motor/battery. $1,500 703.869.1663 or 2000Annapolis@gmail.com

Volvo Penta 1975 15Hp, 2-cylinder gas engine w/o head. Many spare parts, transmission, alternator, wet muffler, gaskets, fuel pump, thermostat. $350 Please call 410.918.8693

M ARINE S ERVICES

30’-50’ Deepwater Slips for Sale & Rent Flag Harbor Condo Marina on western shore of Chesapeake in St. Leonard, MD. Slip sales & rentals 410.586.0070/ fhca@flagharbor.com. Storage & Repairs 410.586.1915/ flagboatyard@gmail.com www.flagharbor.com

Sailor›s Wharf Marina on Mill Creek off White Hall Bay, 20-to-45-foot slips with water & 30-amp electric. 1651 Orchard Beach Road, Annapolis, MD 21409. For more information, please call 443.336.3615 or email sailorswharfmarina@gmail.com

S URVEYORS

P/T Delivery Driver

Wanted for three-daya-month magazine distribution route in Maryland. Compensation based upon quantity of stops. Must have a valid driver’s license in good standing, reliable vehicle, and be able to lift up to 25 lbs. Contact Beatrice

Weems & Plath Celebrates its 95th Year

In 1928 Captain Philip Van Horn Weems, a graduate and instructor of the U.S. Naval Academy, and his wife, Margaret Thackray Weems, founded the Weems System of Navigation. At the Annapolis-based navigation school students could choose to receive correspondence or in-person courses to learn how to navigate in the air and at sea.

Weems quickly evolved the company into manufacturing navigational instruments that could be used in tandem with the courses. Courses continued to be offered through the mid-1970s when the company decided to focus more of its attention on further enhancing navigation by serving as a consultant for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard.

Updated versions of some of the instruments developed by the school 95 years ago are still among the most popular products sold by Weems & Plath today, including the Weems Parallel Plotter (#120), 12-inch Parallel Rule (#140), and Hand Bearing Compass (#2005).

Weems System of Navigation didn’t officially become Weems & Plath

until 1953 when Johannes Boysen of the German compass manufacturer, C.Plath, partnered with Captain Weems to sell C.Plath sextants and compasses in the United States.

Weems & Plath now offers over 400 products with customers hailing from all around the world.

“We owe it all to our loyal customers who have continued to put their trust in our products, whether it be for recreational boating, military vessels, or commercial industries,” said Michael Flanagan, president of Weems & Plath. “That’s why we have continued to keep our customers at the forefront of our thoughts when developing new products.”

The company’s latest line of products is the OGM Series of LED Navigation Lights, which are built at the company’s Annapolis headquarters, using solid milled aluminum and the latest electronics to be among the most reliable, durable, and brightest navigational lights on the market.

See the impressive power of these remarkable lights on display at Weems & Plath’s booth in Tent C at the Annapolis Powerboat Show October 5-8 and Annapolis Sailboat

Show October 12-15. During both shows, attendees can take a free shuttle, provided by Weems & Plath, to and from the show to the company’s headquarters at 214 Eastern Avenue to shop at the annual Tent Sale. For more than 30 years, this popular event has offered deep discounts on discontinued, overstock, and sample items, including navigation tools, clocks, barometers, lamps, binoculars, compasses, exquisite gifts, and even garden accessories.

In keeping with tradition, Weems & Plath will donate 10 percent of all sales on Saturday, October 14 to a charity dedicated to giving back to the local community through boating practices. This year’s recipient will be the Roslyn and Leonard Stoler Center for Advanced Medicine at the future home of University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMGCC) in honor of the Maryland Cures Cancer Regatta: one of three regattas, along with the CRAB Cup and Hospice Cup, which make up the Triple Crown of Charity Sailing, a fundraising and sailing trophy sponsored by Weems & Plath.

Flanagan said, “I think Captain Weems would be proud of how his company continues to grow and give back to the local community. We work hard to produce, as he once said, innovative products that are rooted in tradition. We look forward to celebrating our 100th anniversary with the community in the years to come.” ■

# Captain Weems and his wife Margaret with Charles Lindbergh. Images courtesy of Weems & Plath

# Carl Plath.

SALE SUMMER

From basking in vivid sunsets, to exploring uncharted waters, or creating unforgettable memories, our team is here to empower your season. Ignite your summer adventures with Quantum sails, designed to elevate your experience on the water.

Request a quote to take advantage of the best prices of the year, now through September 30th.