Posts for March 2006

From Scuttlebutt March 29, a perspective on racing on the Chesapeake Bay in case anyone needs the reminders.

VOR: CHESAPEAKE CHALLENGES
Leg 5 of the Volvo Ocean Race brings many challenges. Skippers and navigators must negotiate the southeast and northeast tradewinds, cross through the dreaded doldrums and Bermuda Triangle then play the strong currents of the Gulf Stream. There are many decisions to be made during the 5,000-nautical mile leg from Rio de Janeiro to Baltimore, but it's the final 120 miles that concern skippers and navigators the most. "There could be some serious reshuffling in the Chesapeake Bay," Pirates of the Caribbean skipper Paul Cayard said yesterday. "Anything can happen in the Bay, and that's good …

Wednesday, April 5, Steve Cockerill, an internationally known dinghy sailor, will be giving a talk at Severn Sailing Association. Steve has won many World, European and National titles in both single and doublehanded classes. Although the talk will be mostly geared towards lasers, it will be applicable to other one-design classes as well. I'll be putting a carpool together to go up and see the talk. We'll depart Richmond around 3. There will be a small fee and it does include a simple dinner and beverages. For more information see the Laser District 11 Website. If you are interested, please shoot me an email or give me a call. -Jon Deutsch jon@jdeutsch.com 804-305-1244

"Copyright Southside Sentinel, used with permission."

Members and friends of the Deltaville Maritime Museum celebrated the “Laying of the Keel” last Saturday at the museum in Deltaville. Above, the keel is carried on the shoulders of volunteers to start the construction of a replica of the “Explorer,” a 30-foot sailing barge used by Captain John Smith to explore the Chesapeake Bay region.

They went, they conquered, they returned!

Noel Clinard and Mike Miller take on the Bounty in Tampa Bay, surviving to tell all! Doubloon can just be made out through the Bounty’s rigging as she prepares a volley.

As well, Wind Dancer (Len, Barb, & Heidi Guenther), Antonia (Mike and Sophie Massie), DouBloon (Noel Clinard & Mike Miller), and Fathom Knot II (John Hubbard, Ric & Sharon Bauer) competed in 4 days of racing in the Flying Scot Midwinter Regatta, hosted by the Saint Petersburg Yacht Club on Tampa Bay. For final race results click: RACE RESULTS

The Guenther’s continue to transfer their formidable Mobjack skills to the Scot, as the rest of us watched their stern entirely too …

The Laser had it's 35th birthday recently and the Winter issue of the class magazine is loaded with happy memories of it's early days and reports on antics that famous names like Carl Buchan and Gary Jobsonwere involved in. Current hull numbers are in the mid 180,000 range and both the full and the radial rigs will be seen in the Beijing Oplympics. While most of the medalists in the mens event in recent years have been from outside the US there are two US women in contention for the US Olympic team, Paige Railey and Anna Tunniclife. Paige is in High School in Florida while Anna sailed out of Old Dominion University so she may be …

Mark your calendar! On April 1st at 9:00 am, we will have our Spring Clean-Up of the grounds. Some parts of the grounds are in turmoil from construction of the bulkhead on Jackson’s Creek and ground clearing. The new land is slowly taking shape, but we really need to get some grass growing in lots of places. In spite of these circumstances, we have lots to do. Mulch spreading, pruning, the usual dose of raking and other “spruce-up” kinds of jobs are on the agenda. We’ll have coffee and maybe a doughnut or two to get you started. If enough hands show up, we’ll be done by lunch. Bring a rake, pruning shears, some trash bags …

A number of FBYC boats went to St. Petersburg Yacht Club for the Flying Scot Midwinters being held March 5-10. A close look at the Results shows that John Hubbard is in the top half of the 35 boat Championship Fleet. I heard Friday night that his crew included our Rear Commodore Ric Bauer and Sharon. Noel Clinard is also competing in the Championship Fleet.

Mike Massie and daughter Sophie - on a break from UVa - is a consistent 11 in the Challenger Fleet.

Sail fast - guys and girls!

In the spring of 1607 the first English settlers arrived in Jamestown with three large vessels and a knocked down and disassembled boat. This 30’ barge was completed on the shore and immediately put in service exploring the myriad tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay. In the course of this exploration and mapping, Capt. John Smith was fatally stung by a Stingray off present day Stingray Point. Quick work by the ship’s surgeon (not Pocahontas, sorry Walt) saved his life.

To commemorate our first unhappy tourist the Deltaville Maritime Museum will construct what we believe is an authentic replica of Captain John Smith’s “Explorer”.

This 30’ open boat, propelled by oars and sail will be constructed with white oak …

Only seven weeks until Opening Day. This is the month when many of us are working on that slick bottom. If you haven't done this already, there's still time to renew or obtain your required racing certification, MORC, PHRF, etc., for '06. If you have questions or need help with the PHRF form, contact Mayo Tabb or Mike Dale. The form is available on the PHRF of the Chesapeake Web Site. If you intend to compeat for CBYRA High Point, You need to be a current member of the Chesapeake Bay Yacht Racing Association. Check out their web site for an application form. If you had a conversation over the winter months about serving as either race committe …