For Immediate Release                                                

July 12, 2011
Contact: Jere Dennison
Publicity Chairman
Southern Chesapeake Leukemia Cup Regatta
804.288.6323
jerepaula@verizon.net

Leukemia Cup Experiences an Active Weekend in Deltaville

The 13th Annual Southern Chesapeake Leukemia Cup Regatta held in Deltaville over the weekend of July 8-10 was another huge success with 77 registered yachts and enthusiastic crowds at the Auction and Gala helping to raise $112,000 in cash and $20,000 in kind donations, based on preliminary numbers, to support patients with blood cancers.

Typically the Southern Chesapeake Leukemia Cup Regatta is one of the most financially successful Leukemia Cup Regattas in the country in spite of being one of the smallest of such national venues. And tornado ravaged Deltaville rose to the occasion and disappointed neither participants nor organizers this year.

Funds raised came not just from the generosity of sailors who competed on the racecourse but also from 36 local, regional, and national commercial sponsors, led by the presenting sponsor SunTrust Bank, and countless individual community supporters of all the Leukemia Cup events that began in the early spring and culminated with the Regatta, racing activities for which were run by the Fishing Bay Yacht Club, and the Gala & Auction at Stingray Point Marina.

Individual fundraising was especially spirited this year. Two individuals raised over $8500 each to qualify for a Fantasy Sail in New York Harbor this fall with Gary Jobson, international sailor, ESPN television commentator, and national chairman of the Leukemia Cup Regattas. 

The top fundraiser was skipper Diane Simon who hails the Fishing Bay Yacht Club as the home port for her 33-foot racing sloop Happy Place. She took home the coveted Roy F. Meyer Perpetual Trophy presented each year to the event’s top fundraiser.

Rob Whittet, last year's top fundraiser and lymphoma survivor, also qualified again this year for the Fantasy Sail. Wife Linda Whittet, who recently joined the Leukemia Cup Committee, supplied the new and poignant slogan for the Regatta this year – "We race together…because no one should fight cancer alone."

The two-day racing format in ideal moderate winds on Saturday but teased by light air on Sunday's shortened courses was officiated by principal race officers Brooks Zerkel on the East Course and Lud Kimbrough on the West Course supported by a host of on-the-water volunteers.  Overall awards for the top boats in each division were presented on Sunday afternoon at Stingray Point Marina following the final race.

J105:

PHRF A:

PHRF B:

PHRF C:

PHRF Non-Spin:

Complete PHRF and Non-Spin Results

Classic Fleet:

Leukemia-Orange Fleet:

Leukemia-Pink Fleet:

Complete Cruising and Classic Fleet Results

But the action at this year's Leukemia Cup was not restricted to the racecourse.  Augmented by spacious tents erected on the grounds of host Stingray Point Marina, members of the Stingray Harbour Yacht Club and other volunteers transformed a grassy field into the site for the event’s popular fund-raising auction on Friday night and for the Leukemia Cup Gala celebration with food, beverages, and entertainment on Saturday night. Unfortunately, Mother Nature intervened with the threat of torrential rains, and the auction was forced to move to Saturday night before the Gala. However, bidders seemed undeterred by the schedule adjustment, and organizers thanked all for their understanding of the situation.

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society once again was overwhelmed with the level of enthusiasm from the Deltaville and Middlesex communities. In particular, the LLS expressed sincere appreciation to the co-sponsoring clubs, Fishing Bay and Stingray Harbour, and host Stingray Point Marina for making it possible to stage such a blockbuster event in our area. And special thanks went to the Deltaville Market and J&W Seafood for their valuable roles in this event.

Carolyn Norton Schmalenberger, Co-Chair of the Leukemia Cup Regatta, put it best, saying she was "profoundly touched by the generosity of all the skippers, participants, hosts, volunteers, and sponsors who help make the Leukemia Cup Regatta a success story." She continued, "It is an honor to serve on the Regatta Committee with one of the finest groups of talented, dedicated, and honorable people I’ve ever worked with. This unique partnership is an investment in a bright future for thousands of patients fighting a blood cancer."

Photos courtesy of Jon Deutsch.  View more photos from the Leukemia Cup Regatta.