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Review Copy

 

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Eighth Annual Good Old Boat Regatta

Sponsored by Good Old Boat Magazine
Hosted by Shearwater Sailing Club

October 6 & 7, 2007
Annapolis, MD

Race Results ›

2007 Good Old Boat Regatta Report

A Race, An Almost Race, and, As Usual, Tons of Fun
by Don Frye

It's hard to believe that it's been eight years since the first Good Old Boat Regatta began with 21 entries. Since then, the event, sponsored by Good Old Boat magazine and hosted by Shearwater Sailing Club, has seen a lot of growth and changes. Entries surged to about 100, then were capped at 80 due to size limitations at the party site. A two-Saturday event was combined into a single weekend to accommodate the many entries from as far away as New Jersey and North Carolina. And this year, the Tartan 34C fleet chose the Good Old Boat Regatta for its annual running of the T34C Challenge Cup.

The fun begins Friday evening at the mandatory skippers' meeting for non-racers. This is a real hand-holding exercise overlooked by many race committees. Charlie Husar explains the race procedure and rules while showing the novices all of the signals to be displayed on the committee boat. And always, someone asks: "If I have to pass the mark to port, is that my port or the mark's port?" Racers are supplied with a packet which includes race particulars, starting times, current info, illustrations of signals, and an illustration of the government marks to be used. But most useful is the page: "Racing for Non-Racers: A Primer" which provides helpful tips such as staying out of the starting area until five minutes before your class start. The novices are warned that, "Infractions of this rule invite disqualifications, scowls, screams, and a questioning of one's parentage."

During the race, the weather gods have been fickle lately. Last year, they blew away one race with winds above 25 knots which forced a cancellation. This year, they boycotted the event. Saturday morning brought a 2-knot south-southeasterly with gusts to 5. While the race committee pondered a course that might be completed in such light air, the Cheoy Lee 40, Dolce Vita, sailed into the starting area flying the Jolly Roger with its crew dressed in pirate costumes. Every boat they approached was bombarded with Super Soakers and screams of "Arrrgh!" That continued until the crew of the Triton, Sandpiper, crossed their stern and let loose with a barrage of doughnut holes, forcing an immediate truce but threats of water cannons next year.

Shortly afterward, the classes were started and 73 entries began a slow-motion race around the 7.3-mile government mark course. For the next four hours, breezes disappeared, reappeared, and shifted directions. However, all but a couple of boats finished.

Good Old Boat magazine founders Karen Larson and Jerry Powlas made the trophy presentations Saturday night along with Good Old Boat Regatta co-founder Charlie Husar. The Tartan 34C Challenge Cup (an impressive piece!) went to David Schiff, owner of Odyssey.

A memorable moment followed. During the past year, Dan Lawrence, owner of the 1960 Triton, Sandpiper, made contact with Peter Bowe, whose father had purchased the boat new. Dan invited Peter down to crew with him in the race. At the presentation, Dan introduced Peter and presented him with his first-place Triton Class trophy to take home to Peter's mother.

The party began with food and liquids supplied by Shearwater Sailing Club and snacks provided by Les Hester of Herr's Foods. And, as usual, the Good Old Boat musicians started their first of several sets. Last year, they introduced a song, dedicated to Charlie Husar, titled "The Man With 90 Feet of Cal," teasing Charlie, the owner of a 40 and two 25s. However, since then, Charlie acquired another 25 so they had to update the song to become "The Man With 115 Feet of Cal." This was an enormous challenge to a group handicapped by several Dark 'n' Stormies.

Sunday morning looked promising with winds of 8 to 10 out of the SSE again so the RC lengthened the course to a bit over 8 miles. But the winds faded and faded to nonexistent. Eventually the RC announced time limit expirations every five minutes. Only two boats finished, Dave Hoyt's Cal 25, Zephyr, and David Shiff's T34C, Odyssey.

Then everyone went back to Bob and Cindi Gibson's Sailor's Wharf to party. And the question lingers on: do these people block out the first weekend of every October to race or party? Maybe they just do it for the fun of it.

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Race Results

Good Old Boat Regatta Overall Awards

• Best Racer: Odyssey, Tartan 34C, David Shiff
• Best non-Racer: Entropic, Alberg 35, Michael Sauntry
• Best All Women's Boat: Checkmate, Cal 2-30, Cindi Gibson
• Good Old Boat Magazine Perpetual Trophy: Zephyr, Cal 25, Dave Hoyt
• Oldest Boat Entered: Entropic, 1962 Alberg 35, Michael Sauntry