SMCC Archive 2007

2007 SMSA June Regatta

Five catamarans participated in the 2007 Southern Maryland Sailing Association (SMSA) Small Boat Summer Regatta June 23rd 2007. Races were held in the Patuxent River near its mouth to the Chesapeake Bay and Solomons MD.

The multihull start consisted of four Hobie 16’s and one Taipan 4.9 F-16 class catamarans. On the Hobies were Jeff and Donna, George and Sara, Rich and Pam and Carter and Scott. On the Taipan F-16 was Patrick going solo. Rich and Pam and Carter and Scott came up from the Saint Mary’s River Yacht Club while the others were SMSA small boat racing regulars. The other classes were Buckaneers (8 boats) and Portsmouth monohull (9 boats).

The race PRO was VERY accommodating to the multihull class and ran longer courses for the cats, using government navigation marks for race marks. In fact he had printed up little charts lettering the government marks so corresponding course letters could be posted on the committee boat. The courses were then not quite Olympic format but made for more fun racing.

The 1st race had a breeze from the West and after a short upwind leg, had a very long triangle mark out where the Patuxent River meets the Bay. Then back slightly upwind to the “C” mark with an upwind finish. However, this leg ran close to shore, which seemed to create a wind hole leaving everyone stranded for a short time. This was frustrating but the effect bunched up the Hobies at the C mark making for a great close finish after a nearly hour long race.

For the second race the wind had shifted around 100+ degrees but the course was quickly reset. The multihull fleet was sent on a big running reach across the river to a triangle mark and back. This greatly assisted the Hobie 16's which excel at reaching.

Before the 3rd race could get anywhere the wind died. Finally giving up, the mark boats pulled the sailboats back to the beaches, lifts, and ramps.

That only left burgers and drinks at the SMSA clubhouse and discussing the wind, the races, etc. for the rest of the afternoon.

Thanks to SMSA that put on a great regatta. They had SIX power boats in addition to the race committee boat moving marks taking photos, and towing boats in when the wind died.

Congratulations to Rich and Pam who took 1st overall for multihulls.

Multhull Fleet

Sailed:2, Discards:0, To count:2, Ratings:USPN, Entries:5, Scoring system:Portsmouth
Rank	Fleet	Boat	Class	Sail #	Helm	Crew	USPN	Race #1	Race #2	Total	Pts
1st	Multhull		Hobie 16	62007	Rich	Pam	76	2.0	1.0	3.0	3.0
2nd	Multhull	Taipanic	F16 - Taipan 4.9 Uni Spin	274	Patrick		67.1	1.0	3.0	4.0	4.0
3rd	Multhull		Hobie 16	87512	Jeff	Donna	76	3.0	2.0	5.0	5.0
4th	Multhull	Little Wing	Hobie 16	78218	George	Sarah	76	5.0	4.0	9.0	9.0
5th	Multhull		Hobie 16	108116	Carter	Scott	76	4.0	5.0	9.0	9.0

2007 Thursday Racing

Regulars for the SMSA Thursday Racing included Patrick on his Taipain 4.9 F16 (Single handing all but once or twice), George on his Hobie 16, Paine and Becca on their Prindle 18, and new for 2007 Mike and his son on their Hobie 16.

(updated 6/07)