Morning Star Racing

DSC_8860, a photo by hergan family on Flickr.

Mark, Mike, Ben, Nicky, Darrel, Damian, Iain

Photos from Stephanie Wagner

From Mike Wagner:

We had another wonderful day of sailing on the North East River, despite being greeted with white cap conditions and rough water from early in the morning. Our gracious Committee Boat hosts, John and Jan Sergeant (aka Thurston and Lovey Howell), brought Angelica over to pick up equipment and the committee, and it took the help of many hands to get the boat secured in all the wind. Probably the largest boat in the NERYC family, Angelica can certainly be a challenge to handle in a lot of wind, but the first class accommodations more than makes up for the minor inconvenience of windage. Gilligan (Jim Brown), the Professor (Jon Fowler), and all the rest can attest to that.

With a breeze coming from the South, there weren’t nearly the puffy conditions of last week – just a very strong blow that lasted for most of the race, finally moderating a bit near the end. In the spinnaker class, Mark Hergan and his crew aboard Morning Star took First, and the Shaws aboard Cinnamon Girl led the Non-Spin fleet.

Next week is the Havre de Grace Invitational down off of Turkey Point. The following week is the UD Fall Collegiate regatta (October 6 &7) (look for a separate email about this), so our next and final race of the Fall Series is Saturday, October 13th. There is also a fun race on Sunday, October 21, and then our final event of the season, the Charlestown Cup Pursuit Race, which will be held on Saturday, October 27th. Solaris won the Pursuit Race in 2011. Come try to take it from us (or in other words, rip it out of my death grip).

Photo by Stephanie Wagner

from Michael Wagner

We’ve been waiting for a nice day with good wind for quite a while. Last weekend for the Bay Jam Invitational down off of Still Pond, we got wind and then some – 25 to 30 knots which pushed the few who sailed right to their limits. It seems that the Wind Gods kept some of the left-overs and dropped them on the North East River yesterday. If only they had been dropping them consistently – at times it seemed we were almost becalmed, only to be hit with a 25 knot blast just seconds later. It certainly made things challenging, especially for the boats in the Spinnaker class. Just after rounding the first mark, First Love put on quite a show for everyone able to watch when they popped out their spinnaker just seconds before getting blasted with a huge sustained gust. Watching their struggles convinced us quickly that we weren’t going to even try. The other boats seemed to agree until Lottery finally popped their spinnaker out south of Charlestown, although they then put on a show for the rest of us with a near broach, wild round up, and a run-away spinnaker for quite while. The second downwind run was a little kinder to some, although when we (Solaris) had ours up for about 3 minutes, we got blasted so hard the committee boat could hear our spinnaker flapping in the wind from a half mile away. Needless to say, we took it down after that.

Many thanks go to Bill Dallas (and Josie, in absentia) for hosting the race committee aboard El Gaucho Del Mar, and to Steve Dougherty who filled in for Josie, helping Bill get the boat anchored in all the wind. It was nice to see the Dinsel family on Redemption make the leap from Thursday night racing to Saturdays, the return of the ‘ and their group on Fireworks after some time away, and Bill Johnson and his crew from Hance Point Yacht Club sailing Crazed Weasel, a Soverel 27. Saturday’s results are attached. Please note that since we are 3 races into the series with only a single PHRF-B non-spin boat, there won’t be a separation in the non-spin groups, so all non-spin boats are scored together (and previous results will be re-calculated).

NEXT Saturday we are starting earlier – skippers meeting is at 11:00, with an on-water start at Noon. Our race committee hosts will be John and Jan Sergeant with Angelica. This change in time is to accommodate the Member’s Picnic which starts at 3:00 when we come it. This is a fun event – and the price of admission is a covered dish, salad, side dish or dessert to serve 8. What a great way to enjoy a day’s sailing and then have a potluck lunch for your entire crew. Everyone is welcome, and the Sail program is providing the beer so plan to stay and enjoy the afternoon. See you there.

PS: Don’t forget to send in your registrations for the Havre de Grace Invitational race which is on Saturday, September 29th. This is one of the best events on the bay – you don’t want to miss it.

I wonder if anyone is counting? Have you ever tried racing with 6 kids between 5 and 11? Try it you will like it. Just make sure they can sail the boat when you jump off and swim back to the marina.

NERYC Junior Race – 69, a photo by hergan family on Flickr.

It was another great sight at NERYC on Sunday as our fiercely competitive Opti sailors headed out for a Junior race at NERYC. The conditions were similar to what the keelboats experienced on Saturday – lots of gusts – so we had a couple of capsizes, but everyone had a great day unscathed in the end. Pete Harsh served as our Race Official, conducting 5 races of tight competition, with 8 competitors.

There’s no question that this group is really excited to be sailing, and have been coming to a weekly Thursday After-School clinic ever since our camp sessions ended so they can continue to refine their skills in preparation for the Opti Mid-Atlantic Championships at Little Egg Harbor Yacht Club on October 6&7, which they are looking forward to attending.

Iain Shand took First Place, Skylor Sweet was Second, and Ruben Wahrenberger was Third.

NERYC Junior Race – 12, a photo by hergan family on Flickr.

More photos at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hergan_family/sets/72157631561479351/

from Michael Wagner

I’m beginning to think there is some wisdom in enforcing a news and weather blackout before events and races at NERYC. By Friday evening the local weather guru’s had all but convinced half of their viewing population that the entire region would be experiencing near washout conditions thoughout the weekend. Fortunately, as usual, they were totally wrong. What a great gig to have – a secure job with no consequences if you screw up.

Despite the dismal forecast, our Fall Series #2 saw 11 boats participating, with 5-8 knot east/northeast breezes, and only occasional drops of rain. Mark Hergan and his crew aboard Morning Star finished first in the Spinnaker class, Bill Cohee and crew on Freebird were first in Non-Spin B, and Ron Roecker and crew on Swan took first in Non-Spin C.

A special thank you goes to Phil and Joan Gravatt aboard About Time, who graciously hosted our Race Committee team. The day’s results are attached.

Fall Series #3 is Saturday, September 15th.

Thanks to Stephine Wagner for the photos of Morning Star.

Crew:
Alex, Sydney, Mike, Ben, Dariel, Damian, Mark

Thanks to Mike Wagner for raising me up the mast.

While enjoying the evening on our BW 17′ Montauk we ended up coming to the rescue of a couple of guys drifting in their 24′ motorboat just west of the 695 bridge with engine troubles. We ended towing them to the wise ave. bridge.

from Michael Wagner

Saturday was the first day of NERYC’s Fall Series, and while we only had 10 boats participating, the action was tight on the water. In the Spinnaker class, Mark Hergan and the crew aboard Morning Star showed that their fast sailing isn’t just a Thursday Night phenomena, finishing first boat-for-boat and on corrected time. In the nearly 7 mile race, there was just over a minute separating the first 4 boats at the finish line.

In the non-spin group, the action was equally tight, with Cinnamon Girl, Free Bird and Therapy all very close together throughout the race, and Swan and Morphos fighting it out until the end too. Results are attached.

We’ll be at it again next Saturday. Skippers Meeting is at 1:00, with an on-water start at 2:00pm. When we come in, there is a Chicken Dinner and celebration of University of Delaware’s move to NERYC.

If you haven’t signed up yet, send Suzanne Braun a note indicating you and your crew/family will be attending. (email to: Braun53@verizon.net)

If you can break away from work or the couch, don’t forget we’ve still got 2 Thursday Night races left.