2002 West River Annual Regatta

West River Sailing Club, Galesville, MD

August 31 - September 1

Further notes on the Annual Regatta.  Sure enough, Putnam Grealy ran roughshod over the fleet.  Everytime I got near they sailed faster and higher.  This is causing a total review of the Best Jet Yet setup.  Kirby and Roberto sailed very well, showing great upwind and downwind speed and sailed right over us downwind in the first race.  Barry Saunders and Keith Catthan (both Jet boatowners from NC) did well and sailed Friday and the weekend.  They indicated they will sail often in the Chesapeake regattas.  The Allens just purchased 1112 in Maine and were out for the first time.  Allen the Younger skippers, he is on the Broadneck sailing team.  They suffered some breakdowns but will be back soon.  They are no strangers to boats.  They live on their boat just around the corner from me at the Ferry Point Marina.  The Porters were out in Fang and did well in the varying conditions.  Good to see Fang out again.  I have a picture of that boat sailing in Raritan Bay in the early 1960's.  Clark and Dick Kennedy did fine out there and were third in the windy third race.  Several boats wisely retired.  Sunday races were blown or maybe rained out.

The Friday race was interesting.  We had Porters, Saunders/CAtthan, Sensenbrenners, Bruns/Elliott sailing in a 10 kt. northeaster.  It was a spin reach and run from the start to finish.  The fleet covered the 11.8 mile course in 2 hrs, 25 min. for an average speed of 4.7 kt.  Not quite semiplaning but did get some occasional surfing conditions.  Sennsenbrenner led almost the entire race, succumbing to some wind shadowing in the last 50 yards as Best Jet Yet glided by.  Porter and Saunders were behind but held steady.  If they had start at the favored (downwind) wnd of the line it might have been more interesting.

Randy Bruns

Pictures

Results Posted 4/6/03

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