2008 Parramore Regatta

Severn Sailing Association, Annapolis MD

May 31 - June 1

On May 31^st six boats from Ohio ventured to Severn Sailing Association to meet up with the Annapolis crowd to begin this year’s Parramore regatta which was also our Atlantic Coast Championships.  Saturday began with a long haul to the starting line as we were closer to the far shore of the Chesapeake Bay then we were to the club.   One thing is for sure, it gave us good clear air and a long course.  The windward mark was every bit as long as at Nationals and was almost imposable to see.  Another thing I had a hard time seeing was team Michos.  They shot off the starting like a rocket and never looked back followed by Dirk Schwenk, newcomer Jim Ward, Gary Mentesana, and Bridget Ireland to round out the top five.  Each seemed to have mastered the heavier air, waves, and overall grind.  The runs were also exciting with wild surfing and screaming plains. 

As soon as we crossed the finished line the race committee sent us in.  I didn’t think it looked too bad, but the weather was coming.  Not more than five minutes later the sky was ominous.  We raced into the club just as the downpour started.  After all the boats were pulled the lightning was hitting the ground all around us, enough for Matt Scantland to nearly jump into Ben Stock’s arms in sheer terror.  That marked the end of the racing for the day.

Day two looked fantastic as the breeze was perfect and the sun was shining.  To try to make up for the lost races we sailed two lap windward leewards with downwind finishes.  This was some of the best racing I can remember as places changed with every blink of my eyes.  Team Michos continued their streak rounding the top mark in first only to get run down by team Ireland.  This was a recurring theme as it was a jinx to be in first place…actually come to think of it each boat that rounded the top mark in the lead in all three Sunday races didn’t win by the end.  Team Reshetiloff used their downwind afterburners to come from about sixth place to finish first in race two. Just to prove it wasn’t a fluke they again lurked in the shadows waiting to pounce until the time was right and won the next race as well.  Each race was very close as the second race of the day ended with the top six boats all overlapped in some way at the finish. 

The final race found Jim Ward and Jamie in the unwanted position of being in first place.  He did his best to fend off Kate Erklauer and Max, but to no avail as few people can keep up with them downwind.  Jim did however manage to remain in second place capping an impressive weekend in only his second time in a jet!

I can’t express how thrilled I was to see a log jam of boats fighting for the lead.  Teams Ireland, McKenna, Michos, Reshetiloff, and Ward all saw pieces of the lead at some point, most more than once!  This showed in the scores as the difference from fifth place to second was only two points.  Overall Team Ireland finished first followed by the Reshetiloff’s in second in a tie with the Michos’.  Jim Ward finished fourth, tied with Bridget Ireland who finished fifth.

A special thanks goes out to James McKenna and everyone else who helped put the regatta together including the Snipes who allowed us to tag onto their international event.

Results Posted 6/18/2008

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