2015 Sippy Cup Regatta

[THECUSCUS]

This fun, overnight race is held each year in the upper Chesapeake Bay from Turkey Point to Annapolis.

Friday Evening July 31st 2015 – Saturday Afternoon August 1st 2015
This is an overnight regatta, held the same weekend as the Governor’s Cup.
Three Fleets –Sippy Cup, Big Gulp, and Regatta. Sippy Cup boats must have a PHRF rating of 200 or higher. Big Gulp boats must have a PHRF rating of 140-199. Regatta fleet is for boats with a PHRF rating below 140, who are just to big or fast for the other fleets. We still enjoy your company, but for Regatta fleet there is no trophy. -- If you don’t have a PHRF rating, contact us and we’ll help you get one or determine where you belong.
Race Course – North East River Red #2 off Rocky Point to 4s Flashing Green #91 of the main shipping channel, approx. ½ mile south of the main span of the Bay Bridge.
Hosted by Walden Rigging, this is a “fun race” encouraging small boats and everyone else to experience the challenges and beauty of sailing at night.
Post-race party and awards in Eastport – we recommend making slip reservations and spending the night. Bring some food to share and BYOB. Let’s celebrate our overnight sailing accomplishment together!
Entry fee $20 – entries due by 7/17/15.
For more information and an entry form, contact Suzanne and Dobbs at: waldenrigging(at)earthlink.net or 4one0-4four1-19one3

 

[THECUSCUS]

The post race write up.

Twenty-one boats graced the starting line of the Sippy Cup at red #2 in the North East River, a mile or so north of Turkey Point. In light to moderate southwest winds, the fleet beat their way toward Annapolis. As the sun departed, a stunning full moon rose over the Eastern Shore. It would provide illumination for the racers throughout the night.

The light air encouraged some interesting racing tactics. The crew on Shearwater, a Pearson Triton yawl, distracted the rest of the fleet by singing a spontaneous ballad about the race over the racing channel (there was some serious blushing later when it was pointed out that the local commercial traffic was also monitoring that channel to keep tabs on the raceboats). A little while later, a crewmember from Arrow, a Pearson 33, pointed out that the international space station could be seen on the horizon. You could just feel sail trim go down the tubes in the rest of the fleet as we all scanned the heavens trying to figure out which little white star was the one to watch.

A flood tide hampered progress for the first hours of the race, and as time swept by, the shoreline did not. When the ebb began, most of the boats were still fighting their way past Howell Point. The ebb tide helped everyone work farther down the bay, but by the time folks were passing Pooles Island, the wind had backed a few degrees, and built by 5-10 knots. Some boats reported gusts to 20 knots. All of the crews agreed that south of Pooles Island, the bay resembled a washing machine.

A few hours after midnight, the lead boat, Take2, an Olson 25 and the first boat reach the chaotic water, retired, making the prudent decision to protect their laminate genoa and get some rest for the crew. Shortly after that, the Hunter 30 Islander lost a panel in her headsail and withdrew from the race. On our Columbia 31 Grace, we debated putting a reef in the main, but decided against it since we needed the power to push through the chop. It wasn’t the wind that was the problem. The problem was the steep confused waves that kept bringing us to a halt.

Everyone found their own solution. Some folks just put their shoulders down and pushed into it. Others tacked away to look for smoother water in the lee of the western shore. Still others anchored to wait it out. On Grace, we headed for the western shore. After sailing for a mile or two, we were able to tack back to a much smoother and drier ride.

Arrow was the first boat across the finish line west of green #91 south of the Bay Bridge at 0500, ultimately taking the trophy for the faster boats, the Big Gulp Cup. At 0513, Yello Bird, a Pearson 35, crossed the line and claimed the Sippy Cup.

Over the next four hours, the rest of the fleet made it to the line. One by one, the boats pulled in to Port Annapolis marina for some well-deserved rest and the post-race party Saturday evening. Dockmaster Blake went above and beyond by coming in at 5:30am to help us to our dock spaces. Many thanks to Port Annapolis Marina, Spin Sheet and Good Old Boat for helping us spread the word about this event, outstanding race committee Mike and Rachel Wagner aboard Rick Fellows’ Ericson 32 Sugaree and especially to all the racers, each of whom make this event unique and successful. You’re why we do this!

– Dobbs and Suzanne, Walden Rigging

 

[Jackdaw]

That's awesome. Looks like a great race and I wish I could make this some year. Thanks for the NOR, and the wrap-up.