CBTF High Point Status

1.  10 May 2003 -- St. Brendan's Cup Race
2.  24 May 2003 -- Annapolis to Miles River
3.  25 May 2003 -- Miles River Race Back
4.  31 May 2003 -- Twilight Race
5.  08 June 2003 -- Triton Summer Classic and Picnic
6.  12 July 2003 -- Heineken Cup
7.  26/27 July 2003 -- Corsica River
8.  16 August 2003 -- West River Twlight Race
9.  13 September 2003 -- Hospice Cup/a
10.  27 September 2003 -- Race to Queenstown
11.  28 September 2003 -- Race back from Queenstown
12.  04 October 2003 -- Good Old Boat Day 1
13.  11 October 2003 -- Good Old Boat Day 2
14.  Race to Baltimore -- end of the 2003 racing season

14.  25 October 2003 -- Baltimore Harbor Cup

Comment:  

13.  11 October 2003 -- Good Old Boat Race Two

Comment:  

12.  04 October 2003 -- Good Old Boat Race One

Comment:  The main factor in today's race was the wave height and winds.  The winds were about five knots less than the Queenstown race back, but the waves were over a foot higher.  Four boats made the start, but only Overdraft made it to the line for the 1140 start.  The rest managed to beat their way there about three to five minutes later.  Beating to the first mark directly into the three to four foot fetch all the boats were taking green water over the bow regularly.  Overdraft had a commanding lead that was slowly being eaten away by Sandpiper, who finished about two minutes behind.  Sea Deuce started alongside Sandpiper and stuck very close until Sandpiper had to tack away from a port/starboard crossing situation (Sandpiper was on port) and extended that leg on the way to the first mark.  That set up a clear path to the mark while Sea Deuce had to contend with traffic from later-starting boats and that set Sandpiper free.
Looking at the Thomas Point Light weather station said the winds were 20 knots, gusting 28 during the race.

11.  28 September 2003 -- Race back from Queenstown

Comment:  The night passed amongst rainstorms and building winds; that is what greeted the Triton fleet when we got underway for the early morning start.  Twenty-five knot winds and two-foot seas kept up most of the morning.  At the start Overdraft and Sea Deuce were side-by-side, with Sandpiper about 10 seconds back.  Overdraft had chosen a full main and number one, Sea Deuce had a number two and full main, and Sandpiper had a number one with a single reef.  On the first reach, which was a broad reach, the boats were very close to each other.  At the mark we all rounded up and there the sail choices showed.  Sea Deuce took in a reef but was still weatherly, Overdraft was not as weatherly but still fell off more than Sandpiper who started pulling away at the second mark.  At that point Overdraft took a reef while Sea Deuce shook theirs.  At the final mark and the dash for the finish the winds and seas had eased, so Sandpiper and Overdraft shook their reefs and Sea Deuce changed headsails to their number one.  The three boats finished within 11 minutes of each other, completing a 13.6 mile course in under three hours.  It was a great -- if not lively -- day of sailing!

10.  27 September 2003 -- Race to Queenstown

Comment:  All three boat crews met at Whitehall at 0730 and were underway shortly afterward for the two-hour transit up to Baltimore Light.  The start was uneventful except that all three boats hit it perfectly!  A drag race across to the first of four marks resulted and all three boats were within 15 seconds of each other at that mark.  Then the maneuvering started with the winds lightening and shifting.  Sea Deuce extended almost to the shoreline before heading south to the second mark, but along the way got caught in a 60 degree wind shift that lost them a lot of time.  Sandpiper tacked south first, but was out of position for some of the winds.  Overdraft watched the energy on the water perfectly and managed to stay in the air most of the day, taking first.  The race was uncharacteristically over about 2PM and all three boats decided to sail around and have lunch before heading into Queenstown for the evening raft- up.  Eventually Sea Deuce went in and dropped the anchor with Sandpiper and Overdraft rafting up to her.  A swim call was declared, then dinner and socializing.  It was a great way to end a great sail.

9.  13 September 2003 -- Hospice Cup

Comment:  Three boats made it out to the line by the 1200 start; Overdraft, Sandpiper and Sea Deuce.  The day started out rainy and blustery which led almost everyone to the conclusion that it would be a not-so-nice day of sailing.  That changed dramatically just after the start, when the rain stopped and the sun came out, and even more amazingly the breeze didn't die off completely!  Overdraft and Sea Deuce started at the RC side of the long line, and Sandpiper chose the pin end.  Overdraft took an early lead, with all three headed for the windward pin at 065.  At the last minute we all realized the RC had changed the course to the pin to 095!  It wasn't as bad as it seemed because the pin was only a tack away, but that caused everyone to have to cross traffic from the other boats already rounding the pin.  Overdraft rounded and set spinnaker, with Sea Deuce and Sandpiper neck in neck.  Both trailing boats had their share of problems with the spinnaker and so were never able to seriously challenge Overdraft.  At the first leeward mark the wind shifted, causing both trailing boats to have to gibe.  Sandpiper managed to do that and then sort out the sails; Sea Deuce got caught in the current and hit the pin.  They continued west to clear the rounding area, cleaned up the foredeck and made the penalty turn, but by then they were half a leg down and never were able to catch up.   And so the day ended with Overdraft headed for the docks first, at about the same time the blue sky opened up fully and the wind died down to almost nothing.

8.  16 August 2003 -- West River Twlight Race

Comment:  Three boats of the Triton Fleet made the near windless sail down to West River for the race and met with suddenly changing and stormy conditions which forced an abandonment.  Several of the racing boats had damage to include shredded headsails, but fortunately none of the Triton fleet sustained any damage.  Overdraft, Sea Deuce and Triton's Fury motored to the dock at the West River Yacht Club and moored there for the night, setting out in again near-windless conditions Sunday morning to head back home.  Tom O'Farrell, skipper of Triton's Fury, wrote the following about the race Saturday night:

Once again this year, a little Triton fleet racing fun was snuffed out by dangerous weather.  The West River Sailing Club Twilight Race was scheduled to start at 16:00 at G"1" outside the West River.  A windward/leeward course was set down to "K" off Herring Bay and back to G"1".  Given the light winds at the time and the long course (maybe 14 nm in total) it would have been a long race for sure.  Overdraft and Sea Deuce made it down to the line on time but Triton's Fury was running late after having to anchor out in the middle of the Bay and send a crewmember to dive under the boat and cut the spinnaker guy away from being wrapped around the propeller shaft about ten times (don't ask!!).  Unfortunately, just as the race was starting a brutal storm with numerous lightening strikes, torrential rains, and winds exceeding 30 kn. moved into the area.  Moments later the race was abandoned.  Several boats that tried to sail through the storm paid for it with shredded sails (I was expecting to see sail makers waiting at the docks).  However, the Triton fleet weathered the storm without any damage (although the wind caused Triton's Fury to do a 180 at one point) and successfully motored into the West River Sailing Club under the guidance of Dave Hoyt in Overdraft who showed us that "red on right returning" doesn’t exactly always apply.  Minutes later Phil and Eleanor made it in Buloha and picked up a club mooring.  A lot of excitement but not exactly the kind we were looking for.  Maybe next time guys!

Another racer (not a Triton) wrote the following:

Race report - As the first "A" fleet started we were moving closer for the "B" fleet start and had the full main and 150 genoa set on starboard tack.  The storm gust struck with stinging rain and visibility reduced to 1/4 mile.  I eased the 150 and pointed closer to the wind to luff the front of the main. After ten minutes I worried that we would a) be struck by lightning; or b) drift into less than 5 feet of water; so I tried a tack. We didn't quite cross to port and took a 50 degree knock down as the bow fell off and the main filled. On the next attempt I kept the 150 sheeted on port and it filled enough to complete the tack. As the boat settled down on port I briefed my novice foredeck crew in a safe takedown on the bow. As they crawled forward to haul down the sail the 150 leech ripped. In a matter of seconds it tore through the panel to the luff. The takedown was uneventful.  The RC abandoned the race (perhaps after they saw our sail shred). The rain and wind continued but the lightning moved East across the bay. Ten minutes later the rain quit and the wind moderated. We had an easy sail under main back to the marina. PS: The sail repair is $275.

7.  26/27 July 2003 -- Corsica River races

Comment:  The Triton Fleet was scattered throughout the world for this race and no one was able to make it.

6.  12 July 2003 -- Heineken Cup

Comment:  The skipper's meeting Friday night was uneventful as far as the Bacardi Cup races go, but this was the very first ever Heineken Cup race for us (taking over when Bacardi no longer wanted to sponsor the Cup) and it was a great time nonetheless.  Tritons were scheduled to be first off the starting grid in the usual pursuit race on Saturday, beginning at 1200 at Hacket's Point.

Saturday we all got underway around 1030 except for Tom in Triton's Fury as he had to get underway at 0500 from the West River area to get to the start in time.  He made it with plenty to spare.  It looked to be a great day for sailing with Northeasterly winds, but it turned out that was a bit fluky.  The race instructions said to stay out of the starting area until you were five minutes from your start, but a quick glance at the starting sequence showed a full 50% of the fleet had ratings putting them starting within five minutes of us, so we all knew this was going to be a busy duck-and-weave session getting to the line.

As the starting gun went off Sandpiper was on port and the rest of the fleet on starboard at the line.  Uncharacteristically, Overdraft was the last one to the line having done a 360 prior to the start.  Sandpiper was fourth across the line and ducked Pylastiki while easily passing ahead of Overdraft as she came around the committee boat.  It turned out the starboard tack into the bay was the best bet as dodging the fishing fleet and loss of winds put Sandpiper in solid fourth place.

Sea Deuce took the early lead and kept it the entire race, not losing air very often.  She took fifth overall, just missing line honors by a few minutes!  Pylastiki put herself in position to keep second while on the first of the three legs and was not seriously challenged throughout.  Sandpiper kept playing catch-up with Overdraft, first reaching on her then dropping back, but never got within striking distance.  Triton's Fury had pointing problems and dropped back before the first mark, but gamely kept in the race to finish 66th overall, and fifth within the fleet.

5.  08 June 2003 -- Triton Summer Classic and Picnic

Comment:  The day was supposed to be a very pretty one, plenty of sunshine and moderate winds.  Once again the weather tricked the forecasters; it was overcast with very light east winds instead.  We all gathered at the dock for the skipper's meeting and set the course, then were underway for an 1130 start at Hacket Point.  The winds were averaging four knots from the North-Northeast, so it was going to be a slow day.  We had set a time limit of three hours, and we eventually took advantage of that.

The start had all four Tritons on the line slowly working toward the first mark.  "Ca Ira" cruised up from Williamsburg the day before and was configured to cruise for another few weeks, and so she was the heaviest boat in the race.  It showed as she kept getting farther behind and eventually had to give up at the second mark or she wouldn't get back in time for the picnic!

At 1430 Sea Deuce had rounded the third mark well in front using her spinnaker as a genniker in the very light winds, Overdraft flying her number 1, then shifting back to Spinnaker, then back to number one as the current caught her, and Sandpiper eventually rounding the mark in heavy ebbing tide current and almost no wind at all.  The race was called at that mark and that is the way we finished, motored back and cleaned up for the social.

The picnic was at Marty Adkin's house and was a great success.  The house is wonderful, the food delicious, and the company better than ever.  It was a great way to end the day.

4.  31 May 2003 -- Twilight Race

Finish:   No one started

Comment:  The weather played havoc today.  The day started out rainy, then cleared up into a beautiful day, for about three hours.  The storm that hit Chicago and dropped several tornadoes in Illinois was forecast to hit the area about 1700.  As a precursor, the winds were gusting upward of 30 knots with three-foot seas just north of Thomas Point Light.  Lightening, hail and possible tornadoes were forecast an hour before sunset.  Since this was supposed to be a FUN race and considering the dire weather predictions, none of the boats got underway.  That proved to be a wise choice as the storm hit in all its fury at about the time the fleet would have entered the Severn River on the way to the finishing mark.

The fleet instead met at "Buloha", which is Phil and Eleanor's new (to them) Mason 44, just delivered today, and we spent the time putting the lifelines and other sundry items aboard, and had a wonderful party/social event.  Congratulations to them on the purchase of a beautiful boat.

3.  25 May 2003 -- Miles River Race Back

Comment:  After a good downwind start all three boats rounded the first mark as they would eventually end the race.  The partly-cloudy forecast was quite wet, with sporadic rain most of the day, and resulted in a shortened course at "E".  During the cruise back to Whitehall the wind finally died off and we all motored back for a great conversation and race post-mortem.

2.  24 May 2003 -- Annapolis to Miles River

Comment:  The start was the most confusing and embarrassing one we've seen in a long, long while.  The race instructions specifically state:

Check in with the RC approx. 300 yards NW of starting RC boat. The check-in boat will be flying a YELLOW RC flag.  The start will be between the boat with the BLUE RC flag and the starting mark. DO NOT check in with the starting boat.

However, the check-in boat and what we eventually found as the starting boat were BOTH flying a blue RC flag AND a yellow flag.  Much confusion ensued everywhere.  Not only with the Tritons, but many of the other classes.   So, we weren't alone in trying to understand this one.  The result was that Pylastiki crossed the starting line first, and Inka followed.  The rest of the fleet followed almost 20 minutes later!

The social at the Kabler's house late in the day proved to be another in a long series of enjoyable times with the fleet, our thanks to the Kablers for hosting us.

1.  10 May 2003 -- St. Brendan's Cup Race

Comment:  Today was a bad day for the Chesapeake Bay Triton Fleet making the starting line.  Luff Affair had a problem with the carburetor early in the week and had to bow out.  Sandpiper had engine problems and could not start up due to fuel, electrical and finally a broken water jacket crossover tube.  Sandpiper borrowed the crossover tube from the broken Luff Affair, but wasn't able to complete the repairs in time to start the race, though they were there to watch Overdraft win.  The air was fluky which delayed the start, and afterward Sea Deuce sailed into a hole on the western side of the course while Overdraft kept her air on the eastern side and sailed around Sea Deuce.