2004 High Point and Race Results

Total

Race Comments

1.    08 May 2004 -- St. Brendan's Cup Race

           The day started out with winds in the 18-20 range which caused a few to wonder if they should hank on a number 2 and take a reef, but at the start the winds moderated to a reasonable 12-15 and everyone was running a number 1 with full main.  The pin was heavily favored at the start, which was a bit northeast of R2, with the course of C(R), B(R), X(G), A(G).  And of course there was an anchored merchant ship between the start and the first mark, with a running ebb.
           Everyone was right on the pin end of the line at the start, but Sandpiper misjudged the start and was about five seconds late on the initial tack to cross the line.  Once she tacked she saw Overdraft with a great run go up her port side, with Pylastiki on her lee luffed up and Sea Deuce with a great start was in clear air to the lee of Pylastiki.  Sandpiper had no choice but to tack away and run north.   One by one the other boats followed that lead.  The difference was that Sandpiper was apparently pointing better than the others.  At the first mark rounding Sandpiper had the slight lead over Overdraft, followed by Pylastiki and Sea Deuce.  The run from C to B initially was thought to be a spinnaker run, but the apparent wind was forward of the beam.  Hoping the run from B to X was then a spinnaker run everyone who had rigged left them that way.  The winds had backed slightly and the run was instead a broad reach rather than a spinnaker run, but everyone was running hull speed anyway so why would anyone bother?
           At the finish most boats continued to sail around the bay as it was just a wonderful day to be out sailing.  And to top it off we had a spectator boat following us around the bay almost all day:  Midnight Mail with Chris Gordon and Leigh Ann Skeens aboard watched the start, went around the course with us and watched the finish.  No one could have asked for a better day out on the water!

2.    29 May 2004 -- Annapolis to Miles River

           Great racing!

3.    30 May 2004 -- Miles River Race Back

           Another day of great racing, and the weather cooperated by starting out slow and starting to blow at 15+ knots throughout the day.

4.    12 June 2004 -- Twilight Race

           The day started out bright, a few clouds and about 11-15 knots of wind at Thomas Point Light, but by the time the race was to start the weather front that went through the night before stalled out to the northeast and all wind died.  The race committee waited about 90 minutes for wind, any wind, to build to try and set a course and have at least an abbreviated race, but with no luck.  The race was abandoned at 1815 and most folks motored back to the dock and put the boats away before sunset.  Overdraft tried to sail back and got as far as the outer day- marker before dropping all sail and motoring in.  Sandpiper motored in to the anchorages in the mouth of Whitehall, anchored and watched the sunset.
           The day was complete with an invitation from Phil and Eleanor of Buloha to come aboard for drinks and talk after everyone pulled into Whitehall.  It was there we found that the wind had come back up to 10-15 knots at almost exactly 2200, too late to do anything about it but wish.  It was a nice day, a beautiful sunset and drinks with great friends.

5.    10 July 2004 -- Heineken Cup

           Not a lot of wind — the very definition of a “drifter”!

6.    21 August 2004 -- West River Twilight Race

           Sandpiper sailed as PHRF because we couldn’t put four Tritons on the line and the WRSC wouldn’t allow the other Triton to race because she wasn’t PHRF rated.

           The weather was predicted as rainy and miserable and the only thing that held up in the forecast was a bit of rain.  Sandpiper was underway from Whitehall at 1045 for a motor down to West River, directly into a 2-foot fetch.  It was a bit wet with spray occasionally coming across the bow but it was warm and the spray was welcome.  With the start at about 1640 for the PHRF C/D class we raced from Region 3 mark Z to the mouth of the South River (mark P), across the bay to mark E, then back to Z.  The wind had veered from the first starts of the A0 class and instead of a couple of tacks to the weather mark it was a direct close-hauled beat.  The downwind was uneventful but as Sandpiper was the only D in the C/D class you can imagine that everyone sailed away from us.  At the leeward mark we were the last boat around and it was seven minutes behind the closest boat (Prozac).

           At the finish — again a direct close-hauled beat due to the wind shift— Sandpiper finished a bit under eight minutes behind the last C/D boat.  But that was enough to take third place in the ratings.

           The overnight was a lot of fun and the crab feast was purportedly a great treat for those that like crabs.  Sandpiper’s crew went to the Pirate’s Cove for dinner and the Prime Rib and Salmon Steak was very good and recommended.

           The sail back Sunday was an unexpected treat, with the forecasted winds of five knots actually blowing from the north at about 15-18.  We shortened sail and enjoyed a very comfortable sail back up to Whitehall, arriving a bit over three hours from when we were underway from the West River Sailing Club.

7.    18 September 2004 -- Hospice Cup

           Sandpiper sailed alone as a Triton because Triton’s Fury had a problem prior to the start and was not able to compete.

8.    02 October 2004 -- Good Old Boat Day 1

           Not raced in favor of the race to Queenstown

    8a.  02 October 2004 -- Race to Queenstown

           Raced by Overdraft and Sea Deuce who both indicated a great day of sailing and lots of fun by both boats.
    8b.  03 October 2004 -- Race back from Queenstown

9.    09 October 2004 -- Good Old Boat Day 2

10.  23 October 2004 -- Race to Baltimore

           Not raced this year...