midshipman or woman as crew to help out and learn from the visiting teams. Given the limited knowledge that most teams had of the Navy 44 MkII, the midshipman became indispensable. The Pedrick designed Navy 44 STC
MkII was built in the 80’s as a cadet trainer capable of swift and safe offshore sailing. The MkII was also designed with a modern displacement hull following the emergence of the International Measurement System (IMS) in the late 80’s. The Navy 44 is a robust sailing vessel and proved to be a challenge to crew work and boat handling for all the visiting teams. The morning of day one, each team
gathered in the Annapolis Sailing Center, and began sizing each other up. We knew little or nothing about the teams we were to compete against. This was the first opportunity to meet the competition and learn about sailboat racing in waters far from home. Before racing started, each team selected their midshipman and drew lots for the day’s boat. Midshipman Chris Paulson was a welcome addition to the Flash crew. Our boat on day one was named Daring. We started the day with a short
practice session to familiarize ourselves with the Navy 44. Then windward- leeward buoy races were held on day one in moderate breeze and heavy rain. While we didn’t mind racing in rain, having come from the Pacific Northwest, it was exhilarating to race in torrential rain refreshed from the heat and humidity while only wearing shorts and a t-shirt. By the end of day one, the Flash team was proudly in first place followed closely by the New York team in second place with only one point difference. The Charleston team was close behind New York in third place. On day two, the Navy Race
Committee held two windward-leeward buoy races in light breeze. Aboard the Navy 44 Brave we motored out to the race course ready to give the day our best. Uncommon to the Chesapeake, the water was a murky brown with lots of flotsam from recent heavy rains. During race one, with a stroke of bad luck, our spinnaker halyard jammed into the masthead block at a leeward gate. I was sent quickly up the rig to clear the block and fid the halyard releasing the spinnaker. By the time we had doused the sail we had fallen too far back to
recover our position. By the end of race two, first place for the day went to the Charleston team, who proved to be a very tough competitor. Going into day three on the boat
named Honor we were tied for first with the team from New York. We prepared for the final day feeling as though we were now veterans of the great Navy 44. The Navy Race Committee decided to hold a single fifteen mile distance race on the last day of the regatta. On the downwind leg of the distance race it was a sight to see all seven yellow and blue spinnakers flying as the fleet raced down the Chesapeake. We found ourselves out ahead of the fleet as a tugboat approached and we had to gybe away. Having lost ground to the fleet we were passed by the New York team. Through diligence, determination some shallow water maneuvering for current relief, we out maneuvered and passed the New York team. In an attempt to recover their position, the New York team cleverly used the Charleston team’s disturbed air to slow us down. Each time we covered the New York team and tacked below the Charleston team we slowed
just slightly. In the final stretch, the New York team footed for speed to the next mark. The Race Committee abruptly shorted the overall course length and it was a drag race to the next mark. The entire regatta came down to the last few boats lengths to determine the winner of the Offshore Championship. Winning by just a boat length, the New York team was triumphant in defending their title as the US Offshore Champions. The awards ceremony was held
within the Intercollegiate Sailing Hall of Fame. I overheard one of the other teams remark that the hall was “pickle dish heaven” as we all entered the space. An amazing room full of trophies and a rich maritime history, the Hall holds the names of the greatest collegiate sailors in US History. To be surrounded by such sailing achievement felt inspiring. Among our peers, the top three teams were each medals. The team from New York was awarded the Lloyd Phoenix Trophy and we all applauded. We had won second place followed closely in third by the Charleston team. We were reluctant to say goodbye to Annapolis and vowed to return in two years.
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48° NORTH, NOVEMBER 2011 PAGE 23
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