Hammond Regatta 2015 on 13 September 2015

Date: 13 September 2015 08:30 till 13 September 2015 16:30
Endpoints: Case & Cutts, Inc. to Muller Marine
Purpose: Racing
Complement: TC Williams, Nicholas Williams, John Donegan, and Jonathan Bresler
Weather: north west wind 20+ knots gusts to 33 knots
Chart: 12266 Chesapeake Bay Choptank River and Herring Bay; Cambridge
Chart: 12270 Chesapeake Bay Eastern Bay and South River, Selby Bay

Left the house at quarter to five. Arrived Annapolis at 6:30. Left Annapolis with Liz Williams in her car and drove to Oxford MD. Liz picked up Austin and took him home by car. Joined TC, Nick and John for the race. Left the dock and head for the start. Started off Bachelor Point(?) a bit behind Second-2-Nun #484, Harry Gamber. Downwind start flying the spinnaker. During the takedown before R "14", the halyard was run without control. For the fourth time this year, we dumped the spinnaker in the water. Gathered the spinakker quickly enough that we did not run it down. Gave the sail to Nick to stow below.

Rounded R "14" and proceeded to G "13", R "10" and G "7" before turning to leave the Choptank and finish at R "84" off Poplar Island. Heavy seas, 3 to 5 feet(?), close on te starboard bow after rounding R "14". Shipped green water several times. Warm water thankfully. Put the first reef in the main and keep the reef the entire day. Left #484 well behind by G "13". Had to tack once to fetch R "10". TC gave the helm to John and joined Nick and I on the rail near G "13".

Left the Choptank, John handed the helm to Jonathan. Reached well out into the Bay before seeking more sheltered water tacking back in towards shore. Tacked when we had more than a hundred yards "in the bank" to windward of the "Fish Haven" off Pawpaw Cove. Port tack was signficantly favored providing 4 knots speed over ground towards the finish as compared with starboard tack providing only one or two knots. Boat speed over ground of 5 knots. Between the seas and the outflowing current, we cleared the "Fish Haven" off Pawpaw Cove by one boat length. Spotted the obstruction only when we came within 50 yards. Everyone concentrated on saiing fast. After clearing the "Fish Haven", continued into the shore till we reached about 10 feet of depth. Tacked up in the relative shelter below Poplar Island to within 50 yards. Then over to starboard tack, back to port tack and over the finish for the gun! Finished about 13:30.

Formed course for Annapolis, gaining ground toward the western shore of the Bay as weather allowed. When the boat was too far on her ear, headed up some to stand her up and gain to windward. As she rose onto her feet, headed off a bit for more speed. Feathered this way all the way to "1 AH" outside the Severn. Around the time that Bloody Point was abeam, John noticed significant water in the bilge. Electric pump had failed. John and TC inspected the item and its fuses while I concentrated on moving the boat. About a toss up as to which shore was closer. Sailing in about 35 feet of water. Nick pumped us relatively dry with the manual bilge pump mounted on the aft bulkhead of the cockpit.

Gave the helm back to John about an hour short of Thomas Point Shoal Light . Nick lost his NOOD hat overboard. Took three passes to retrieve it. Good practice for man overboard drills. Further emphasized the importance of having a person dedicated to tracking the item overboard. Far too easy to lose site of an item in the water. TC started up the engine at "1 AH" and motored into Muller Marine .

Packed the boat away. Left Annapolis for home before 17:30.