The Interclub (IC) midwinters were held last weekend, 10 and 11 February, by Severn Sailing Association. The event marks the first big regatta of the season. Since 1996, IC frostbite regattas in Annapolis (4 Midwinters and 1 Nationals) have never missed a single day's racing.

On average, the Annapolis IC Fleet misses less than 2 days racing per year due to bad weather. These statistics make Annapolis the most reliable location for frostbiting on the East Coast, but Saturday certainly tested the streak.

The breeze was a quintessential Annapolis Northwester with a smoking 15-25 on Saturday and a much more manageable 10-15 on Sunday. Fortunately the temperate was a spring-like 60 degrees but the particularly shifty and gusty Northwester spelled capsize for many of the boats.

As usual the regatta attracted some incredible talent including multiple world and national champions, Rolex winners and nominees, college All-Americans, America's Cup veterans, and a host of very talented dinghy sailors who can beat the pros on any given Sunday - a fitting start to the 2001 Annapolis racing season.

Ed Adams and Carol Cronin and Andrew Pimental and Monique Gaylor teamed up to win. The top Annapolis team, taking a sixth place in the 24 boat fleet, was Jesse Falsone and Dina Temple-Raston and Macy Nelson and Jeff Janos. Congratulations to all.

Jenn's Weekend Sailing Notes, Sailing news from The Capital.