2004 InterClub Midwinters Wrap Up
2004 InterClub Midwinters, Severn Sailing Association, Annapolis MD
With much of the water in the Northeast better suited to DN sailing than
InterClub frostbiting, it came as a surprise to many that the annual
InterClub Midwinters would indeed be contested in Annapolis on February 7
&8.
Regatta highlights: Read our PRO John Potter's writeup
at the Annapolis Captial Newspaper's Web siteand see Jan Walker's Photo essay of the event.
Right: Regatta Chair Jesse Falson and Nancy Gilreath (Alden Bugly photo).
However, the IC Midwinters has had a charmed existence, and at the
last minute the frozen tundra broke up and washed out into the Chesapeake.
Twenty-five teams came from all over the New England, New York, New Jersey,
and even Ohio to compete in this unique event which is run like a
collegiate regatta. Sailing and socializing in equal proportions is the
theme of this classic event. Twenty races in total (ten in each division)
were completed in blustry Northwest winds, but the short fetch off the
Naval Academy breakwater kept the seas relatively flat. The temperature
was cold on Sunday despite abundant sunshine, and icing on hulls and rigs
added to the regatta's mistique.
Left: Chad Demarest and Whitney Besse (Alden Bugly photo).
With no drops races, consistency and risk management were vital to ultimate
success. The lead changed many times between four teams, and the title
came down to the last series. Steve and Jane Kirkpatrick were not having a
stellar regatta, but they delivered the goods when it mattered most in the
penultimate race by forcing the leading B Division team of Simon Stauss and
Lisa Pline into a poor start. In doing so, the Scituate-based team won
their third consecutive IC Midwinters by merely three points. Chad
Demarest and Whitney Besse sailed a fantastic regatta to capture A Division
honors and pull the Scituate team up into the winner's circle.
Right: Temperature hovering around freezing caused lots of ice buildup on the boats! (Jan Walker photo).
Saturday morning at 9:30 am Thomas Point had 30 knots from the WNW and there were some real green meanies rolling down Spa Creek. However, after a one hour postponement, we had 10 races in a quintessential 10-20 knot northwester.
On Sunday the breeze was down slightly from Saturday (WNW 5-15) but despite lots of sunshine it was a bit colder with temperatures in the 30s), really nice racing.
Check out PRO John Potter's "Photgray" Sailing Pictures Web site for a bunch of great pictures. Let's support his efforts, buy some prints, they are inexpensive and great quality!
For full results (A Division, B Division and Overall) see the results page.
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