Chesapeake Catboat Association late Summer activities were a mixed lot. The Great Whitehall Bay Catboat race was held over the Labor Day Weekend off the Providence Yacht Club in Whitehall Bay. Two races were sailed in perfect weather and the results combined for the awards ceremony which was held at the Yacht Club.
Winners were
- David & Kim Morrow – Anna – Marshall Sanderling
- Paul Commaroto & [ringer] - Bubbly – Marshall Sanderling
- Jim Ohlmacher & David Bleil - Gull – Mystic 20
- Marc Cruder & - Wanderer – Whittoltz 25
- Peter McAliney - Zetta Marie – Herreshoff America
- David Park - Sarah K. - Herreshoff America
A few years ago the Prospect Bay Catboat regatta was shifted to a week later to try and avoid a series of nearly windless drifters. Boy did that work this year! Winds at race time were in the 15 to 18 mph range with gusts to 25 and it had been blowing like that all morning so the waves were rolling in. Roger and Jill Compton set out the race buoys under these difficult conditions and a small fleet started at 1:00 PM. It was soon obvious that not all boats had adequately reefed for the conditions and two boats retired mid race to deal with serious rigging issues. One intended contestant arrived well into the race having been detained by the Kent Narrows draw bridge and so missed the start.
The results of the race:
1. Wanderer Marc Cruder Wittholtz-25 60.92 min
2. Bubbly Paul Cammaroto Marshall Sanderling-18 60.95 min
3. Dusty Butch Miller Marshall Sanderling-18 63.15 min
The sail in to the Small Craft Festival at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum was well attended and was climaxed by a splendid dinner at the home of Dr. and Mrs David Bevan at Perry Cabin which included a spectacular sunset.
The planned cruise this year on the Wye river to watch the waterfowl migrations was canceled because if bad weather.
