J/111, J/105s, J/109s, J/80s Summer Fun on Chesapeake(Solomon's Island, Maryland)- Every summer, sailors on the Chesapeake Bay all look forward to one of their favorite summer time classics, the Solomon's Island Race that takes you 55 miles down the Chesapeake from Annapolis to Solomon's Island. That race is then followed by four days of racing around the buoys for even more fun and frolic.
This year, the combination of extreme heat, mushy fronts and lighter winds tested the mettle of even the more hardened Chesapeake Bay sailors-- a rare breed to say the least.
It was on Friday night of last week when Eastport Yacht Club started the 120 boats competing in the 31st edition of their annual point-to-point race from Annapolis to Solomons Island in Maryland. With a healthy fleet spread among PHRF and one design classes, it would seem to make this overnight race a success. And based on this report by Bryn from APS, it may be popular because of the attitude...even on grand prix boats. Said Bryn, "Five minutes before the start of the 2011 Solomons Island Race, the crew on-board Yellow Jacket were busy cooking up burgers so they'd be "smoking gas and on fire at the start"! Literally! They were clearly having a bit too much fun."
The
wind gods were kind for the 55-mile trek down the Bay. A steady
southerly breeze kept the fleet upwind the entire race. The fleet were
guided by a full moon that may or may not have caused a little craziness
on board some boats. About nine hours after the start, some of the
leaders reached Solomons. North Point Yacht Sales friends and staff
enjoyed a great night of racing on the J/111 VELOCITY. The team finished
with impressive 3rd place in the PHRF 1 Division with a great fleet of
competitors.For the J/80's present at the 2011 Screwpile Lighthouse Challenge: John White, Angry Chameleon, White Lightnin', Dragonfly, Rakali & Mango battled it out on the water for 1st in an exciting 3 day event, proving that the J/80's know how to sail fast and have fun.
For more Screwpile Light Challenge and Solomons Island Race sailing information
