2009 Whittemore St John Regatta

 

The 2009 Whittemore St John Regatta at the Quassapaug Sailing Center (QSC) followed a very rainy week in New England. The regatta was held a week or two before its normal date due to the early Nationals.  16 Teams arrived at Quassy to sail on cool over cast June weekend.

 

A strong easterly died as we prepared to race – not a good sign. The race committee of Tom St John, Ryan Murphy and Mary Beth Morrison were optimistic and signaled an Olympic course. The resulting race was very long with many drastic changes of position as the breeze died and refilled. Quassy locals Mike Elser and Cam Cannings lead most of the race despite constant challenges by Joel Zackin and Jen Matty and others.

 

A very welcome break for lunch followed! In the afternoon the RC reduced the course to triangles and we saw some very spirited and close racing with Pedro and Mimi leading at the end of the day.

 

Many of us were treated to the rear sight of a mother Northern Water Snake and her brood, four or five babies, coiled in pile in the brush near the RC dock. Northern Water Snakes are not venomous or aggressive and will only bite if threatened or handled. Mostly the just wish to be away from people. They eat a diet of fish, insects, frogs, and toads. http://www.ct.gov/Dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2723&q=325770

 

Following a great dinner of Ziti and chicken parmigiana, we were entertained by Danny the Magician on the porch of the club. The party broke up early for Quassy, but a spirited game of ÔApples to ApplesÕ was dominated by Dorothy Waskow despite the attempts of the Harry and Sally Levinson to always pick each otherÕs cards.

 

Heavy rains attempted to route the sleeping campers, but Sunday morning met us with a very light Northerly and heavy looking clouds. TodayÕs race committee of Dave Rogers, Matt Erickson and Mary Beth Morrison came completely prepared with Bloody Marys. The breeze started to build and they optimistically signaled an Olympic course.  Like the first race on Saturday, the breeze went very from very light to a little stronger many times during the long race. Bob Coyle and Jen Rousmaniere later said they were Ôplaying the east shoreÕ but it looked to the rest of the fleet they were real estate shopping, or inspecting the docks on the east shore. What ever they were doing over there seems to have worked. They lead at the first mark and all those that followed! Peter and Keri Wolcott were second and the Levinsons were third. Regatta leaders Pedro and Mimi had a disappointing 9th.

 

The last race of the regatta saw a little more consistent breeze (not much more consistent!). The RC went easy on us with a triangle. Pedro and Mimi showed us their championship style and walked away with the race and the regatta

 

In typical Quassy style, after the boats were away the Easterly kicked back in at a very steady 8-10 knots!

 

Awards were presented to all the competitors for sailing well and having fun and to the RC and Volunteers that feed us! This yearÕs awards were QSC glasses with sail plan of a snipe. We hope everyone has had as much fun participating as we had hosting the regatta. Special thanks to Shelia Elser and all her volunteers for feeding us all weekend!

 

DonÕt Forget Board of Governors Regatta at QSC on August 29-30!!!!!!   

 

2009 Whittemore St John Regatta results

 

 

Team - WstJ 2009

 

Club

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

Pedro Larson & Mimi Berry

30304

MYC

5

1

4

1

9

1

12

 

2

Joel Zackin and Jen Matty

29111

NHYC

2

4

1

7

4

4

15

 

3

Bob Coyle and Jen Rousemaniere

28542

CPYC

3

5

5

10

1

6

20

 

4

Harry and Sally Levinson

29842

WBC

4

2

7

9

3

5

21

#1 Father Daughter Team

5

Mike Elser and Cam Cannings

29867

QSC

1

7

6

6

12

3

23

 

6

Peter Wolcott & Harry Waskow
 & Kerri Wolcott

30606

QSC

16

12

2

8

2

2

26

Top Married Team

7

Jack Gannon & Lisa Lyons

30526

WBC

6

3

11

4

6

10

29

 

8

John Lally and Keri O'Brien

30470

WBC

10

8

3

3

11

12

35

 

9

Kelly and Art Rousemaniere

29499

WBC

9

9

10

2

8

11

38

Top Junior Skipper

10

Daryl and Harry & Dorothy Waskow

29645

BB

12

13

8

5

7

7

39

#1 Father Son/Daughter Team

11

Bob and Jane Panza

29964

QSC

7

10

13

13

5

13

48

#2 Married Team

12

Pierce and Haley Wolcott

28656

QSC

8

6

12

11

13

15

50

2nd Junior

13

John and Grace Lees

27733

WBC

11

11

16

16

10

8

56

#1 Father Daughter Team

14

Larry Pellet and Kara Morris

30195

NHYC

13

15

9

12

16

16

65

 

15

Kevin Elser and Laurance Cannings

26743

QSC

14

14

14

14

14

14

70

3rd Junior Team

16

Thad Burr and Maura Berry

28199

QSC

16

16

16

16

16

9

73