Edmee S. is planning to sail from St. Michaels to Oxford in honor of the 150th year of log canoe racing. 150 years ago no one was towing around in relative comfort and no one was trailering to a convenient boat ramp - they were real sailors who bucked up, put up a sail, and delivered the boat. Okay, they may have had less sail area, but when was the last time you sailed a canoe in the Bay proper?

Here’s the plan: Thursday, August 6th, 10:30am… We will start at Green “1” at the mouth of the Miles River (Deep Water Point) Once the canoe is south of Green “1” entrance to Knapps Narrows, you can drop sails and tow through. Once East of Green “5” on the Choptank side of the narrows, you must start sailing again. Finish will be R”2” off the Tred Avon Yacht Club.

Rain day is Friday, August 7th, 10:30am.

We’re planning to bring two chase boats and several extra crew. We’re also going to try to bring some photographers from local news groups. Sailing through Knapps Narrows is not allowed (bridge tender would get mad). If you can’t convince your skipper to sail around, come with us! We’ll gladly accept any real sailors in need of an adventure.

Could be stupid, could be fun - most likely both. First one there gets bragging rights for the next 150 years.

Saturday was shaping up to be a pretty good day with plenty of wind — maybe a little too much! The first race saw a good 10-11mph plus gusts, on an 8-mile “R,G,B” course. With the puffy wind and white caps making the start difficult, only seven canoes raced. Island Bird sailed under jib and foresail only, while Mystery sailed under foresail and mainsail. Island Blossom, Island Lark, and Jay Dee made the last mark at nearly the same time; Lark was hit by a huge puff and capsized hard enough to send her boardmen flying into the foresail. Island Blossom took the gun with Jaydee finishing close behind.

Race 1 (placings by corrected time)

There was plenty of steady wind in the morning for the second race. Island Blossom got the gun.

Race 2 (placings by corrected time)

Full detailed results: Race Results (XLSX).

Rock Hall Yacht Club 71st Annual LOG CANOE REGATTA, JULY 18-19, 2009

Notice of Race

Sailing Instructions

Chester** River**** Yacht & Country Club**

Annual LOG CANOE REGATTA

JULY 11 – 12, 2009

NOTICE OF RACE

Sailing Instructions

Course Sheet for the Chester River

It was one hell of a weekend…

The weather was very nice, not too hot and plenty of wind! The first race was set for a 2pm warning with a decent turn out of canoes, and the course was set A,Z,A,Z,A.

Heading to the first mark of the course Jay Dee had major failure… The bow sprit snapped right off causing the jib to flip around behind the foresail then 3 seconds later the foremast snapped right in half bringing all the sails and rigging down with it. It was like someone pulled the emergency brake! Although everyone was not hurt and accounted for there was just a sense of confusion and shock. Then began the task of de-rigging and towing in to shore for who knows how long…

While this series of unfortunate events was unfolding, up the course at the triangular government mark the Island Bird jibbed accidentally and capsized onto the mark becoming skewered by the triangle. Eventually the sharp metal sliced right through the mainsail and had to be cut to get free of the mark…

Back down toward the leeward mark the Island Blossom sailing hard fell into the same luck as the other two canoes of the North family, and capsized. Possibly a first as far as anyone can remember!

Edmee S. had much more luck going for her, making it slightly further than Jay Dee and Island Bird but eventually capsizing.

We towed into the dock and watched the finish, as we did Silver Heel went down right in front of our eyes..

Much carnage for the first weekend, there wasn’t much celebrating on the Miles!

And that was just Saturday!!

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Race Season 2009