Plantation Light Race
Nighttime on the Southern Chesapeake by Lin McCarthy
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he annual Plantation Light Race is one of the Southern Chesapeake Bay “Moonlight Ladies” that draws racers every summer to test their nighttime sailing skills and… other things. Some would say doing nighttime racing is an indication of questionable common sense, but others like the challenge. That can be the challenge of the high summer thunderstorm, the tanker busting for Hampton Roads Harbor, or the crew who thinks it’s a luxury cruise and plans only to soak up moonlight and vichyssoise. This year, the Hampton YC-sponsored race August 4 was spared thunderstorms, and as is the usual case, racers stayed well away from the big ships. It was, however, a long—59 miles for the faster boats and 46 for the smaller ones—tough, race.
Wind machines recorded winds well over 20 knots as the fleet crossed back to the western shore. Justin Morris, who brought his Hunter 26.5, The Hunter, in second in the PHRF C class, confirmed that it was a difficult night of sailing. “We finished just before 5:30 a.m. Sunday morning,” Justin says. “It was tough out there.” The Hunter had started at 19:15 Saturday evening. This year 17 boats accepted the Plantation Light challenge. The fleet winners were: PHRF A—Martin Casey, Bow Down (Olson 30); PHRF B—Ben Cuker, Callinectes (Cal 3-30); PHRF C—Neil Ford and Lis Biondi, Rocket J (J/24); and, PHRF Non-Spin—Leo Wardrup, Black Widow (Irwin 38). The Principal Race Officer was Bob Thomas.
##Martin Casey and crew are in their first year in the PHRF A fleet with their “new to them” Olson 30, Bow Down. They finished first in their fleet in the Plantation Light Race. Photo by Lin McCarthy
Virginia Governor’s Cup by Lin McCarthy
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##2012 Mutineer National Champion Ernie French and crew get ready race for the title August 5 at the Virginia Governor’s Cup. Photo by Lin McCarthy
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he Ware River is where every year, for more than 40 years, one-design racers have come to the Virginia Governor’s Cup Regatta. August of 2012, the 48th year, was no different than the others. A total of 74 dinghy racers arrived at the Ware River YC (WRYC) to sail for two days on the ideal dinghy racing venue, just off the northwest corner of Mobjack Bay. When visitors leave the main highway to head for WRYC, they are treated to a winding two-lane road that, this year, is bordered by green, green fields and pastures. The green is the silver lining of a rash of summer thunderstorms that have pestered the Gloucester and Ware Neck area. As the cars, boat trailers, and small campers hit the corduroy and gravel entrance to the host club, they are ready to see returning friends, make new ones, and to race, race, race. This year, the winner of the Governor’s Cup came from the Albacore Class and was no surprise. Barney Harris had seven bullets
over the two days of racing in great wind and clear skies. Most of the racers were undaunted, well, maybe a little daunted, at the start of the day Sunday, by the winds in the high teens. “Yesterday was tougher because the waves were so square,” one racer explained as he continued to rig his boat. The Mutineer Class held its National Championship, and after 12 races, Ernie French was the undisputed champion; he registered 11 bullets. Wrapped into the Governor’s Cup is the Junior Regatta that drew 32 Optimists. This was the first time WRYC newly formed Optimist Team acted as hosts for the junior contingent. The Optis got in 10 races over two days. So, the Virginia Governor’s Cup folks will have one more opportunity next August to tweak a favorite regatta before they lay on the grand 50th edition of the event in 2014. Every year, there is something special waiting at the end of that two-lane road for dinghy racers. Ware River is where it’s happening.
SpinSheet September 2012 83