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Conditions Not as Advertised
The Annapolis to Bermuda Race 2022
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wenty-six competing boats turned out for the 2022 Mustang Survival Annapolis Bermuda Ocean Race (A2B) June 4. Tropical Storm Alex forced a 24-hour delay for the 735-nautical-mile race, but Eastport Yacht Club (EYC) pulled off the start concurrently with the Maryland Leukemia Cup. “We watched anxiously as Alex moved up the Gulf Stream and decided to postpone the race to allow for better conditions in the Gulf Stream,” says race chair Corinne Smith. “However, the delay created some last-minute Covid re-testing, and while the conditions in the ocean leg were better than expected, conditions were not ‘a beautiful broad reach to Bermuda.’ We got a lot of ‘conditions not as advertised’ comments from boats when they reached Bermuda. Some of the crew from retired boats flew to Bermuda for the festivities, and it was a great party!” Herrington Harbour Sailing Association (HHSA) member Lynn McClaskey, who topped PHRF 2 on her J/110 Cimarron, said, “Part of what made this race different from other Bermuda races (this was my fourth) was the mental part: mostly Covid testing and TS Alex. And it was upwind. The brochure said it would be an off-the-wind race. Normally the challenge is getting out of the Bay in good shape. This year, the Bay had some of the best sailing.” McClaskey’s team included Tristan Keen, Russ Matijevich, Katie Wolfe, Sean Rogers, and Sheila Keen. As for how her crew and boat held up, the skipper says, “The boat held up well for an aging beauty! She’s 32. The handrail in the cabin came down—critical as it holds up the lee cloth on that side. There was a major macramé project to ensure that crew got the rest they needed. My crew has a creative approach to problem solving! There was some queasiness, but the crew held up well.” McClaskey notes how proud she is of her daughter, Katie, “who set her sights on Bermuda three years ago and got it done in tough conditions! And the rest of the crew, too. We really came together to tackle each challenge as it came.” 72 August 2022 SpinSheet.com
##Navy’s winning Tenacious team, skippered by Meade Tolen. Photos by Al Schreitmueller
Mark Lister, who topped the CRCA cruiser class on his Bavaria Cruiser 46 Winsome Ride, also noted the challenges: “Upwind the entire ocean leg, with short period waves, and somewhat confused seas in the Gulf Stream… Fortunately, we had no issues with crew or boat. No crew seasickness given the sea state was a bonus. No equipment failures… We went through a handful of headsail changes to accommodate wind conditions; lots of reefing and shaking of reefs.” Kevin Lister, Steve Small, Rob Penfold, Ken Jacobs, Andrew Brown, and Steve Wilkinson rounded out the Winsome Ride team. “Two watch teams of three plus a dedicated navigator/weatherman,” says the skipper. “Our crew and boat were both well prepared,” he notes. “My son, Kevin, served as our navigator and weatherman. He did a great job plotting our course. He spent a great deal of time preparing, and the results paid off. I’m really proud of him. We are still new to ocean racing with Annapolis to Newport last year being our first offshore race and this Bermuda race our second on Winsome Ride. Kevin plotted class-winning routes in both races, and the crew worked to maximize the performance of the boat: a winning combination for us.”
A2B Results ORC 1 (1 Boats) 1. Max, Moritz Hilf ORC 2 (3 Boats) 1. MaeLynn Rose, George Vorwick 2. Kyrie, Beth Berry Doublehanded (2 Boats) 1. Jane Says, Robert Dunigan, Jr. 2. Harmony, Barry Salter PHRF 1 (9 Boats) 1. Tenacious, Meade Tolen 2. Allegiant, Albert Bossar 3. Defiance, Larry Frazier PHRF 2 (3 Boats) 1. Cimarron, Lynn McClaskey CRCA - A (3 Boats) 1. Bare Bones, John Tis CRCA - Cruiser (5 Boats) 1. Winsome Ride, Mark Lister 2. Kaja, Andy Wescoat 3. Rule One, Joel Aronson