Racing News
presented by
A Tough Down the Bay Race
##Roger Lant and Michael Welin sailed doublehanded on Abientôt. Photos by Jon Deutsch/ jdeutsch.com
W
ith a thunderstorm watch in place, gloomy skies, big breeze, and a foreboding forecast, most competitors skipped the start of the Down the Bay Race on Friday, May 27. Only 14 boats, half of the usual number, started. Roger Lant, skipper of the J/35 Abientôt, sailed in the Chesapeake Shorthanded Sailing Society (CHESSS) class with his regular doublehanding crew, Michael Welin. “The conditions were interesting,” says Lant. “[We started] in 16-18 knots through to the storm front that hit just before 1 p.m., where we saw up to 32 knots that knocked the tops off the waves and a skin-piercing rain. After five minutes of the storm, we shook the reef, got the #1 on deck, and off we went. We sailed from Chesapeake Beach to Hampton, VA, in five- to 20-knot gusts under full sail.” As for the team’s top challenges, Lant says, “Being just two on a J/35, the sail changes are the hard work. That said the boat loves going up wind. Unfortunately, because of work commitments, the preparation for the Southern Bay was lacking. This created fighting tidal currents and positioning that was less than ideal!”
Lant and Welin finished the 120-nautical-mile race in less than 23 hours. He says, “Michael and I sail well together and push each other and the boat. We got more sleep on this 24hour race than we ever have previously, which is good for our future aspirations.” The skipper admits that the race was tough, “but I’ll remember it, as we finished at the Hampton Roads BridgeTunnel. I am involved in the executive management of the project, and it is fun to share a social element of work with the team. I will also remember the flat calm return night and beautiful sunrise on Sunday morning!”
The Abientôt team hopes for more competitive doublehanded racing in the future. Lant says, “I really appreciated the great hospitality from Storm Trysail Club, Hampton Yacht Club, and J/35 skipper Maury Niebur.”
72nd Down the Bay Race for the Virginia Cruising Cup ORC CRUISER (2 Boats) 1. Kyrie, Beth Berry 2. Red Frog, E. Randy Goodman PHRF A (4 Boats) 1. Kaja, Andy Wescoat 2. Endorphin, Erik Wulff 3. Challenge Accepted, Michael Cummings PHRF B (4 Boats) 1. Allegiant, Albert Bossar 2. Afterthought, Craig Wright PHRF C (3 Boats) 1. Elixir, Chris French 2. Split Decision, Jordan Tacchetti 3. Dark Star, Doug Savage CHESSS / PHRF (3 Boats) 1. Abientôt, Roger Lant CMA MULTIHULL (1 Boat) 1. Glory Days, Karen Roberts
66 July 2022 SpinSheet.com