The official 2018 Regatta took place on Saturday, August 4th despite some fog. A full report from each boat is below. Photos will be posted soon.
Report from Pisces by Harry Fish
Sailing Irene in the PSYC 2018 Regatta by Bernie Sund
Mutiny Avoided on the Harmony by Joe Bell
Priceless Race Summary by Bob Price
Mimi’s Story by Dana DeVos
| Boat | Details | Owner | Captain and Crew | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pisces | 30' Atlantic Class | Harry Fish, Jr. | Harry Fish, Jr. with Aaron Herzog, Kevin Bixby, Scottie Huston, & Sherry Fish | |
| Irene | 25' Cape Dory | Bernie Sund & Lina Beal | Bernie Sund & Lina Beal | |
| Priceless | 25' Cape Dory | Kathie and Bob Price | Bob Price with Kathie Price and John Church | |
| Mini | 25' Cape Dory | Dana DeVos | Dana DeVos with Tova | |
| Harmony | 25' Cape Dory | Joe and Nancy Bell | Joe and Nancy Bell | Did not finish |
As we prepared for the start, the fog looked like it was going to cooperate. Chandler Bay mostly cleared out with a light wind from the south. But, by the time the first boats were starting the visibility dropped to 100 yds. or less. After crossing the start line, they disappeared into the fog on a starboard tack toward Roque Island.
Pisces started 20 min. later into the same conditions. After crossing the start line we were on a starboard tack making just north of Ballast Island when the wind shifted from south to southwest and increased to 10 kts. This shift lifted our course to the south end of Ballast Is. With one short port tack we cleared Ballast Is. and were able to sail a starboard tack to the Mark Is. Bell. The visibility dropped and a sharp lookout was needed as we could hear boats around us.
We broke out of the fog before we reached the Bell. Up to this point we had not seen any of the rest of the fleet. The wind was holding between 5 to 10 kts from the SW. After rounding the Bell we set our spinnaker and dove back into the fog on our run to Squire Pt. The wind headed us some and increased to 8 – 10 kts. We met Harmony headed south, the first boat we had seen since the start. We made excellent time on this leg averaging 6 – 7 kts. As we passed Ballast Is. we met Priceless headed south. We never did see Irene or Mimi. The wind headed us enough that we took down our spinnaker and had a good close reach to Squire Pt. Nun.
At Squire Pt. the fog cleared out and we could see back to the finish line. It took 2 port tacks and 2 starboard tacks to reach the finish. Our time was about 1 hr. 32 min.
Our crew did a fine job dealing with the fog and changing winds. Aaron on the foredeck setting and retrieving the spinnaker and jib, Scottie tending the sheets and halyards, Kevin as downwind helmsman and mainsheet and Sherry as navigator.
On the tow home we were back in the fog. Sure felt good to be back in Sawyer Cove.
Harry Fish Jr.
Capt. Pisces
Sailing Irene in the PSYC 2018 Regatta
We had a late start from Sawyer’s Cove while others discussed the mental stability of people who willingly Sail in Fog!! Mimi and Harmony followed Irene down the Reach, thru the inside passage to the start line. They did this at dead low tide without hitting anything. (Ledges or each other) Yes, the official photographer Crystal, also made it to the start line. She did manage to get an Epic shot of the three Cape Dories sailing in fog. Which many thought the best ever.
The Race Starter, Crystal, had her shoes off (toes used for counting, Academics tend to be cautious) so we could have a proper start. Flags, Horns, and other devices were involved.
Irene followed Mimi and Harmony. That is, until they got lost in fog. No, our GPS didn’t seem to be working? No, I didn’t download a Nav App on my new phone? So we went native, and used skills that hadn’t been used in years.
The sound of Lobster boats motoring up the Reach, Seagulls, waves crashing against Ballast Island. Oh ya! the compass, got used, some swearing, and of course let’s see how far you can heel the boat without reefing!! We did discover a new island in Chandler Bay?? Never seen it before.
All of a sudden the fog cleared and the upper area in Chandler Bay with boats appeared. At this point my mind was calling me names! No, it didn’t make sense to continue. If I had known Harmony was headed home I would have joined her.
But, I didn’t know! (bad Joe). So now all we had to do is catch Mimi and pass her! Easy job. A Boy Scout could have done it. Silas tried hard but couldn’t prevail. We crossed the finish line and waited for Mimi!! Winner in our class!
Their may be blank spots where I was overwhelmed??
Best, Bernie
Mutiny Avoided on the Harmony
Motoring out to the starting line, there was enough visibility to keep our hopes up. Once the race began, we were in the thick of it. We kept up with Mimi and Irene for a while, but then lost them in one of our tacks. We found ourselves tacking between Ballast Island and Bonney Point. However, after zigzagging a few times, we were able to get a better tack towards the first mark. Like everyone else, we were bogged down in the pea-soup fog. But, being “green” when it comes to the currents and wind, we never felt comfortable.
When we reached Mark Island, the crew was seriously making a case for calling it a day. They felt that continuing the race back up through Chandler Bay and then having to back track home was not a good idea. However, the area around Mark Island had cleared a little. The crew said that if we turned our heads and Chandler Bay was clearing, they would agree to continue. If, however, it was fogged in and the Captain wanted to continue, they would mutiny. Also, the crew was concerned about the mental state of the captain as he continued to roll ball bearings in the palm of his hand and refused to share any of his strawberries.
Just then, we looked up to see the Pisces, with its spinnaker flying and Captain Harry yelling “Have you rounded Squire Point already?” “No!” we yelled back as Captain Joe blew his fog horn in greeting. Captain Harry yelled back “This is going to be one hell of a race!”
The captain, to avoid mutiny aboard the Harmony, made the decision that we would take a vote and make it a democratic decision.So we all turned our heads to look up the Bay….all we could see was fog and then the Priceless appearing like a ghost boat.
We took our vote: 2 to 1 in favor of not finishing the race.
We were all very disappointed, but with some sense of relief. We did continue to sail up the reach as we headed home, only to be forced to drop the sails and motor in as the wind was against us and the fog engulfed the Harmony.
Priceless Race Summary
Well, after suffering some sail problems, we got off to a very poor start with no wind to even get past the starting line. I believe it took us at least ten minutes to sail across the line and begin the race. By that time we thought all the Capes had decided to sail the course in reverse, so we made the decision to do so as well. After that it was mostly fog and a slow go down to the can. Then we had to tack at least two times, to round the can, due to little prevailing wind and a strong opposing tide causing much drift. Once we passed the can we caught a good wind up to the bell and saw Harry’s boat flying a beautiful spinnaker down wind, on his way to the can. We made good time to the bell, off Mark Island, spotting the Capes on our way. Once we made the turn at the bell, we were able to hold a good line heading for the finish. Our crew consisted of John Church, Kathie and Bob Price. We enjoyed our experience in the fog, fighting the tide and learning more about our boat. Oh yes, it was great taking first place in our class. We can’t wait to see our trophy!
Thanks to everyone for coordinating and working on putting this event together.
Humbly submitted,
Captain Bob
The early fog cleared and for an hour or so it looked great, then the fog came back and stayed. It looked like it might clear again, like last week’s race day, but it didn’t. I was thinking I would sail alone, but Silas Towler, who was spending a few days in Jonesport on his boat the Coot, rowed over to ask if he could come with me. I had asked Silas and Lisa if they wanted to sail in the race. They had never done a race before and didn’t want to. Silas had a handheld GPS that we used for the entire race.
We got up to the start and practiced a bit with the wind. Crystal got the 3 Cape Dories and the O’Day off. We crossed the start line, did a tack and recrossed the line going in the opposite direction, heading off in the fog toward Roque Island. The 3 Cape Dory 25s were together, with Joe right in front or right on our side. Bernie was a bit more to port, and he tacked first. We may have tacked next, and then lost sight of Joe. We were able to see Bernie for one more tack as we were heading about 130 to 150 and then 180 down the Bay. He was to our port, but disappeared.
We got down by the bell and an area around Mark opened up. We could see the bell and Mark, but didn’t see any other boats. As we were approaching the bell Bernie came into view. On our downwind we lost sight of Bernie, but we saw Joe coming toward us. We continued up the Bay, realizing Bernie was making up lots of the distance between us. We got around the nun, lots of wind there, and started tacking toward the finish. Now Bernie was about even with us. A very poor tack on our part gave him a good lead, and he finished well in front of us
Exciting race, with lots of wind, dramatic finish with Bernie overcoming what looked like a huge lead.
Dana