2014 Tilghman Regatta

[Dave_Branning]

While we are taking a break in July from racing it's time to map out the August/September strategy to get ready for Chicago Race Week. The logical plan for us in the east is to enjoy Chuck Luscomb's Mystic Race Week...a four day Star45 (NCR) and EC12 regatta. Mystic for EC12's is a Colonial Cup event so the Mid Atlantic gang should be signed up for this annual prime competitive event in a wonderful New England setting at the Seaport.

The annual Tilghman Regatta on Tilghman Island (September 6 & 7) is also ready for on line signup at: http://form.jotformpro.com/form/33603861580959 with the NOR at: http://ec12.org/Regattas/2014/2014_Tilghman_NOR.pdf
This event is also the R2 Championship for EC12's and a Colonial Cup event. Deadline for registrations is August 30 and a bump in fees occurs after that.

There are $120 - 170 rooms available at the Knapps Narrows Marina and Inn (http://www.knappsnarrowsmarina.com/) In previous years they have had a large group block rooms but not this year. They have rooms available as of this post and they are right at the bridge before you cross to the island. We will have 5 prizes, skipper gifts, good lunches both days and a no host dinner site all picked out. More information will be forthcoming so let's get the signups started. For you Florida and Carolina skippers....this is a great open water tune up as you head north for a great week in Chicago.

[MichaelJ2K]

If you haven't been to Tilghman, you're in for a treat. It's a fantastic scenic area and Dave puts on a first class regatta on a challenging course. I attended the 2013 race and had a great time.
Dave,
I have a question about the NOR. It says the skippers briefing is Friday at 10:30 and Saturday at 9:30? I'm assuming you meant Saturday and Sunday?

[Dave_Branning]

Thanks, Mike. Yes, Sat and Sun is correct. Sorry for the Fri mention.

[Dave_Branning]

Ahoy, EC12 Skippers: At this writing, I see that you have responded to the Mystic EC12 Regatta in force. Looks like a great competitive event with some great skippers in the mix. Can't wait to make both the Star and EC12 events next week.

For our Tilghman R2 Championship (the third leg in the 2014 Colonial Cup), we have some early entries but since we have a deadline for reduced fees of August 30, you have 29 days from today to register & build up this fleet to a championship level. I hope that several Regions will support this one as we are also open water, like Mystic. Remember, we are the last tune up to Chicago's National Championship, so this will be a great time to sharpen up the open water skills on your way to the MIdwest.

For housing: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwj_Wc ... sp=sharing

Awaiting the gang from Marblehead, Connecticut, Stowe, Virginia, Georgia, the Carolinas, Florida.....yes, Florida...we are on the way to Chicago....
Awaiting the gang from Maryland Model YC.
Awaiting more from the other side of the bridge in Annapolis and Virginia.
Awaiting the gang from Mid Atlantic Model YC- we have a fresh water hose to wash off that brackish bay water from your boats....come on down to the eastern shore of the Chesapeake.

I will publish a "who's coming" list when I see you all step up and sign up...thanks

[Dave_Branning]

Hi guys: I'll use this post to keep you informed on WHO's COMING TO TILGHMAN: As of 9/2/14

Victor Oberg, Westmont, NJ
Don Barker, Chestertown, MD
Mike Denest, Newark, DE
Mark Rinehart, Middletown, DE
Roger Baldwin, Easton, MD
Ken Shaw, Essex Junction, VT
Dave Brawner, Mt. Laurel, NJ
Dave Ramos, Stevensville, MD
Jamie Betz, Meadowbrook, PA
Harry Mote, Barnegat, NJ
Doug Hutchinson, MD
Chris Bock, Bridgeville, DE
Skip Hall, Neptune, NJ
Norman Watkins Baltimore, MD
Danny Thomas Highland, MD
Nick Mortgu, Riverton, NJ is still a maybe

[DBrawner]

In conjunction with the 2014 Tilghman Regatta, there will be the first annual(?) J Class Down the River race on Friday. While this will be a fairly low key event, it will be an event like no other the J Class has done before. Our knucklehead friends, Roger Baldwin and Harry Henkel are the inspirations for this spectacle. The precise details will appear in the NOR, which will be posted shortly.

The general idea is that we will gather at the Baldwin Compound in Easton, MD around 11am on Friday. The skipper's and boat driver's meeting will be intertwined with a hoagie lunch. Each skipper will be assigned their own chase boat in which they will ride. The race itself will start at 1pm off what I would call Baldwin Point, though is probably has a less exciting name than that. We will then head down the Tred Avon river to the day marker at the entrance to Peach Blossom Creek, which you will round to port, and back to the finish of Baldwin Point.

It took two hours and ten minutes to complete the course during testing. Sharing the transmitter with your crew is highly suggested.

I have spoken to many of the participants and boat drivers already. Those that want to join in the fun, please give me a heads up. We'll get to the formal registration process in a bit.

[Dave_Branning]

Skippers:
Just returned from a great Mystic Race Week with a Star 45 Nationals and EC12 Regatta. Chuck Luscomb and his support team did a great job...especially with Chamber of Commerce weather the whole time. Terrific sailing venue. Congrats to Dave Ramos in winning both events.
Since Mystic was leg number 2 for the Colonial Cup series, I wanted to update you all on standings and alert you to future events. As you will see at http://ec12.org/Regattas/CRS/2014Colonial.htm
the Colonial Cup for 2014 has four events with no throwout event. Top five at the end of the series qualify for Champions Regatta in Charleston in mid-March next year. The remaining two events are the Tilghman Regatta early next month and the Annapolis Regatta October 18-19.
Here are the top ten standings with Liberty Bell and Mystic in the bank:
1. D Ramos 56
2. J Betz 50
3. D Barker 40
4. K Shaw 32
5. B Shluger 32
6. M Rinehart 26
7. D Branning 24
7. N Mortgu 24
7. S Hall 24
7. A Dion 24

Let's see some more signups for Tilghman soon.

[DBrawner]

As long as you are headed to Tilghman Island, you might as well attend the first J Class Down the River Race on Friday, September 5.

Registration: http://form.jotformpro.com/form/42298331293962
NOR/Sailing Instructions: http://brawner.net/amya/si.doc

The registration form is for all skippers, chase boat drivers and additional crew members. There is plenty of room for those that aren't part of a team yet. You would sign up as an "additional crew member" and we'll find you a boat to ride on.

Skippers, who may express late interest, please keep in mind that chase boats are available, but we need you to register soon...like real soon.

Jim Flach, the master of all down river events, will be our Principal Race Officer and photographer.

[DBrawner]

We have eight teams for the first annual J Class Down the River.(..and, hopefully back) Race.

The course starts off Point Rosemary (Roger's Backyard) and continues down the Tred Avon River to the #16 day mark off Peach Blossom Creek, which is 2.5 miles each way.

Two changes to the sailing instructions:

1) Chase boats do not have to honor the channel. They are free to run aground as desired.

2) Protests will be handled immediately following the race with a fist fight at the end of the dock with your predominant hand tied behind your back. The rest of the competitors will be allowed to hurl class approved and properly measured rocks for the duration of the protest proceedings. Protest appeals will be handled in a more appalling manner.

The teams......

Team Thomas...the little boat that could. #18 (Bondo colored boat)
This team is lead by Danny Thomas with Dick and Bonnie Richards as chase boat operators. Sailing the smallest boat in the fleet, Whirlwind, may earn Team Thomas a minute per mile head start. If this team is given a head start, can they run out of race course before running out of lead?

Ramos/Oberg #05
As the current J National Champion, we all know Dave's J can make it around the course, but will his whaler? Victor, bring a set of oars just in case.

Kjellberg/Rinehart #48
Bob's #48 is the mother of all of our Shamrocks, or Kjamrocks, which gives you an idea of how to pronounce his last name. Chase boat operator, Mark Rinehart will have to use all of his will power not to floor the throttle on Bob's hand built rocket ship of a speed boat. If the air is light, look for Bob to use the Whomper rig for the downwind portion of the race.

Mortgu/Betz & Lippincott #00
Sounds like a law firm to me. Nick quickly locked Jamey into a three year no trade contract as soon as the event was announced. While we originally looked for Nick to hold the transmitter in the pre-start sequence for the pictures and then hold the steering wheel and a smile the rest of the way, there is a late crew addition that will relegate him to playing the role of eye candy. Feeling there was not enough sailing pedigree on this team(?), Beth has taken over the job of chase boat operator. Sail fast Jamey, or, find yourself in the minor leagues before the leeward mark.

Shaw/Barker #22
Not exactly sure how this pairing came about, but it happened almost as quickly as Mortgu/Betz. The happiest person in this paring is Claire, who doesn't have to drive the boat this time around. Ken has been known to flex his muscle to prove his point. Just ask that J/30 at Mystic.

Branning/Hepkin #10
This formidable pair have won every down river race in the history of model yachting in Region 2. They may be up against it this time. Though they may have a half mile lead at the leeward mark, the questions are...will they be able to turn the mark? and, will they be able to go up wind? Dave is openly praying 2 knots gusting to 3 knts.

Hall/Baldwin #234
Not much is known about this pairing. The handicappers are waiting to see which chase boat is used. If they are on Phantom, expect a cocktail cruise with a bevy of beauties on board. If they show up in a smaller boat, all bets are off as Skip has been on a roll recently.

Brawner and the Harry's (Henkel & Mote) #18
I set off to find the two most boisterous people I could to crew on the Lucy Anne. Between their quiet nature and my 2 cycle engine, expect very little communication on our boat. Perhaps, their kindness will help the fleet forget what a jerk I am. Our crew keeps growing as a very social Harry Henkel seems to be inviting everyone he runs into this week. Look for the Lucy Anne to be floating near her gunwales.

[Dave_Branning]

Welcome To Tilghman Island, Skippers:

As you can tell this will be a great three days of racing. Mr Brawner has crafted and stimulated quite a cadre of J Class Skippers and boat drivers for the long distance out and back "Down River Race on Friday and 12 of those involved will scoop up the EC12's and come by boat and car and van to Tilghman on Saturday for the R2 Championship. We seem to be trending to multiple classes racing over multiple days of late (Mystic and Chicago come to mind) and look for Region 2 to take the lead on creating more regattas/events where resources can be efficiently used for multiple days in 2015. Ideas are forming.
Defending R2 Champion is Jamey Betz and he will have his hands full as the guns are tuning for Chicago and are coming together in Tilghman. Weather forecast is terrific for Friday but the weekend may show us some rain showers and the winds look like 7-10 for the two days. The social schedule is also going to be stimulating for the entire weekend as most members of this group, although shy and withdrawn on occasion, should come out of their shells when the sun goes down. Friday is Open Mike NIght. We have 15 for racing on the weekend and you, who could not make it, will wish you were here. You will be missed and we will talk about you.

Here's the line up for the R2 Championship

sail no skipper city state
5 Dave Ramos Stevensvile MD
21 Doug Hutchinson MD
25 Don Barker Chestertown MD
34 Jamey Betz Meadowbrook PA
53 David Brawner Mt. Laurel NJ
75 Victor Oberg Westmont NJ
99 Mike Denest Newark DE
166 Mark Rinehart Middletown DE
1287 Norman Watkins Baltimore MD
1405 Danny Thomas Highland MD
1504 Roger Baldwin Easton MD
1549 Chris Bock Bridgeville, DE
1756 Harry Mote Barnegat NJ
2003 Ken Shaw Essex Junction VT
2092 Skip Hall Neptune NJ

[DBrawner]

The race course was expanded from 5 to 7 plus miles with a hitch to west out of the Tred Avon River into Dixon Creek to round a turning mark. We also changed the windward mark from the 16 day marker to 15 day which added a bunch of distance.

Eight boats approached the start line with seven actually starting. Danny's Whirlwind just didn't want to go. DT was quickly snatched up as additional crew on my boat.

As expected Ramos was the class of the field, but Ken Shaw and Skip Hall put on a tremendous show early on. Ken was even leading at the first mark. Skip was holding a great third place position half throughout the weather leg before losing an argument with the #18 day mark.

My boat had a three man and one woman rotation going. Danny and Harry Mote did a great job sailing us into second position just prior to the windward mark. Lisa took the helm of the J and the chase boats during the race to earn top female honors.

Ken Shaw finished third with a hard charging Kjellberg/Rinehart/Franko closing ground at the end. The Branning/Hepkin team overtook the firm of Mortgu, Betz & Lippincott at the line.

The final race time by Ramos/Oberg was 3:05 with second place just two minutes behind. Plans for next years event are already in the works with the J Boat medley (fleet, match and distance racing) taking place in June.

1 Ramos/Oberg
2 Brawner/Brawner/Mote/Thomas
3 Shaw/Barker
4 Kjellberg/Rinehart/Franko
5 Branning/Hepkin
6 Mortgu/Betz/Lippincott
7 Hall/Baldwin/Baldwin DNF
8 Thomas/Richards/Richards DNS

[RMDJBD]

Where are the J Boat pic's.

[Dave_Branning]

Good morning and thanks for the interest....J Pictures are in process and will be forthcoming. We are now recovering today with a EC12 2 day Tilghman Regatta. Stay tuned and you will have some great shots. It was a terrific day of racing and more to come.

[Dave_Branning]

Day One of the R2 Championship (AKA, The Tilghman Regatta) is complete and I think the 95 degree temperatures set a record for weight loss per skipper and maximum water intake. We had a hot humid one today and we had to stop racing a bit early late afternoon before completing a set due to the heat on and off the water.
For racing results, David Brawner got our attention with 5 bullets before lunch. His afternoon was a tad off the pace with only one first as his worst race of the day was a fifth in our 15 boat fleet. The other firsts on the day were recorded by Don Barker, with two, Dave Ramos, and Danny Thomas. Winds stayed from the SW and freshened in the afternoon while a flooding current and the Choptank River chop (they got the name right) made the windward mark a careful negotiation. There will be a large fleet dinner tonight and Chesapeake Bay fare is on the table.
Without throwouts, here are Day1 Top Ten Results after 10 races:

Dave Brawner 22
Danny Thomas 41
Mark Rinehart 46
Don Barker 58
Ken Shaw 62
Harry Mote 63
Jamey Betz 65
Dave Ramos 71
Doug Hutchinson 86
Roger Baldwin 87

[Dave_Branning]

Day two of the R2 EC12 Championship provided a north wind, 15 degree colder temps, and with rolling chop and B sail annoyances....we chose not to sail. It was unanimous. With Chicago on the short term menu it was time to spare the rigs from salt water and enjoy some cookies and watermelon in the clubhouse. In all a really fun weekend with the J Down River on Friday, a great day of 10 races for the EC12s plus two great fleet dinners. Thanks to all who came to race and those who supported including Mark Churchill, Roger Vaughan, John Tochko, Elaine Hepkin, Clare Barker and Jim Flach. Also thanks to Roger and Rosemary Baldwin who's hospitality was certainly appreciated. They are special hosts. Pictures of the events will be coming from Skip Hall and Jim Flach's cameras. Watch this space.

Final Results 10 Races, 1 Throwout

1. David Brawner 17
2. Danny Thomas 25
3. Mark Rinehart 34
4. Don Barker 42
5. Jamey Betz 49
6. Harry Mote 51
7. Ken Shaw 54
8. Dave Ramos 55
9. Doug Hutchinson 75
10. Roger Baldwin 76
11. Skip Hall 91
12. Norman Watkins 108
13. Mike Denest 109
14. Chris Bock 109
15. Victor Oberg Breakdown in third race. Did not sail remaining races