On Saturday the Wayfarers and the MC Scows sailed from the docks at Catawba Yacht club into heavy wind. Before the first gun went off for the first race, the wind picked up even more, with blasting gusts. The MC Scows headed to shore, with the Wayfarers following close behind. No races were run on Saturday.

Saturday night brought the much anticipated karaoke and sing along. This year it was held outdoors with a campfire due to Covid. We all enjoyed singing our favorites, with Jim Higgins providing the music and words on a screen. The “Three Tenors” (Uwe Heine, Phil Leonard and Andy Forman) made their debut singing “Sweet Caroline," with everyone joining in on the chorus. Annette Grefe, complete with beard, played the ukulele and shared her childhood German song about men with beards. Great times!

On Sunday the wind appeared to be much calmer. I switched out my reefing bedsheet type sail for my more competitive racing sail around 8:00 AM, even though Jim Heffernan advised that once the sun broke through the cloud cover, the wind would return to nearly the same as the previous day. Of course Jim was correct. By the time the first gun sounded for the first race at 9:00 AM, the wind was almost as strong as on Saturday, but the gusts were more manageable than on Saturday. I had a good start and proceeded up the port side of the course. However, I went too far. This caused me to attempt to enter the layline on port with a parade of fast moving boats to dodge. I chose to tack away and go above the mark to avoid collisions. My third place rounding turned into sixth place.

I sailed well and confidently without a reef in the heavy air, which was an achievement for me. The Wayfarers rounded the first mark one right after the next, but on the downwind leg, both Marie-Lyne and Pete Thorn capsized. Their Mark IV boats quickly turtled. Race Committee (RC), with the help of Jim Cook and Andy Forman, spent much time righting them. Jim and Mike Taylor sailed to shore, docked their Wayfarer, and returned to assist the capsized boats with a motor boat. Andy sailed over to Pete’s boat and traded places with Sid Hale. Sid skippered the Catawba Yacht Club Wayfarer with David DeMiranda while Andy assisted RC in helping Pete right his boat. When it became apparent that no more races would be held that day, the rest of the fleet returned to shore.

The 2021 OBD was decided on the basis of one race.

Awards were given for most beautiful boat and boat name: Marie-Lyne, for the greatest number of almost and full capsizes: Pete, and for most original OBD Minstrel: Annette.

As usual, it was an extremely wonderful weekend.  A great reason to buy a Wayfarer; just so you can come to the Old Brown Dog!

First Place: Peggy Menzies with daughter, Maggie Helmen
Second Place: Jim Cook with Mike Taylor
Third Place: Ali Kishbaugh with Mike Sigmund
Fourth Place: Richard Johnson with Michele Parish
Fifth Place: Andy Forman with David DeMiranda
Sixth Place: AnnMarie Covington with John MacAdam
Seventh Place: Phil Leonard with Cathy Leonard
Eighth Place: Jim Heffernan with Linda Heffernan
DNF: Marie-Lyne Lavoie with Franz van Zeeland
DNF: Pete Thorn with Sid Hale
DNS: Uwe Heine with Nancy Collins
DNC: Annette Grefe (singlehand)