the 2008 U.S. Wayfarer Nationals
& Rock Hall YC Summer Regatta
report by Jim Heffernan (W2458)

The U.S. Wayfarer Nationals were again sailed on Chesapeake Bay in Maryland at the Rock Hall Yacht Club as part of the RHYC Annual One Design Regatta. Two courses were set up in the wide Chester River at its junction with Langford Creek.  The Wayfarers, along with the Windmill, Lasers and Sunfish classes, sailed in the shallower waters near Langford Creek thus avoiding the stronger river currents of the deeper Chester River.

Winds were somewhat light for the first few races and slowly increased to 8-10 mph during the afternoon.  The well organized race committee gave the Wayfarers the first start on a three leg windward-leeward course.  The three legs became the standard for the rest of the day as the committee managed to run five races in just over five hours. The racing was usually close with three or four boats often crossing the finish line within seconds of each other at the end of the final beat. In the later races, the outgoing tide seemed to have some effect near the end of the beat, as positions changed while the wind held steady.

Al Schonborn and Nick Seraphinoff (W3854) were in sync with the river and the wind, winning all five races on the first day. In the first race, Frank Pedersen and daughter, Sarah, (W4270) using their local wind knowledge to recover from a soft wind start, worked the right side of the course to finish third behind Marc Bennett and Julie Seraphinoff (W864). Later, Marc and Julie had another second and some fifth places to end the opening day tied at third. Richard and Michelle in Free Range Chicken also had two second place finishes, by feeling out the wind shifts and maximizing their downwind spinnaker skills.

The battle for series 2nd was a very close one as four teams were within four points at the end of Saturday's racing:

• Jim and Mark Heffernan: 18 pts.
• Marc Bennett/Julie Seraphinoff: 19 pts.
• John & Dolores de Boer: 20 pts.
• Richard Johnson/Michele Parish: 22 pts.
  

On Sunday, three more races were completed in 6-8 mph winds under sunny skies. Tony Krauss (W4105) and rookie crew, Casey Gish, sailed very well on Sunday with two fourths and a second. They were leading the final race until the spinnaker leg. In that race, Al and Nick rounded 6th onto the run, briefly gybed to port to get clear air, gybed back to starboard and slipped by to leeward into 2nd place by the start of the final beat.

Andy Douma and Mark Banyai (W555) saved their best racing until Sunday as well. Prior to the racing, they discussed rigging set up and sail trim with some of the "old timers". They effectively applied the tips and sailed well on the windward legs, held position on the downwinds without a spinnaker and pulled off two sixth place finishes.

Not looking out of place at all was Harrisburg, PA cruising Wayfarer, Richard Watterson, who raced his Abbott Mk III for the very first time at this event. With capable (perhaps even able) coaching from crew, Mary Abel, who usually sails with Tony, Richard ended up tied with Andy Douma in series points, and probably learned more than any of us as he asked lots of intelligent and challenging questions. Watch out for Richard to move up the fleet if he keeps racing!

John and Dolores de Boer (W7351) finished 2-4-3 on Sunday, thus moving into a tie for second overall with Jim Heffernan and son, Mark (W2458) who had difficulty with two of the starts yet won the tie-breaker and held their overall position as the leading USA boat. For this, they were awarded The Designer's Trophy.

On both days, marine life was spotted in the form of porpoises and a sting ray swimming near the surface with both wing tips breaking the surface. The Rock Hall area has tasty food in a variety of locally owned restaurants, most with a seafood theme. Our Wayfarer group took over the Oar and Rudder on Friday night, wining and dining well, and finishing the evening with huge ice cream cones from the drug store on the main street.

The RHYC has a great venue for racing, camping, eating, hospitality and hanging out with sailing friends from the USA and Canada. See you next year.