ROCK HALL YACHT CLUB
ONE-DESIGN REGATTA
June 11, 12, 2001
Jim Heffernan W 2458, W1066

The June One-Design Regatta hosted by the Rock Hall YC is usually held in ideal winds and weather.  Not so this year. Winds were so light on Saturday that only one race was completed for our Wayfarers and even that race was shortened.  A second race was started but then abandoned as some of the boats could not even cross the starting line in the dying wind and adverse current.
 
On Sunday, the RO set up a short course near the club hoping to eke some wind currents from the surrounding farmland. His strategy worked and we completed four short races in light fluky winds from every direction while the larger boats struggled to get in two races out on the Chester River.  We shared the starting line with five slightly faster Rebels sailed by adept crews. They were all good at controlling a place on the starting line and we had to be sharp to not get buried by them after the gun sounded.  The mark roundings were usually crowded as the light winds kept us close together.
 
When the results were tallied, Al Schonborn and Jim Heffernan were tied but the throw out race tipped the regatta to Al and his crew Mary Krauss. Jim and his son, Mark Heffernan, placed second, Frank Pedersen and his daughter, Sarah, were third and Tony Krauss and Tim Donaghue (Saturday crew) and Chris Schueler (Sunday crew) placed 4th. 
 
This regatta is always a favorite due to the superb locale, the welcoming club members, and the great sailing. This year we missed the presence of the late Chuck Parry who promoted the junior sailing program at RHYC and always made the Wayfarers feel like family.