Governor's Cup 2009

Seaquel, a 32 ton, long range performance cruiser from Caliber has no business in the competitive Chesapeake Bay Yacht Racing Association. But, enter we did at great expense of cash from the Captain and sweat and supplies from the crew. We scored no trophies but all agreed we had the fleet's:

Best upwind trim of a bimini

Best accomodations

Here's a montage of photos from the 2009 running of the oldest and longest sailboat race on the Chesapeake Bay. Running from the current Governor's residence in Annapolis to the one of colonial times in St.Mary's City, MD.

http://tinyurl.com/SequelGovCup

We covered 46 of the 70 miles between our great start at 6:30PM and 2 the following morning. From 2 until 9AM we went six more miles as the wind abated. At 9AM we joined 12 other boats in our fleet of 32 and retired, motoring in to catch the post race party.

Mary's (PhotoGirl/CruiseDirector) write up follows:

Seaquel's first Race, the 2009 Governor's Cup

Thursday morning Adam and Mary set off to ferry Seaquel from Herrington Harbour South to Jabins Yacht Yard. After Thursday night racing in Glenn's boat, Glenn, Rusty, Adam and Mary set about moving weight off the boat. The diver arrives around 9pm and informs us that the bottom is too scuzzy to clean propery without a haul. We decide to put the bimini back on and keep all the creature comforts on board since we are here to have fun and do not expect to win.

Friday Glenn and staff finish making Adam's new drifter sail "Big Blue". Bruce and DJ arrive from DC to help us fret about whether the sail will be ready in time; Glen delivers the sail and we head out to the starting line behind schedule with Glen hanging from the mast. Bruce takes the helm for a great start and Glen coaches. The fleet sets off under gray skies with us in third from the starting line.

Sunset brings a moment of relaxation and Mary takes iphone pictures to e-mail to families. Just before dark Adam and Glenn install Big Blue. We can barely see the lights of our competitors on the dark horizon, the wind is light and Adam rigs a flashlight to shine on the tell tales of Big Blue. We take pleasure in shaming a real racing boat into taking themselves more seriously as the see us starting to pass them. The crew sails through the night; everyone catches a few z's at some point. Adam single hands his boat at night for the first time while the rest of the crew snoozes below.

Commercial shipping traffic passes us at dawn; The wind dies to nearly zero and it starts to get hot. We decide to throw in the towel and let Harvey the invisible rabbit steer the boat. Mary takes photos of more determined members of the "bimini class" still racing (if you zoom in one of them, it looks like Harvey may be steering their boat too). As we pass the lighthouse, Glenns fills time telling stories of disasters at sea while his hands are busy making making the new dinghy painter. The crew quarrel about driving arrangements for the car ferry back from St Marys. Mary puts on her "Cruise Director" hat to settle the dispute by calling in another car.

We pull into St.Mary’s Yacht and Camping Center marina to take showers and jump in the pool before heading to the college for after-race festivities.Glenn wants to get home urgently, but our driver Scott is hopelessly lost. We decide to meet both drivers at the college and let Glen take the first car we meet. Mary grabs a couple of shots of racing boat at anchor amidst the commotion of pulling into St Mary's College, where the party is held. Both drivers Scott and Shirley are waiting for us, Glenn, DJ, and Bruce abandon ship; Scott comes aboard for the trip back. After a couple of hours saying hello to other sailors, looking at photos from the trip, and listening to music at the after race party, we head to the marina for a peaceful night.

We let down our guard causing us to nearly hit a daymarker and run aground in the dark , Seaquel backs right off without a problem and we tie up for some shut-eye. Sunday morning is damp and grey, but we get a few decent sailing hours in before we have to turn on the motor. The return trip includes time to be silly and play with the camera between squalls. Another boat has their sail torn in the stormy weather but Seaquel returns to Herrington Harbor safe and sound by early evening.