Smoke Signals - Metedeconk River Yacht Club

Page 6 Smoke Signals Volume 28, Issue 9
LIGHTNING FLEET NEWS
BBYRA - After windy starts at
the Bay Head/Metedeconk and Island
Heights regattas, Shore Acres managed
just one shortened race. The second race
was abandoned before the start as winds
gusted over 25 knots and scattered upside
down E Sloops all over the bay. One disputed
race was completed at Ocean Gate
before high winds and the threat of thunderstorms
caused abandonment before the
start of the second race. Finally, things
settled down for two normal windwardleeward
races at Lavallette, and a single
barrel course race at Seaside that decided
second place. Mitch Hnatt is the repeat
champion with Jim Carson wresting second
from Bill Bogardus on the last day.
Bay results can be found on the BBYRA
website, www.bbyra.org.
Riverton Yacht Club managed
four races before Hurricane Hanna struck
the New Jersey State Championship and
made for a wet afternoon and an on the
edge of your seat fourth race with some
amazing record breaking speeds for a
number of daring boats. In attendance
were three boats from Ocean City YC,
two from Susquehanna YC, one from
Little Egg YC, and the remaining from
Mermate
News
Riverton YC. George Harrington of
Monmouth was first, Mark Schneider
second and John Townsend third, both of
the home Club. Fleet #34 sailors sat this
one out.
The economy and threat of bad
weather cut down on attendance at the
traditional fall regattas. Manahawkin
Bay Cup at Surf City drew ten boats on a
day that was supposed to be stormy but
wound up to be a great sailing day. Five
quick races were sailed back to back in a
shifty northerly where positions changed
on almost every leg. Jim Carson prevailed
with Bob Sangstacken second and
Rich Warren third. Bill Bogardus took in
the Last Blast at Nyack. The regatta was
won by Justin Copland, a Boat Grant
participant, in drifting conditions.
Jody Lutz, Bill Bogardus, and
Jim Carson traveled to Annapolis for the
Frigid Digit which certainly lived up to
its name this year. A forecast of high
winds and frigid temperatures kept attendance
well below usual standards. Saturday’s
races were delayed by reports of
winds gusting to 34 knots. However,
three races were finally sailed in 15 to 20
knots with a few higher gusts. Sunday’s
races were canned when the winds were
even higher and the temperature lower.
Canadian Jamie Allen took first followed
by Allan Terhune and David Stark. Jody
was eighth, Bill eleventh and Jim twelfth
as 32 boats managed to survive. Complete
results of this and other Lightning events
can be seen on the ILCA website,
www.lightningclass.org.
On the local scene, Lightnings
qualified six boats in the Metedeconk Fall
Series. Mitch Hnatt prevailed by one
point over Jim Carson. Jason Lutz was
third. See the MRYC website,
www.metedeconkriveryc.org for complete
results.
Lightning sailors are already
looking forward to the 2009 season with
the Worlds slated for Vermont in September.
The North Americans will be in
Sodus Bay, New York in August along
with the Masters, Juniors and Women’s.
Since this NA’s is not a World qualifier,
attendance is expected to be down. The
2010 North Americans site has yet to be
selected. The 2011 Worlds will be held in
the City of Buzios, 105 miles northeast of
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
BOOK
CLUB
EWS
It has been a very busy season for the Mermates, and I
believe, very successful. This is due to my hard working officers.
I am most thankful for the help I received from Colleen
VanPell, Lisa Scott-Brennan, and Patty Mroczko. I also had
great committee chairpersons who came to my aid throughout
the year. I thank you all for your help. I especially want to
thank Fran Lynn. She got me into this position and promised to
be my right hand, and she never let me down. Her creative
ideas and excellent cooking skills made our events run
smoothly and profitably.
The Mermates have one more great evening planned
for the families of MRYC. We will be hosting our everpopular
Trim-A-Tree Party on Friday, December 5. Don’t miss
this chance to enjoy an evening of holiday fun and great homemade
treats. Please see the enclosed flyer for more details.
Fran Dockery
Mermate President
DECEMBER SELECTION
SEAFARER
by Conor McPherson
Monday, December 8—At the Club—12:30 P.M.
(Bring your own lunch)
Discussion will be led by a member of the George Street Playhouse
staff. Then on Thursday, Dec. 11, we will attend a 2:00 PM
matinee of the play SEAFARER at the George Street
Playhouse in New Brunswick.
$50 fee includes a copy of the book
plus theater ticket.
If you plan to attend the discussion, please RSVP to:
Kathleen O’Neill
732-282-1021
bokokeryn@aol.com