[Public-list] Capsized Skipjack

[richard.hazlegrove at wachovia.com]

Bill Blevens mentioned the capsize of the Claud Somers skipjack on Sunday. 
 We were racing my Alberg a few minutes behind the skipjack near the 
finish line when she went over.  The finish was a windward leg near the 
mouth of the Carrotoman River.  We were tacking straight toward the finish 
line and the skipjack was close reaching parallel to the line.  She tacked 
to cross the line and apparently hit a gust of wind that had funneled out 
of the mouth of the river.  It appeared that her main was sheeted in as 
she came across the wind. When the sail filled on the opposite tack she 
simply went over. It was an interesting finish with about a third of the 
line blocked.  I believe that they have stone ballast in the hold but 
don't' know how or if it is secured.  I do know from speaking with the 
captain at last year's race that they really, really don't like to heel. 
Fortunately everybody on board was OK and it appeared that no permanent 
damage occurred. 

In spite of the events at the finish, it was a great race.  We won our 
fleet that included Cape Dory's,  Bristols, Pearsons, and other similar 
CCA boats.  Probably not coincidently,  we were the only boat in our fleet 
to fly a spinnaker even though the penalty for doing so took our rating 
from 235 to 212.  We had a plow anchor on the bow, full water tank, full 
icebox, and a big 13" three bladed prop.  We did however leave the dingy 
back at the anchorage. 

If any of this group has an interest in true "gentleman's" racing, the 
Turkey Shoot Regatta is a great chance.  They race a PERF class format on 
Saturday, adjust the results, and then a staggered start pursuit race on 
Sunday.  It is only open to boats that were built or designed 25+ years 
ago.  You get to race against old wooden Hinckley's, Aldens, Concordia 
Yawls and lots of 60's era CCA boats.  The second place finish for all 
fleets (about 80+ boats) was a female friend on her old Folkboat.  So come 
down to the Rappahannock River next October.  There's two days of racing, 
parties, food, music, and I need a few Alberg's to race against. 

Richard Hazlegrove
Quest 433
Mobjack Bay, Va.