SpinSheet Rites of Spring Regatta
- Saturday, May 19th, 2001
- Severn Sailing Association
- Annapolis, MD
SpinSheet Magazine's 5th Annual Rights of Spring regatta took place last Saturday off the shores of Annapolis, MD. The event was organized and managed by SpinSheet, a Chesapeake Bay sailing magazine based in Annapolis.
The 2001 event again featured a strong fleet, efficient and thorough race management, and piles of special prizes from dedicated sponsors. Numbers in the Laser class were depleted to a degree by a conflict with the Laser National Championship sailed over the same weekend in Wrightsville Beach, NC. The Nationals attracted ten Chesapeake Laser sailors who otherwise would have participated in the Rites of Spring event. Nevertheless, 21 Lasers were on the starting line, and the fleet was very competitive throughout the seven race series.
Annapolis sailor Tucker Thompson edged Nick von der Wense in a tie-breaker. Thompson is an America's Cup vet, and von der Wense was the winning tactician in the 2001 Key West Mumm 30 class. Four different sailors won individual races in the Laser class including Thompson, von der Wense, Neil Ford, and Bob Tan. Ford, an Old Dominion University student, was third overall. Annapolis resident Tyler Raven finished as the top junior. Baltimore sailor Jen Cook was the top female finisher in the Laser class.
The Annapolis YC hosted the event, and AYC Junior Program Director Ted Kaczmarski served as Principal Race Officer. Racing was conducted off Eastport's Horn Point in the vicinity of the Annapolis "Shoal Pole." Cloudy skies and cool temperatures kept the powerboat traffic to a minimum, which was a good thing as the breeze stayed light for most of the event. However the wind did build gradually as the regatta moved forward and by the end of racing the northeasterly flow was about eight knots.
Following the sailing the fleet gathered at the Annapolis YC "Grassy Knoll" for refreshments and the prizegiving. Food and drink, as well as photos and a colorful regatta t-shirt, were included in the entry fee. The Rites of Spring Regatta always features excellent prizes, and 2001 was no exception. Every participating sailor received at least two prizes. Prize and party sponsors included Mount Gay Rum, Otter Creek Beer, Chesapeake Sailing School, Weems & Plath, Speedtech, Annapolis Performance Sailing, Ronstan, Extrasport, Tilley, Fawcetts, Quantum Sail Design Group, Martimus, Vanguard, North Sails Chesapeake, UK Sailmakers, and Acme.
Rites of Spring Regatta volunteers included Ted Kaczmarski, Eamon O'Brien, Steve Mitchell, Charlie Iliff, Julie Blessing-Agee, Amy Moore, Chris Gendell, and Geoff Ewenson.
Top 10 of 21
Place |
Name |
Hometown |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
T |
| 1 | Tucker Thompson | Annapolis | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | (6) | 14 |
| 2 | Nick von der Wense | Annapolis | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | (4) | 2 | 4 | 14 |
| 3 | Neil Ford | Norfolk, VA | 4 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 3 | (8) | 3 | 17 |
| 4 | Bob Tan | Perryville, MD | 5 | 3 | 5 | (7) | 1 | 4 | 1 | 19 |
| 5 | Jeremy Wilson | Severna Park, MD | 8 | 7 | 3 | 4 | (15) | 6 | 2 | 30 |
| 6 | Mike Schmidt | Columbia, MD | 3 | 6 | 6 | (8) | 7 | 5 | 7 | 34 |
| 7 | Chris Legg | Baltimore, MD | 6 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 7 | (9) | 36 |
| 8 | Craig Leonard | Townson MD | (12) | 10 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 42 |
| 9 | Greg Herbert | McLean VA | (14) | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 54 |
| 10 | Tyler Raven | Annapolis | 12 | 12 | 12 | (13) | 8 | 13 | 11 | 66 |
Added: 5/19/2001 12:06:34 by Jon Deutsch
Updated: 7/02/2005 14:34:55 by Jon Deutsch