This past Saturday was the annual Boothbay Harbor One Design (BHOD) Race, sponsored by the BHOD Association. The association is comprised of BHOD enthusiasts and is dedicated to maintaining the fleet of this 1938 classic racing sailboat design. Additionally, the association has supported the resurgence of the fleet of BHOD by supporting the Youth Sailing and education center at the Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club. The sailing center encourages the next generation of sailors by hosting school and club sailing for students in the area both spring and fall seasons, as well as the teaching program during the summer months.

Part of the “Summer of Sail 2020,” this week’s race marked the 15th year of the BHOD Association with eleven boats participating from around the harbor, including Delilah, a Great Lakes 21 also built in Boothbay Harbor. Several once-a-year racers came to show off their mastery of this classic design, raising the bar for their newer competitors. A few racers were also flying their spinnakers bringing back memories of Saturday racing. Patty Berger, flying the all too familiar red white and blue spinnaker on her #24, has been racing in the harbor since the 1950s. Patty proved she is hard to beat coming from behind to tie Dwight Polar and family in #44 Polar Express for the win.

The most exciting event this year is the beginning of the next generation leading the fleet.

Number 20 Bittersweet, the last boat built before World War II, and recently restored by David Nutt, is now being sailed by the Clarkson family junior sailors. Today they raced with a spinnaker for the first time. In the photo, racing against them at one point was #38 skippered by Debbie Swan Snyder. Debbie is another veteran of several more than many summers racing here in the harbor.

This multi-generational enthusiasm for these classic boats is part of the wonders of our Boothbay summers

After starting the BHOD annual race, this “Summer of Sail 2020” event included two other classes. There were both a J/80 racing class and a cruising class. The J/80 class was able to race three times and the Cruising class twice.

The top place winners were:

BHOD: 1st (tied) #24 Wildfire and #44 Polar Express; 3rd, #47 Anna Grace; 4th, #52 Mumtaz; 5th, #56 Zen

J/80 racing: 1st, Ghost; 2nd, Skyrocket

Cruising: 1st, Sapphire; 2nd, Zephyr

The next event in the “Summer of Sail 2020” series is the annual BHOOD Regatta to be held next Saturday, Aug. 15 at 1:30 p.m. This annual race often attracts more J/80 racers for a real good racing event. It will be open to BHOD class J/80 and other racing boats as well as cruising boats with PHRF ratings. The details are all explained in the Sailing Instructions.

For further information, sailing instructions and to register, go to the Regatta Management Solutions calendar https://www.regattaman.com/calendar.php, select the race date and click info or register, or go to www.bhyc.net/ /racing-and-regattas to check the time and to register for these races. All sailboats are welcome.