Could we have a drum roll, please? The winner of the 2021 Round Southport Race is ... Southport Yacht Club!  The race is jointly organized by BHYC and SYC and always provides a day of camaraderie, outstanding views and friendly, but serious, competition. This year the race began at Ebenecook and finished at BHYC on Sunday, July 11. The prize is a lovely trash can that lives for a year in the winning club. Participation was high this year with 25 boats registered for the race.  Light air in Ebenecook delayed the start of the race, but breeze on the Sheepscot River sent the boats racing to the Cuckolds.  This pursuit race creates a great spectacle as boats mill about before the start and fill Boothbay Harbor with spinnakers racing to the finish.  Southport had a strong showing this year, reclaiming the trash can!  Southport racers finished 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th.  The top three finishers for each club count for the trash can competition.  SYC’s top three finishers were Commodore Chip Baker who finished 1st sailing the J-80 WIRED, with Rob Hawley on the J-24 RAINIER in 3rd and Charlie Apolinsky sailing with SYC instructors on the club’s new J-80 SELKIE finishing 4th. Top finishers for Boothbay were the J-80 GHO2T sailed by Arden Carleton and a team of BHYC junior racers in 2nd, the Peterson 34 GREYHAWK sailed by Tim Allen in 7th and the Sabre 34 INGALINA with Justin Andrus and Kathryn McCoig in 9th.  Thanks to Race Committee Bob & Ryan McCann for a fun day of racing round the island.

Saturday’s Norma Smith Turnabout Race brought 16 boats to the line. The wind was light at first but picked up after the first race, leading to a fabulous day of sailing. Both divisions were neck-in-neck with first and second place finishers tied at the end and third place close behind. In the junior category we have a winning sister team of Anna and Maya Faulstich with second place going to Nathan Phippen and Graydon Smith. Charlie Apolinsky and Fisher Brown finished first in the adult category and Charlie Phippen came in second. 

Special visitors at the club this week will be traveling by boat -- all 37 of them! A group of 27 Midshipmen, 7 Ensigns, and 3 Coaches from the United States Naval Academy Varsity Offshore Sailing Team will  arrive on Wednesday at 1000 at BHYC. The group will bring two sailboats-an RP66 (ZARAFFA skippered by MIDN 1/C Teagan Foley) and a Kerr50 (WAHOO skippered by Ensign Katie Boyle).  Both boats will be moored at BHYC.  The packed itinerary includes boat tours for the sailing program students of BHYC, SYC, and BBSC, turnabout racing, kickball, racing in the Seguin Island race on Saturday, Boothbay One Design races, and the SYC lobster bake on Sunday. Thank you to all the families who are helping to host the team during their stay who include the Colburn, Leland, Baker, Yale, Chatterton, Rogers, Taylor, and Walsh families. 

Did someone say Cornhole? Our first SYC Cornhole tournament is happening on Thursday, July 14 at 6 p.m. Sign up online or via paper sign up at the club.

We are so grateful for the leadership of our new social chair, Janet Duchaine. Janet’s expertise in large church dinners and croquet parties will serve her well as she takes the helm of this committee. The first social event Janet has organized is sold out-the July 18th lobster bake held at Newagen Seaside Inn. Although we won’t be enjoying the bake on the grounds of SYC due to COVID limits on size, we very much look forward to the hospitality of Newagen and the beautiful lawn and seaside views. 

Save the Date for the Rock the Boat 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, August 7th. This is the 8th year of the event which brings together racers and volunteer course marshalls for a fun-filled morning run/walk with great views of Cozy Harbor and the Sheepscot! If you haven’t been walking or running, there is plenty of time to get into shape and join the fun. Register online via Runsignup. 

We are hoping for fair skies and suitable winds for Saturday’s Seguin Island Trophy Race. The first gun is at 10 a.m. Registration is online at Regattaman. This year’s race will again be a pursuit race, starting off of Cozy Harbor and sending the fleet sailing toward Seguin!

On the horizon is the July 24th Wine Tasting and the July 25th Croquet Tournament. Jack Bauman will return to the role of sommelier and entertainer as he charms the crowd with travel stories, historical backgrounds, and grape descriptions. Note that the Croquet Tournament has been moved up from Aug. 1st as was originally published.