Day Sailer North American Championship Regatta
Thanks to an outstanding effort from everyone at Severn Sailing Association; Day Sailer Fleet One, the original Day Sailer fleet, and the longest running fleet at SSA, hosted the 60th Anniversary Day Sailer North American Championship Regatta and it was a huge success. Originally scheduled for June 2020, pushed to June 2021 the regatta was finally held in August 2021. As a group, DS Fleet One held our collective breaths for a Covid free event as well as some wind during the typically dog days of August in Annapolis. Fortunately, we were rewarded with a great regatta.
A great deal of the success of the Championship goes to having a savvy and experienced Race Committee; lead by PRO Mark Hasslinger, DRO Barbara Vosbury, Steve Podlich and Judge Carol Robinson . Thankfully this team knew how to squeak out 7 quality races over 3 days in the August heat. With a southerly the first couple of days and a northerly on Saturday the Committee laid a course that kept us off the highway and in a tactical 5-8 knot breeze.
For sure the temperatures were hot but so was the action. Despite the Delta Variant we were able to get 19 registered and it was a true National Championship with teams from California, Florida, Alabama, Ohio, Tennessee, Massachusetts, New Jersey and the Delmarva.
The Day Sailer has always been a family boat and the winning team was husband/wife duo of Barbara and Johnathan Foot, sailing their distinctively red, Cherry Bomb. Barbara is the only female skipper to win the DS NACR and this is her third time winning the National Championship. In fact, 3 of the top 4 boats were family teams.
SSA is really a great spot for a Nationals and the Fleet appreciates the flexibility of members moving their boats, accommodating our tent, the jewel that is Botanas Fajardo and the ability of our Club to host 3 catered dinner parties. With Snipes and DSers under our belt, Solings should feel good about their NACRs in October.
It really takes a village to pull off a National Championship and special thanks to our Regatta Chairman Tom Shaw and Michelle Burke as well SSA Rear Commodore Robin Richards, and SSA Fleet One members Matt White, Chris Lewton, Claudia Minicozzi, Erik McCaffery, Dave Koepper, Amy Harris and Jim Fisher.
