Thistle Oyster Roast Regatta, October 9-10
The 2021 version of the Oyster Roast Regatta was sailed out of SSA on October 9th and 10th. Twenty Thistles, hailing from Rhode Island to North Carolina and west to Ohio with one crew member driving from Michigan descended on Annapolis for this annual bivalve event. Because of the ongoing covid protocols, we didn’t actually roast oysters this year, but Bill Lawson, with help from his wife Colette Preis, made enough oyster stew to feed 75 people. That’s a lot of oyster stew. Cairn Krafft and Mary Pat McNulty organized the event and saw to it that the competitors were provided with a hearty continental breakfast each day, along with a plethora of appetizers and desserts prepared and donated by Fleet 34 & Friends, and a barbecue dinner Saturday evening catered by Red Hot and Blue. Plus, there were enough leftovers to provide a hearty lunch on Sunday.
Racing? Oh, I almost forgot since the Oyster Roast is as much about food, socializing, and camaraderie as it is about the sailing. PRO Peter Hale and his team ran three windward-leeward courses Saturday in 12 – 15 kt. northeasterly breeze. An outgoing tide made judging the weather mark layline difficult and an easterly shift favored the right side of the course in race 3, contrary to the left (less current) side of the course for the first two races. Chris Murphy from Lake Hopatcong, NJ, sailing with his wife Jess and Mark Makielski (from Michigan) won the first and third races to take the lead after Saturday’s races. Laser, Star (worlds), and Snipe champion Ed Adams, sailing with his wife and daughter, Meredith and Micaela, were close behind in second, and former Oyster Roast winner Tom Lawton sailing with his wife Sarah Hatsell and Lee Beauchamp were in third.
Sunday, a menacing low off the Carolina coast was forecast to bring a sustained 20 kts. with gusts to 25, which is just over the edge of safe Thistle sailing weather. The decision was made not to go out so Saturday’s results stood and the sailors got a chance to pack up early and head to the boat show. Oops, they pulled the switcharoo on us this year, swapping dates for the sail and power shows. An unfortunate change of pace for our out-of-town guests.
The regatta was registered with Sailors for the Sea as a gold level Clean Regatta. Cairn Krafft once again organized the Clean Regatta aspect of the event with help from the Fleet 34 & Friends Green Team. Clean Regatta features included prominently labeled recycling and compost receptacles, metal silverware, glass drinking cups and ceramic coffee mugs, encouragement to avoid single-use plastic water bottles, and a number of other easily achievable Clean Regatta Best Practices. Although meeting the high-level standard does require some recyclables sorting at the end of the event – remember, when in doubt, throw it out – all in all the Thistle sailors are getting used to sailing clean and green.
The Parramore Trophy, dedicated in memory of Paul Parramore, father of former Thistler and SSA member Michael Parramore, was awarded to the Murphy- Makielski team, winner of this event. Bill Lawson with Bruce Empey and Sandy Westphal were the highest placing SSA boat in 4th with non-resident member Brent Barbehenn in 5th. Results are posted at the SSA website.
