*Dave Starck, Debbie and Jenna Probst Celebrate their Frigid Digit Victory*

Traditionally, the Frigid Digit marks the beginning of the fall sailing season, and while the event was held 2 weeks early this year to accommodate the North Americans in Sayville, LI, the weather pattern over the weekend did provide both Summer and Fall sailing.

The regatta kicked off on Friday afternoon with opportunities for North American boat measurement. The class scale, sawhorses and angle of dangle gauge were brought down from the WJMs and 6 competitors going on to the NAs took advantage of the chance to get measured early. The fleet was highly competitive, with Dave and Jody Starck, Bill Faude, Debbie Probst, Sean Hannigan and his boat grant team joining a strong contingent of district competitors.

Saturday dawned clear and fair, with light air forecast to fade as the afternoon progressed. This proved optimistic, as the fade started early. PRO Charlie Kraft and his RC team put in a valiant effort (the fleet was in sequence for a start 4 times) to try to get a race in, but wisely abandoned when it was obvious that the wind wasn’t going to fill in.

This early return provided opportunities for more measurement, sightseeing in downtown Annapolis (a short water taxi ride away), and a great party Saturday evening. SSA caterer ‘Romilio’s on the Go’ provided a fantastic feast.

Sunday was a different story. A front blew thru overnight and the day dawned warm, gray, windy and wet with low clouds, rain, wind in the mid teens to low 20’s and a threat of afternoon thunderstorms. With the breeze coming straight up the Severn and a dearth of pleasure boat activity, the RC was able to set up in Annapolis harbor, eliminate the sail to and from our usual race course on Whitehall Bay, and get all 5 races in before the time limit or afternoon thunderstorms arrived. This setup provided a brisk wind, close racing, and interesting strategic choices between better current out in the Severn River and a slight persistent rightie near Horn Point.

When the sky cleared up, David Starck had won another Frigid Digit victory, sailing with Jenna and Debbie Probst. Jonathan Lutz, Timmy Crane and Jamie Starck came in second, and Tanner Probst, Sabrina Stark and Robbie Robinson finished third. Bill Cabrall, sailing with Ben Jarashow and Arin Kaye won the Most Improved Skipper Award, moving up 8 places from last year.

All in all, it was a great regatta, due to the combined efforts of Lightning fleet and SSA members who all worked hard measuring boats, organizing activities, arranging trophies, providing breakfast, working with the Romilio’s on the dinner (which received many compliments), cleaning up and all the other effort that goes into a great event. Special mention is given to Charlie Krafft and the Race Committee Team, as well as Nell Codner and her twins Hannah and Amelia, who helped immensely, distributing cake, cleaning up, presenting trophies, etc.

RESULTS