Lightning Dixie Districts/No Gas
It happened at the weather mark. I was coming in on starboard, converging with a pack of port tackers. It looked like I’d have the half boat length needed to cut most of them off, but it was going to be close.
A bow sliced in front of my jib, rolling into its tack. As Jonathan Lange settled onto course just in front of me, my attention was suddenly caught by the sight of a head, attached to a small boy, facing aft, looking me straight in the eye and grinning from ear to ear. Anderson Newkirk, age 8, sailing with his mom and grandfather, was having a wonderful time.
As were we all! The regatta, sailed in cloudy light to moderate air in June 11 and 12th in Annapolis, combined the Severn Sailing Association’s No Gas Regatta with the 2022 Dixie District Championship. 16 boats showed up, coming from throughout the District and as far away as Rochester, NY and Truckee, California. While light and dying air prevented completion of the one race started on Saturday, and the fleet got towed back in, the extra time ashore enabled a relaxed and social afternoon, capped by a banquet ably catered by the Broadneck Grill and Cantina, SSA’s new snack bar operator. Henry Thomas and his dedicated team of RC volunteers were able to get 4 races run on Sunday before reaching the time limit at 2 pm. The weekend was full of that special flair that permeates Lightning regattas.
The racing was close and competitive, with only one boat in the fleet achieving a consistent line score. The second place boat’s average score was 4.75, for example, and a three way tie for 6th between Aaron Boesenecker, Starling Mikell and Bill Cabrall developed when Phillip Lange and his team caught Team Cabrall by 3 feet at the finish of Race 3. Had that gone the other way a tie for 5th with the Joan and Gary Hurban would have developed instead.
Saturday’s action was beautifully captured by photographer Ted Morgan, and each podium finisher received a framed photo of their boat as a reward for their performance. Ted also provided unlimited download rights of all the regatta pictures as a ‘party favor’ to the fleet. Looking thru them for this report, I was struck by how wonderful they all are, and by how many work as portraits of the people, teams, and boats are this event.
Wondering about the one consistent line score? Former Lightning World Champion Geoff Becker, sailing with his son Josh and Caroline Bourgeois went undefeated with 4 firsts on Sunday to win the 2022 Lightning Dixie District Championships and SSA No Gas Regatta.
This event has kicked off our summer season sailing Lightning’s at SSA, there are plenty of races awaiting your entry, so sign up now for more great Lightning sailing.
Bill Cabrall
Lightning 15615
Unofficial scribe of Fleet 329
Jonathan Lange sailing with Daughter, Katie and Grandson, Andy. Three generations on the boat for the 45th Annual No Gas.
Geoff Becker's District Championship Team drinks from permanent trophy!
Jonathan Lange awarding his brother, Philip, second place trophy for the No Gas Districts.
Special Thanks to Ted Morgan for photographs of the regatta.