PSC was represented in Belhaven by 4 boats - and Water Phantom was there in spirit, since Charlie Nelson served as chairman of the Race Committee for the PHRF racing in the Pungo River off Belhaven. A total of 16 PHRF boats competed in 3 classes.
Elbert Kennard raced Samson in Spinnaker class, with a boat load of PSCer's as crew. Dyke Luben, who served as skipper.
Mark and Barb brought Edge to Belhaven to race in Non-Spinnaker. Barb was at the helm during the single, 12.2 mile non-spin race, and Edge's crew would not allow Barb to look back at the boats chasing her. Barb picked up Edge's trophy for first place in non-spin.
Susan and I picked up Imzadi From Deaton's on Friday morning and brought her straight to Belhaven - arriving just in time to get whacked by ANOTHER thunderstorm! After spending $10K on repairs after the last storm, I get REALLY nervous when the visibility closes down now.
Imzadi was late for the non-spin class start, mostly because Bill Coradetti and I were trying to figure out which halyard raised which sail, and how to control the sails once they were up. We chased Edge the whole race, gaining a little here and losing a little there, and finished in second by about the same distance we were behind at the start. Not too bad for this being the first time we've actually had two sails up at the same time on the new boat. (Note to Jay and the PHRF rating appeal file: raced pretty evenly with Edge, but gave her 6 seconds a mile in rating.)
Andy Howard and his daughter raced Neverland as the scratch boat in cruising class. They were the second boat to finish, but adjusted down into the middle of the fleet based on their PHRF rating. Andy's young son (who doesn't like sailing) was the life of the party at the dance following the awards presentation - repeatedly dragging pretty ladies out onto the dance floor. I'm ppretty sure he was really tired on Sunday.
Cruiusing and non-spin classes had one 12.2 mile race. There was a second short windward-leeward race for the spinnaker class, with Imzadi serving as RC boat and Edge as the windward mark. Which exhibits real courage on Mark's part, after having his anchor line snagged while serving as RC boat during a spring series race. I've got to believe he was having flashbacks as Samson approached for the windward rounding.
Thanks to Mark, and especially to Charlie, for helping with the event. I know we had a good time, and will plan to be back for the race and the party next year.
Rick Brass