It was a beautiful day on the Rappahannock River for contending the Rappahannock Cup, an annual competition between Rappahannock River Yacht Club (RRYC) and Yankee Point Racing and Cruising Club (YPRCC).
Winds were a light 3-6 knots initially from the Northwest as RRYC PRO Bob Damon and crew set up a 1.4 NM windward-leeward course, reported Tom Chapman.
Ten boats came out to enjoy the day and test their skills. In the first race Arabella Denvir’s J-24 High Hopes got off to the best start with Jesse Swartz’s J-30, helmed by racing ace Steve Donofrio, just behind. With the wind shifting and going up and down between 3-6 knots across the race course there were many lead changes based on who had the strongest wind.
Going to the finish in race one, Irrational Exuberance crossed first, with High Hopes second and Chapman’s J-24, Hot Air seven seconds behind, third across the line. After correcting for handicaps, Win Schwab’s Santana 20, Silver Fox jumped into second place only 2.4 seconds behind Irrational Exuberance. The Santana 20 is a light air rocket, said Chapman.
For the second race, the wind had shifted to the West so the race committee had to adjust the windward mark and starting line to get a fair windward leg. On the second start, Hot Air got off first and led around the course with Randy Romaine’s J-24, GLO a close second finishing only 9 seconds behind Hot Air. Third across the line was Irrational Exuberance.
Overall results were close with Irrational Exuberance in first, one point ahead of Hot Air and in third GLO on a tie breaker over Silver Fox and High Hopes.
At the award ceremony on the porch of the RRYC, PHRF fleet commander Glenn Solt announced that RRYC had retained the Rappahannock Cup and the very competitive racing among the fleet. Commander Solt also noted the upcoming YPRCC Pursuit race Saturday, September 25, as well as the Hospice Turkey Shoot Regatta on October 1-3.
Racers saluted Damon and race committee, Coleman Brydon, Samantha Van Saun, Ollen Richey and Lee Capps, for the excellent race set up in challenging conditions, said Chapman. Great racing can only happen with fair courses and starting lines and thanks to this committee it was a great day.
Results
• First, Irrational Exuberance; skipper, Jesse Swartz; race 1:1; race 2:3; total points, 4.
• Second, Hot Air; skipper, Tom Chapman; race 1:4; race 2:1; total points, 5.
• Third, GLO, skipper, Randy Romaine; race 1:6; race 2:2; total points, 8.
• Fourth, Silver Fox; skipper, Win Schwab; race 1:2; race 2:6; total points, 8.
• Fifth, High Hopes; skipper, Arabella Denvir; race 1:3; race 2:5; total pointsl, 8.
• Sixth, Freedom; skipper, Glenn Solt; race 1:5; race 2:4; total points, 9.
• Seventh, Life of Riley; skipper: Eddy Whichard; race 1: 7; race 2:7; total points, 14.
• Eighth, Fulibo; skipper, Doug Lyle; race 1:9; race 2:7; total points, 16
• Ninth, Merriwether; skipper, Marc Wester; race 1:8; race 2:11; total points, 19.
• Tenth, Hippo; skipper, Ed Johnson; race 1:11; race 2:11; total points, 22.
