The Down-the-Chester-River Race &
Summer One Design Regatta/W U.S. Nationals
Rock Hall YC, Rock Hall, MD
June 10-12, 2011
 ...

...
Rock Hall nostalgia
2010 Summer Regatta & River Race NOR
2010 Regatta & River Race Entry
Rock Hall YC web site
..
our "host" Frank Pedersen, outlines the typical Rock Hall schedule:
----- Original Message -----
From: "Frank Pedersen" <fpedersen@friend.ly.net>
To: "Al 3854" <uncle-al3854@cogeco.ca>
Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2007 9:36 PM
Subject: Rock Hall 2007 update

Dear Al,

I am taking the pains to summarize the racing schedule and other events for the Wayfarer inter-galactic championships.  You may know all this, but I thought I would do my bit as a semi-host and pull it all together.  Everyone at RHYC is working hard to make the upcoming regatta a success. 

The Down-River Race on Friday will start at the Chester River Yacht and Country Club in Chestertown.  Registration is at 1000, Skipper's Meeting is at 1030, and the start, off the club pier, is at 1100.  There will be a cash bar and hearty hors d'oeuvres at the Rock Hall YC at the conclusion of the race.

For the one-design racing starting on Saturday, registration will be at RHYC between 0800 and 0930.  Skippers' Meeting will be at 0930, and the first warning signal will be at 1100 with races to follow.  Allow time to get to the starting area and remember lunch, between races, is your responsibility.  There will be refreshments and snacks after racing. 

On Saturday evening, there is usually a barbecue dinner for which tickets can be ordered as you register. 

On Sunday, the first warning signal will be at 1000 with races to follow.  No race will start after 1400.  There also will be a post-race lunch available.

Because of the number of Wayfarers expected, the traditional gathering we have had at our house on Thursday evening will this year be at RHYC.  The bar will be open and the club will offer grilled hamburgers and hot dogs for $5.  Sue and I will bring potato salad, slaw, desert, etc.  We will gather at 1700.

There is also a logistical challenge that we should be aware of.  Because of our numbers, we cannot all keep our boats overnight on the beach above the high tide mark.  I plan to use the hoist to haul out after each day's racing.  We also could work as a team and carry boats to the grassy area beyond the beach to allow space for other classes that will sail off the beach. .

Thanks for your continued help and support. Cheers,

Frank
... and provides a lovely backgrounder to the River Race:
----- Original Message -----
From: Frank Pedersen
Cc: Bill Selick ; Chuck Parry ; George Vurno ; Mike Smith (R4150) ; Leon, Dan ; Neil Robb R4162 ; Bruce L Nowak ; Al and Karel Vorel R3914 ; Dan Hockenberry R4180 ; Catie Simmons ; Dave Nickels R4176 ; Chris Craig ; Scott Wright (R3982) ; Kevin Nickels ; Karyn DeLissio ; Woody (John) Woodruff ; Bob Zimmer R4184
Sent: Sunday, April 26, 2009 10:56 PM
Subject: Visiting Rock Hall in 2009?

Hi gang, 

Glad to see interest is building.  There is some history about the Down-River race you might find interesting.  There was a long tradition on the Chesapeake Bay of having regattas on different weekends at different yacht clubs throughout the summer.  This might have gone back to the 1930's.  Chestertown, which has its own club (Chester River Yacht & Country Club),  would always participate in the regatta at RHYC.  Back when people had heavier boats and did not use trailers as we do today, the only way to get to another venue for a regatta was to sail your boat there.  Maybe the wealthy had a nanny boat to tow their sail boat or tow several boats, but, by and large, most people had to sail. 

So the crowd from Chestertown would sail down the Chester River to get to RHYC, then race for the weekend.  The following Friday, the Chestertown boats, along with the Rock Hall boats,  would sail back to Chestertown for the next weekend of racing.  Of course, as soon as there are a couple of boats headed in the same direction there would be a race. So, with a little bit of organizing, the Friday preceding the RHYC regatta became the Down-River race; a week later, there is an Up-River race preceding the CRYCC regatta. 

CRYCC has not been so active over the last few years.  They have a strong golf program and the wind tends to be rather light compared to areas closer to the Bay.  Also the fees at CRYCC, especially the entry fee, have become rather high, so the sailors have become more supportive of RHYC. 

The last few years there have been close to 50 boats for the start of the Down-River Race - all crowding one another at a single start that is virtually always off the wind.  Because of the variety of boats, it is not quite as intense (for some) as is the traditional racing on the weekend.  I haven't checked my tide table yet, but I am sure Al has and he will gladly post when high tide is in Chestertown.  Although the start is at 11:00 AM, you will want to get in the water well before that.  A new pier has been put in at the club, so the is more space to tie up after launching.  Also, I have found the time between the end of the Skippers' Meeting and the start to be on the short side; it is a good idea to get organized with some time to spare. 

Cheers, Frank
...
Wayfarers likely to attend this event in 2011
Wayfarer Helm Crew Club
W1066 Jim Heffernan
 Linda Heffernan Morehead-Beaufort YC
W3854
 Al Schonborn
 Hans Gottschling
 Oakville/Mississauga, ON
W864
 Tony Krauss
 Mary Abel
 Detroit, MI
W7351
 John de Boer
 Dolores de Boer
 London, ON
W8705
 Frank Pedersen
 tba
 Rock Hall YC
W10139
 Richard Johnson
 Michele Parish
 Catawba YC, Charlotte, NC
W10423
 Richard Watterson
 tba
 Hummelstown, PA
..
----- Original Message -----
Subject: Rock Hall YC Regatta

Dear Al:

... RHYC ... is about where the C is in Langford Cr on the chart below:


The open area to the south is Langford Bay, where the one-design racing will be June 12-13, 2010. If you look at the chart, the course for the Down River Race is on the Chester River. The start is where the river makes a turn to the east, about a mile south of Chestertown. The finish is just beyond Nichols Pt. The Portsmouth system is used for scoring. I have finished as high as 2nd place, and it is always fun to beat Highlanders boat for boat. Sunfish often do well on handicap because their rating gives them about half a day time correction. Typically, the race begins with a very light southerly that will build by the afternoon. As you round Nichols Pt., with luck, there will be a planing reach for about half a mile to the finish. But when are winds typical? ... More later.
Frank Pedersen  W4270
what other Regatta gives you all this
and at an extremely reasonable cost:

Due to large numbers, the traditional Thursday night Wayfarer welcome
chez Frank and Sue Pedersen in Chestertown has been moved to the Rock Hall YC.
...

Friday's Chester River Race from Chestertown past the mouth of the river to the Rock Hall YC
...

Dark and Stormies after the racing in an atmosphere-laden bar
...

Or perhaps a dip in the brand new pool?
...

live(ly) entertainment
...

tons of nice, flat camping space
...

oodles of boat parking space and nicely protected sailing waters with just a smidgeon of tide
...

an interesting variety of boats ...
...

... and their sailors to share the fun
...
crabby people like Nick and Mary
...

more racing on the Sunday
...

fun for all ages
..
Location: Rock Hall Yacht Club, Rock Hall, Maryland (see red oval below). 
.....

.....
Directions: For specific directions to the club, click on the Rock Hall Yacht Club site.  Alternatively click here to get Map Quest's suggested route for Uncle Al's trip down to Rock Hall from Oakville, ON - and re-do the search beginning where you live. The Map Quest set-up is quite neat with a map available at the click of a button for each stage of the trip. Now all I need is a lap top for the car!!

Venue: Chester River and Langford Bay on the Chester River.


...... ........
...
Friday, June 11: Down River Race
Venue: Chester River, starting off the Chester River Yacht and Country Club, Chestertown, Md.
Facilities: Ramp and hoist for launching. Boats may be left at site on Thurs. afternoon.
Accommodations: Camping at RHYC; motels, B & Bs nearby (list t.b.a.).
Registration: Fri. A.M., fee t.b.a. (probably $10).
Usual Programme:
Thurs. P.M. party at the Rock Hall YC - check to see if own food must be brought.
Skipper's meeting at CRYCC Fri. 10:00 A.M.
Start at 11:00 A.M. Mass start for all classes, distance sailed approx. 12 miles (see chart below), finish abt. 1/2 mile N.W. of Nichols Pt., only marks to observe are start & finish lines, scoring on Portsmouth Handicap.

 
Food: Participants should provide own lunch. In 2005, Friday dinner was free at RHYC.


Sat.-Sun., June 12-13: Summer One-Design Regatta
Venue: Langford Bay, a wide area of the Chester River south of the RHYC site.



Accommodations: Camping at RHYC; motels, B & Bs nearby
Registration: Sat. A.M., fee t. b. a. (probably $25.00).
Programme: Skippers' meeting A. M.,
Start: 10:30 A.M. Back - to - back races until approx. 3:30 P.M. on Sat. and 1:00 P.M. on Sun.
Food: Participants should provide own lunches. Sat. dinner available at RHYC dining room, reservations made at registration time, 2004 cost: $17 + cash bar.
Facilities: Ramp and hoist for launching, sandy beach, clubhouse with dining room and bar, showers, ample trailer storage and parking space and a brand new pool.

Activities for non-racers: Check out www.kentcounty.com for information about this scenic and historically significant area.
.....
.....
Contact:       Frank Pedersen  410-778-9255 (if not available, try the Maine number: 207-359-2336)     
                Al Schonborn  (905) 844-2150