On the Southern Chesapeake Bay racing circuit, mid-distance and longer races have become a not-so-unusual occurrence. The obvious reason is because racers like this race course format. Beyond that, there are two main reasons that the number and quality of distance races has increased recently.
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Rumble (Ben Weeks/Michele Cochran) and Wham Bam (David Taylor) encounter one another in a ‘Round the Lights Race. Photos by Lin McCarthy[/caption]
First, distance racing is a change. The main staple of racing on the Southern Bay is still windward-leeward legs around drop marks. The emphasis is on crew work and speed. He who rounds the marks with the most perfect spinnaker sets and sail choices has a good chance to make it to the post-race podium. Crew work and timing pay big dividends.
More importantly, middle-distance and longer races around designated marks no matter the wind direction test entirely different skills. Yes, it is still necessary to recognize a chance to power reach and react accordingly, but there is a huge emphasis on navigation and strategy. In a distance race you have to know where you are in relation to currents, surface conditions, your competition, and what lies ahead.
The navigator is most likely the crew star as he or she calls for course changes at precisely the right moment. The same crew member can be the dufus if you go the “wrong way” at a critical point. And, sail trimmers move up the “key crew” chart. A good trimmer, who knows for instance how and when to barber haul or utilize a twing, is worth his weight in food and beer.
The resurgence of distance racing (it was the only style of racing many places 30 years ago) is reflected in the significance attached to the recognition afforded its events. When the Southern Bay Distance Racing Series (SBDRS) was born in 2004, there were five races that qualified:Cape Henry Cup (BBSA), Not Smith Point Race (CCV), Plantation Light Race (HYC), Neptune’s Atlantic Race (BBSA), and ‘Round the Lights (OPCYC). This year Broad Bay Sailing Association (SBDRS administrator) will combine competitors’ scores from 13 Southern Bay events.
The granddaddy of distance racing on the Bay is the Down the Bay Race, a non-stop, 120-mile dash from Annapolis to Hampton on Memorial Day Weekend. The winner of the first DTB was Benjamin Howard in Bensark in 1935. The event has survived two breaks, one for World War II (1942-1945), and another from 1999 through 2008, when drop mark racing was the only game in town. Credit goes to Wayne Bretsch from Storm Trysail Chesapeake and John McCarthy and Mark Wheeler from Hampton YC who in 2009 brainstormed the re-birth of the event which remains a healthy favorite. This year will be the 67th running of DTB.
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A Southern Bay Race Week fleet comes over the horizon in the SBRW Distance Race.[/caption]
Distance racing has been incorporated in various multi-day events. Since 2013 Southern Bay Race Week has included the trademark SBRW Distance Race on the second day of the regatta. This year the PHRF, Multihull, and Cruising Divisions all will race (within their divisions) in the lower Bay off Buckroe and finish at a line established at the Fort Monroe seawall. To do well at SBRW most likely means the crew and boat were prepared to meet a number of racing demands. SBRW is hosted by HYC and regularly includes 90 to 100 competing boats, one-design, PHRF, multihull, and cruising.
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Greg Alden’s Irie wins line honors and sets the still-standing elapsed time record in the120-mile Down the Bay Race (2013 - 7 hours, 2 minutes, 23 seconds).[/caption]
The Cape Charles Cup, organized by Broad Bay Sailing Association, features two back-to-back days of point-to-point distance races. The regatta includes a race from Norfolk to Cape Charles on the first day and from Cape Charles to Hampton on the second day. Both races are included in the Southern Bay Distance Racing Series.
There are other distance racing opportunities on the Southern Bay. They range for the long established HYC Plantation Light Race (overnight and non-stop from Hampton to Cape Charles and back) to the unique late season OPCYC ‘Round the Lights Race. And, CCV has long made the middle races of their Spring and Fall Series a middle distance race, along with its Moonlight Triangle Race. Norfolk Yacht and Country Club’s newly minted (2015) New Willoughby Challenge is a mid-distance race in Hampton Roads Harbor.
Distance racing on the Southern Bay is not a threat to drop mark racing but rather a bit of variety welcomed by racers of all stripes. The events mentioned here and others are a testament to the fact that Southern Bay racers have tried distance racing, and they like it! It’s like steak and beans—either tastes good some of the time, so it’s okay to like ‘em both.
--by Lin McCarthy
