Sailors turning out to support the 15th annual Bob Hooper House Hospice Regatta delivered something remarkable for the first time. Spectacular June weather created a festive atmosphere, and more than 600 guests were treated to a fast race among five classes of boats.
The Concord Point Lighthouse on the Havre de Grace waterfront was the setting for the Memorial Parade of Sail. For this touching event, each boat flew burgees with the name of a person who had been in the care of Hospice. As the boats sailed by, each name was read, and a family member was given a red carnation and invited to toss it into the Bay. It was clear that the parade was part of the healing after the loss of a loved one. Two of the burgees were in memory of Havre de Grace sailors, Dave Berry and Tim Zimmerman.
Regatta coordinators “negotiated” with Jim Albert’s race committee to run a course in front of the party tent rather than setting up ideal sailing legs. The fluky wind challenged the committee, but finally a south wind settled in, and a course was set that would show off the start, tight roundings, spinnaker hoists, and even a speedy reach on a last leg. The J/24 class put on quite a show because they were racing so closely; only 15 seconds separated the first and last place finisher.
Dinner was provided (and donated) by Texas Roadhouse, and there was even a specialty rum drink, Jamaican Sailor, for guests to enjoy. First and second place trophies were awarded in each of five classes. First place winners were Doug Wright and John Vanderhoff on Star 8038; Special Olympian Adam Sheets and his father, Chuck, on the J/24, Bad Habit; Woody Woodford on Latika for the Non-Spin Cruising class; Garrett Pensell skippering J/22 for the PHRF Non-Spin; and Al Caffo on Summer Semester in the spin class.
So what happened for the first time in this annual regatta? The trophy for first-place overall will be shared because two boats from two different classes had exactly the same corrected times! Bad Habit, the J 24 winner, with Chuck Sheets at the helm, tied with the spin boat, Summer Semester, skippered by Al Caffo. So the perpetual trophy permanently displayed at the Hooper Hospice House will have two boat names inscribed; either of the skippers is now eligible to participate in the National Hospice Regatta in April 2015. That decision will prove to be interesting since both sailors have previously competed in the national event.
The Hospice Regatta raises funds to offset the cost of hospice care in Harford County, MD. The Senator Bob Hooper Hospice House is an assisted living home that specializes in end-of-life care.
