Old Point Comfort Yacht Club hosted the annual ‘Round the Lights Race on Saturday, October 25th, an annual end-of-the-season favorite for many Southern Bay racers and cruisers alike. The format is simple, a chase start from Old Point Comfort Marina, around Thimble Shoal and Middle Ground Light houses in any order, and any direction, then back to the marina. The challenge is predicting the effect of wind and current over the 17.5nm course.
Sunny skies and warm temperatures greeted racers and light southwest winds and an ebb tide quickly carried the boats from the start in Mill Creek into the Hampton Roads Harbor. Of 44 boats that started, 38 elected to go to Starboard towards Middle Ground first, and 6 went to Port for Thimble Shoal.
The wind gradually went from light to non-existent and skippers had to fight a 2-3 knot ebb current. 22 boats eventually withdrew, surrendering to the lack of wind and ripping current. However, by mid-afternoon a light southeast sea breeze kicked in and eventually the wind clocked back to the southwest and built to 7-10 knots in the late afternoon.
Going to port (Thimble Shoal) turned out to be the correct call, with Eugene Thayer’s Pterodactyl finishing 1st Overall and 1st in the PHRF-A Fleet followed closely by Christian Schaumloffel’s Mirage in 2nd Place (2nd PHRF-A). 90-minutes later the 3rd Place finisher (1st Non-Spin), John Wandling’s Rebecca J crossed the line. Patience was rewarded and 22 boats finished before the 8-hr time limit expired at 6pm, 15 of those after 5pm.
Following the race, skippers and crew enjoyed the awards party at the OPCYC clubhouse with traditional champagne and trophies for the winners with plenty of delicious food and refreshments all. Complete race results are posted at opcyc.org.
The OPCYC race committee (L to R): Curtis Morris, Louise Pisniak, Mike Hollsten, Robert Williamson, and Barry Creighton. Photo by Jean Brzozowski, OPCYC fleet captain.
PHRF A PHRF B
1st – Pterodactyl, Eugene Thayer 1st – Haka, Ryan McCrillis
2nd - Mirage, Christian Schaumloffel 2nd – Rumble, Ben Weeks
3rd – Feather, Philip Briggs 3rd - Blue Ghost, Guy Sorensen
PHRF C PHRF Non-Spin
1st - The Hunter, Justin Morris 1st - Rebecca J, John Wandling
2nd - Rocket J, Neil Ford 2nd - Midnight Mistress, Jake Brodersen
3rd – Halaha, Jeff Rogers 3rd - Oh Sheet, Robert Duncan
Cruising
1st – Seeker, E.A. Johnson
2nd - Bona Dea, Bill Barnes
by Michael and Eileen Turner
