Langley AFB Yacht Club, Norfolk Navy Sailing Association, and Old Point Comfort Yacht Club sailed the 2015 Tri-Service Regatta in Southern Chesapeake waters off Hampton, VA, on Sunday, September 9 in blustery conditions with winds up to 20 knots in two- to four-foot seas. Forty boats started; all finished. The final tally by the race committee was: Langley YC, 21; NNSA, 90; OPCYC 145.
OPCYC organized the race this year and ran a well-designed, organized, and transparently fair race in tough conditions. One of the innovations of this year’s race was the use of an OPCYC cruising couples’ Carver 42 as the Race Committee Boat. Racers could see it from anywhere on the course and the racing committee enjoyed the room, view, and work-space.
The party after the race was quite successful, too. More than 70 members of the three yacht clubs attended and partied until 9:30 PM. One of the Highlights of the evening was the Tri-Service Regatta Cake; the other was watching the OPCYC Commodore Bob Killebrew drink from the TSR Trophy Cup.
The racers and clubs are studying tide charts and strategizing for the “Round the Lights” Race which will start and finish in Mill Creek on October 17. The purpose of the race is to start from Mill Creek and get around the Thimble Shoals and Middle Ground lights in any order, finishing at Mill Creek. Veteran racers with intimate knowledge of local tidal flows have a definite advantage here. Fort Monroe will be hosting a weekend of boating regattas and competitions that weekend. opcyc.org
