There’s no easy way to say this, but in regatta-land, Turkey Shoot captains don’t fit into the white-trousers-blue-blazer sailing mold. They’re a separate breed, more like boisterous, fun-loving teenagers navigating on energy and enthusiasm. In their quest for sailing pleasure (including a first place finish), these captains leave no wave unturned. They think nothing of challenging the weather, taunting it with in-your-face optimism that dares wind and rain to cross them.
Their regatta needs are few. A boat, some wind. A set of sails. Perhaps a tube of SP 50 sunscreen and a cloud or two to shield them from the sun. And, yes, a decent PHRF rating and someone with a slower boat to race against. That’s about it.
On land and at home it’s a much different story, one often veering off course into the land of helplessness around the house and inattention to “To Do Lists.” But for the annual Turkey Shoot weekend, Oct 3-5, 2014, at Carter’s Creek in Irvington, this doesn’t matter. All is as it should be. Great food. Lots of Legends beer. Harrowing race stories to be told (some of them true) about the wind that suddenly changed direction; the competitor who edged them out of a great start (only missing their boat by inches); precious time made up rounding the first mark on the inside; etc., etc. No doubt, you’ve heard these songs before . . .
But few captains and crews realize just what goes on behind the scenes, what the Hospice Turkey Shoot Regatta planning committee has had to contend with.
First, an unhappy coalition of elderly rockfish, puppy drum and blue crabs protested placement of any flotation devises in their neighborhood (especially large, orange ones) and expressed concern over possible water disturbance. Next, a distressed group of oyster parents demanded immediate return of their spat and compensation for the mental anguish they’d suffered. And finally, several belligerent cow-nosed rays petitioned for expansion of their underwater parking lot and threatened to physically disrupt the race if they didn’t get it.
Politically correct chairman emeritus John McConnico, accustomed to dealing with “all kinds of turkeys on land and sea,” advised that everything was under control. “We’re looking forward to a great race!” he said. “Don’t worry about a thing.”
For more details go to turkeyshoot.org. And don’t forget you’re invited to the Turkey Shoot Cocktail Party on Friday, Oct. 3, and Dinner on Oct 4, at Rappahannock Yachts on Carter’s Creek in Irvington.
