Dickerson Sailboat

2008 DICKERSON WESTERN SHORE ROUNDUP

There were lots of happy faces and twelve happy boats that showed up at the 2008 Dickerson Western Shore Roundup. Only a minimum amount of wind showed up but we got off a shortened race. Bill Toth coldcocked the fleet in Starry Night and is now the Admiral of the Western Shore. After the race we convened at West River Sailing Club; several used Club moorings, several used the Club dock and a few found marinas in Galesville. New owner, Parker Hallam pulled up to the Club dock and several of us came to assist. We were surprised as the bow of the boat seemed to draw itself to the dock. Could it be a bow thruster on a Dickerson? Amazing. In addition there was a line of ladies formed later to inspect the separate shower on the boat. I was impressed with the clean gray teak.

Freal and Clarke sailed back to Annapolis after the race to pick up family and showed up for the dinner by land. Due to a late finish we had a pleasant but abbreviated cocktail party on the grounds of the Club.

Around 45 people showed up for dinner at Pirates Cove Restaurant. Lots of sea stories and boat failure reports were provided and three trophies were awarded. Looks like a pleasant time was had by all.


HALLAM'S FRIGATE CONNIE

Once again we had a rabbit start type of race. The wind violated prediction and came from the east rather than the forecast westerly. However it was weak and it looked like a long afternoon. All the competitors positioned themselves to the leeward of the rabbit promptly after the course was announced and we were off. Several sailors were not far enough to windward of the rabbit before the start and due to the light wind ended up crossing the stern of the rabbit well to leeward. Rabbit start 101 will be provided for next year's race. Bill Toth probably got the best start, he was way to windward of the rabbit, on its bearing, and sailed directly toward the rabbit. No way he was going to let himself be left behind the rabbit He also crossed well after the start of the rabbit's run and was on the right side of the course. John Freal crossed the rabbit at the last minute, that is, just before the rabbit was on the starboard tack layline. Those two boats and the rabbit benefited, I believe, from a building and lifting breeze the showed up first on the right side of the course.

However it was a long way to the windward mark and even longer back to G1. About halfway back, my ever vigilant wife, Barb suggested we shorten course since we didn't want to miss having a cocktail party. Good idea, any race longer than an hour is too long in my book. So we shortened at G1A before heading into West River. Toth finished 9 minutes ahead in the lead group of four finishers consisting also of Freal, Franz, and Clarke. Hallam, Fahrmeier, and Bruns finished in another group. Fahrmeier and Hallam finished within 2 seconds of each other. I personally enjoyed barely holding off those two boats on the downwind leg. Doug Sergeant, my crew, was steering and I was jumpin around the boat continually pulling strings. White and Woytowich were duking it out downwind also and finished within a minute of each other.

I thought it was interesting that three different types of boats finished in the money. 35 and 41 foot Ketches pretty well kept up with a 37 sloop despite fact the most competitive part of the race was probably the windward leg. And they both passed Imagine, another 37 sloop, on the long off wind leg, much to the Clarke's chagrin. Clarke wasn't surprised when Franz got past him in his 41, but was really impressed when Freal rolled over him in his 35.

SailorBoatFinish TimeCorrected Time
TothStarry Night 37S1:50:301:32:42
FrealRainbow 35K1:59:301:37:18
FranzHemisphere Dancer 41K1:57:301:38:48
ClarkeImagine 37S2:00:301:42:42
BrunsRhythms & Blue 36K2:11:291:49:45
HallamFrigate Connie 36S2:13:051:53:28
FahrmeierDe Nova 41K2:13:031:54:21
WoytowichBelle 37K2:19:301:59:36
WhiteCompass Rose 41K2:18:251:59:43
BurryPlover 41K2:28:302:09:48
OdinForce Majeure 37KDNF
KitzmillerDifferent Drummer 35KTime Not Available

I asked the top four fast competitors to comment on the race preparations and provide other observations on the race.

Bill Toth


BILL TOTH'S STARRY NIGHT

Here are three things that led to our success;

John Freal

Rainbow had been looking forward to the event for a year since the kids' swim meet kept the captain busy for the first one (first mate was sympathetic as usual "You have kids, so get over it"). She was hauled on Labor Day to have her bottom painted and to repair what was supposed to be minor weeping in one of the seams on the starboard bow (low threshold of pain). The seam repair job turned into a major event as the screws for three of the frames in the area had broken over the years. The only thing holding the mighty Chesapeake at bay was some fourteen year old Boat Life caulking. The offending seam was mended with a spline and the frames received three short sisters and I lost one pint of blood from bleeding knuckles. After a night in the slings at the boatyard to swell her up, Rainbow was launched one week before the race. We are ready!

At nine o'clock the night before the race, my one and only crew member called. I knew this was not good; regular crew members were off doing silly things like traveling in Italy and were not available. Glenn forgot that he had to see a customer at noon on race day, but he had a plan. He found a friend to sail with me from the marina to the starting line. Glenn would go see the customer, get in a fast outboard skiff and meet me at the line. My passenger would swap places with Glenn and take the skiff back to Annapolis. Yeah, right. A fast boat meeting up with a sailboat in the middle of the bay right off of the Coast Guard station exchanging people. Nothing suspicious about that, of course. At 12:30 the phone rang. Glenn was off of Thomas Point light. Did we see him? No, and I'm worried that my passenger would be pressed into service against is will for the rest of the day. Much to my surprise, though, Glenn actually showed up with 10 minutes to spare! The transfer was completed. Then, after taking sound advice from Randy Bruns on the rabbit that we should tack soon so as to avoid disqualification, we were off to a great sail with friends and worthy competitors. A day with the Dickerson crowd is always a great one.


BURRY'S PL0VER

Bruce Franz

Only a clean bottom, good sails, and good crew can put you with the "lead dogs".

Dick Clarke

I injected Dick's comments in the text to help it along. Thanks Dick

Many thanks to those that thanked us. No one had more fun than Barb and me. We sure all enjoyed the bluefish pate? from Kitsmiller's friend. Also we want to thank West River Sailing Club and Pirate's Cove. Lets hope we can do this again next year. Good quality pics available on request.

Randy Bruns