Sailor rides the wind to record-setting finish

A course record was set during the second-annual night race in which Blackwater Yacht Racing Association and Virginia Inland Sailing Association sailors competed on Aug. 23 at Smith Mountain Lake.

A strong breeze accompanied a cold front that moved through the region about 6 p.m. and increased the wind to 10 to 14 knots. The wind and full moon provided an exciting and fast race.

The first boat finished with an elapsed time of 1 hour and 26 minutes, the course record. The last boat finished in 2 hours and 36 minutes.

The competition included 12 boats in the 8-mile race that started at the VISA dock near Rabbit Island on the Roanoke River. The boats headed downwind to BU5 in Bull Run and returned, beating into the northwest wind to finish at VISA.

The post-race party featured T.J. Witten’s barbecue on the VISA deck and the giving out of participation awards to the top 10 finishers.

Finishing positions
are as follows

1: J24, Rascal, Pete Phillip, 80.37

2: J24, Boogie Board, Mike Maloney, 81.31

3: San Juan 24, Don Shelton, 91.79

4: Santana 20, So it Goes, Jim Schiable, 96.00

5: Cal 25, Magical, T.J. Witten, 96.12

6: Catalina 22, Circle Back, Steve Nash, 98.65

7: Erickson 23, Second Wind, Rod Schraw, 98.70

8: Beneteau 285, More Mischief, Bob Gearhart, 98.71

9: Hunter 23.5, Miss Virginia, Carl Perdue, 103.94

10: SS 23, Rushing, Russell Franklin, 107.93

11: Columbia 29, Willawaw, John Short, 110.82

12: Catalina 25, Seth Martin, 136.44

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