The Lake Monroe Sailing Association of Sanford Florida, host of the annual Kettle Cup Regatta, is proud to announce the up to the minute success of the Commodore and his hand-picked crew in the NOOD REGATTAS NOOD Championship November 9-13, 2012 ~ British Virgin Islands. After the first day of racing I am pleased to report, after deciphering the cryptic message I received from Andy Forrest, that Fisk, Paulie, Carlton, Aggie, Diane and Andy, have won one race and finished second in the other two races. As of late Saturday those scores had our LMSA team in First Place.
I have some information from the Sailing World NOOD Championship website, http://www.sailingworld.com/nood-regattas/nood-championship/nood-in-the-bvi
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This year’s Caribbean NOOD Championship competitors are:
Fisk Hayden (San Juan 21 Ole Yeller, St. Petersburg NOOD)
J Michael Honeysett (Beneteau 40.7Wiki Wiki, San Diego NOOD)
Chris Doyle (J/22 The Jug 4 1, Annapolis NOOD)
Ben Colwell (F-18 Rum Line, Seattle NOOD)
Tom Weber (Beneteau 40.7 LaTempete, Chicago NOOD)
Charlie Pendleton & Jim Raisides (Rhodes 19 Bight Me, Marblehead NOOD)
Scooter Simmons (J/105 Blackhawk, San Francisco NOOD)
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Fisk Hayden is the current commodore of the Lake Monroe Sailing Association and member of San Juan fleet 29. His crew for this adventure includes; Paulie Kaiser, Fisk’s regular crew member, Aggie and Carlton Brown, Fleet 29 Captain and SJ-21 National Association Vice Commodore, respectively, and Andy and Diane Forrest, normally some of Fisk’s most significant competition in the Lake Monroe Sailing Association.
These next few paragraphs are copied from the instructions given to the competitors. I thought it might be nice to pass this information along so that you might get an idea of the grueling schedule our heroes have to endure to represent our club in this national competition.
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From Sailing World Editor, Dave Reed.
The first day is bouy-racing near the base: ace PRO Peter Reggio will keep the courses short and tight so you can mix it up and test your short tacking skills (tack wisely, my friends). After a few laps we’ll reach over to Cooper Island and grab moorings. I highly recommend a dinghy trip to the reef for snorkeling (I’ll be leading the charge!) The restaurant at Cooper is typical island fare, should you not want to get involved with cooking.
For the following morning, I recommend a rise-and-shine departure. Put your most hungover on the helm while everyone sleeps for the short motor to The Baths. It’s the BVI’s most popular destination, for good reason, so give yourself plenty of time to check it out. From there we’ll send you off on my favorite distance race up to the Bitter End. The outcome surprises me every time.
At the Bitter End YC, you’ll tie up to the docks, plug in, restock your ice, and send your most willing (or unwilling) crew to the Laser racing for some good ol’ fashioned short course battling. Dinghy heckling is strongly encouraged, and if we’re in early enough, go ahead and take out some of the BEYC’s other toys (Hobie Waves, etc.). At the conclusion of the Laser racing your humble race committee will be parched from a long day working on the mothership and computing scores, and we therefore require each team to present a round of their boat’s signature Mount Gay Rum cocktail for tasting. A winner will be announced at the evening’s feast.
Onward the next day, we’ll go the long way ’round the backside of Tortola to either Cane Garden Bay or Jost Van Dyke, swell dependent. Take a spin out to Sandy Cay or over to Jost for a dip in the hot springs (check your guide on how to get there), or park and relax. If it’s a sandy dance floor you seek, head over to Great Harbor to hit Foxy’s (usually quiet this time of year, though).
The final leg takes us on a grueling passage through Great Thatch current, and onto Norman Island. A mandatory snorkel stop at the Indians will be in order, followed by a trip to the Caves at Norman. We’ll leave plenty of time in the schedule for it all. The final party will be held on shore at Norman, and then, should history repeat itself, it’s to the Willy T for more than you can possibly handle.
If you’ve extended your charter, wise move. . . carry on. If you’re returning to base on Wednesday, an early rise will get you back with plenty of time.
A few personal recommendations for first-time charterers:
1. When you arrive at the base, your first order of business should be to get a spare cooler from the dock staff (they can be hard to score), but are critical for keeping beers in the cockpit handy.
2. If you’re provisioning your own boat, divide and conquer. Two super markets will have everything you need: one’s a 10-minute walk, the other (Bobby’s) has an arrangement with the base: they’ll van you to the store and wait for you.
3. The masks and snorkels at the base are well-used community snorkels…if you’ve got your own quality snorkel, bring it. The available fins are fine.
4. Waiting around the charter base for any reason is torture. The squeaky wheel gets the check out done. Find your boat briefer and make it happen ASAP. Get off the dock, and out of the harbor.
5. Make it personal – bring your yacht club burgee to fly, or state flag, hometown colors, whatever you have that tells the world where you are from.
See you in the BVIs, and safe travels.
Dave Reed
Editor, Sailing World
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We have the highest of expectations and even higher hopes for our team!
-wb-