Bob James Memorial Regatta
WRYC hosted the inaugural Bob James Memorial Regatta on May 3, 2025, in conjunction with the annual Flag Raising ceremony and social. Keel boat regattas and keelboat sailing in general at the WRYC have been a topic of conversation and planning for several years. Thanks to the efforts of Joe Morgan, Jim Garrett, and Steve Hanson, the first big boat regatta in decades was an undeniable success! Thanks also go to Jay McGlohn for serving as race committee. After participating in the planning, Steve Hanson joined Jay on the race committee boat as Principle Race Officer (PRO). The planning committee developed a 16.5 mile course which saw the boats start just off the club, reach out the Ware River, sail across the Mobjack Bay to a mark just southwest of New Point Comfort Light and race back to the club by way of the entrance to the East and North Rivers.
Participants included the following boats (listed alphabetical by boat name):
Gone Away, Allied Princess 36 Ketch, owned by Harvey Morgan and skippered by Scott Titus
Hollye Day, Catalina 36, with owner/skipper Joe Morgan
Patriot, Catalina 34, with owner/skipper Jim Garrett
Skylark, Hinckley Bermuda 40 with owner/skipper Bill Morgan
Tranquility Base, Islander 30 owned by WRYC and skippered by Clayton James (son of Bob James)
The sailors were challenged by steady winds with strong gusts then a short period of light winds while the fleet rounded the New Point mark followed by strengthening winds to the finish. The sailing was exhilarating and the crews managed their boats with style and class. After some late race jockeying for positions four of the boats finished relatively close considering the length of the course. Unfortunately Gone Away suffered a dismasting and did not finish the race. Thanks to the race committee for a prompt response to the call for help. Hats off to the Gone Away crew Harvey Morgan, Yelisaveta Cheremeteff, and Chris Smith for their calm and professional response to the incident and their skill in bringing the boat safely to a dock on Wilson Creek with the rig partially down and portions in the water.
The race was scored using the Performance Handicap Racing Fleet (PHRF) handicap system. Corrected results are:
1st Place: Skylark, Hinckley Bermuda 40 (Bill Morgan) - 2h 09m
2nd Place: Hollye Day, Catalina 36 (Joe Morgan) - 2h 21m
3rd Place: Tranquility Base, Islander 30 (Clayton James) - 2h 23m
4th Place: Patriot, Catalina 34 (Jim Garrett) - 2h 55m
5th Place: Gone Away, Allied Princess 36 (Scott Titus) - DNF
Keelboat racing will return to WRYC this fall with the inaugural Harry Sindle Memorial Regatta. The two regattas are named in honor and memory of the two olympic sailors that hailed from WRYC. In the meantime, expect to see the keelboat fleet actively cruising the Chesapeake Bay. Watch the Telltale for more updates and future keelboat plans.
See you out on the water,
Scott Titus
Vice Commodore
