The West River Sailing Club 73^rd Annual regatta was held over Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day weekend.  With 8 different classes competing on four courses, the Albacores had a large turnout with 22 boats, second only to Lasers.  Saturday morning welcomed 10-15 knots from the Northeast that was forecasted to shift to the East.  With 110 boats, most littering the lawn, it made for a crowded launch off the beach, but most made it out to the first race on time.  The Albacores had the second start, racing on the inner course with both the Chesapeake 20s and Flying Scots.  Three races were completed on Saturday with a tight battle developing at the top.  In the first race Barney Harris sailing with his wife Becky broke out to an early lead with Jasper and Becky Craig in close pursuit.  Jasper tried to work high on Barney to gain inside room at the leeward mark, but was unable to gain the advantage.  During the second weather leg, the wind died down and Bob Robinson sailing with his mother Carol worked up the left side of the course (after finding the right not so favorable during the first weather leg).  At the weather mark it was Harris, Robinson and Craig rounding together for the run to the finish.  Robinson went high on Harris, while Craig worked low.  At the finish Robinson nosed Harris out for the win, with Craig in third.  The next race (windward leeward course 2X) saw Bob Bear with crew Devon Hurson take a commanding lead up the first beat.  Craig was second, but both Robinson and Harris were deep at the weather mark.  The wind was starting to build and Harris made some timely jibes on shifts working through traffic on the left while Robinson stayed right.  At the leeward mark, Bear and Craig were well ahead, but the next 8 boats all converged.  Les Crain, sailing with his son Michael tried to sneak inside but fouled Harris and had to do a 720.  Robinson tacked out at the leeward mark and worked his way up the left side in a building breeze into 4^th place.  A quick jibe at the weather mark quickly moved him into 3^rd, with Harris in hot pursuit.  At the top, the Craigs used their superior downwind speed to pass Bob Bear and take the win.  Harris with a score to settle with the Robinsons after the first race eased his whisker pole forward and made a move high, caught a couple of timely waves and surfed by for second.  Bob Bear ended up OCS, so the Robinsons ended up third.  The last race saw bigger breeze.  Lloyd Leonard with crew Doug Ford were first to the weather mark and Bob Bear again had great upwind boat speed, rounding second, with Harris and Robinson 3^rd an 4^th.  Harris showed his downwind speed in breeze, overtaking first by the leeward mark.  The second reach was a blast.  After two more grueling upwind beats and a run in 15-20 knots, it was Harris, Leonard, Robinson, Craig, and Joanna Beaver with Gretchen Wilkinson rounding out the top five.  So after the first day, Harris (5pts) held a small lead over Robinson(7pts) and Craig(8pts).  Rolf and Sue Zeisler (21pts) had sailed consistently and were in 4^th overall.

Sunday morning it was pouring rain, with reported winds of 30+ knots in the bay.  The race committee postponed until the weather improved.  At 1100 decision was made to close the outer and inner course, and have everyone sail in the cove due to possible squalls.  With some fleets deciding not to sail, the cove course had four starts: C-20’s, 470s, Albacores, and the Lasers. Three races were completed.  The left side of the course seemed to be favored due to geographical reasons, but the wind velocity at the leeward mark was much greater compared to that up by the weather mark.  Harris figured out the conditions quickly and finished 1-2-1 to secure the win overall.  Craig finished 4-1-OCS, but with a throw out his two wins was one better than Robinson’s one bullet to win the tiebreaker for second.  Joanna Beaver had a couple of seconds on Sunday and was able to throw out her first race OCS moving her up the 4^th overall.

(Summaries by Bob Robinson)