News in 2008

Fleet 8 Annual Meeting

The Fleet 8 Annual Meeting was held at the home of Penny and Peter Zahn on Friday, November 21.  As always, there was a lively debate about next year's racing schedule.  The 2009 schedule has now been finalized, and Peter has sent it out to the membership.  You can also see the schedule on the Calendar link above.

Plans are underway to hold a Catalina 27 National Championship in conjunction with Annapolis Race Week in 2009.  Details to follow.

Race Week Wrap-up

Day three of Race Week brought fairly consistent 10-knot northeast winds.  All the powerboats out for Labor Day produced a confused chop that made for some challenging sailing.  Two four-mile races were completed, and the results were incredibly consistent.  The first five places, as well as the #7 and #10 spots, were the same in both races.  The top three finishers for the day were Swell, Hi Tide, and Pussycat.  Swell was the overall regatta winner, followed by Four Little Ducks in second place and Pussycat in third.

Race Week Day Two

When the breeze started to drop away in the middle of the first race, it looked like we might have a repeat of Day One.  Then it filled back in, starting from the west - bad news for those who found themselves on the east side of the course at the time.  The Race Committee was able to get in two four-mile races.  Four Little Ducks won the day with finishes of 1-2, and Swell was second with scores of 3-1.

Race Week Day One

Eleven Catalina 27's were registered and on the starting line - the best turnout of the year for the fleet.  The breeze shifted significantly to the west at the start, turning the first leg into mostly a long port tack, with a strong ebb current carrying boats down to the windward mark.  Just before the Catalina fleet reached the mark, the breeze got light and shifty, then died away completely.  Several boats anchored to avoid being swept past the mark.  Eventually the Race Committee abandoned the race, and at 2 PM gave up entirely on racing for the day.

Twilight Race ... and then there were none

Seven Catalina 27's were entered, but on the day of the race a long line of thunderstorms could be seen coming our way on the radar. A tornado watch was posted. Email began flying. Heavy rain began to fall. A few boats dropped out, then a few more. By 3:30 everyone had decided not to race. Then the sun came back out.

Fleet 8 had great participation in the annual races to St. Michaels and back over the Memorial Day weekend, with eleven boats racing. Pussycat won the race over on Saturday, and Finesse captured the race back on Sunday in difficult, shifty conditions. As Jim Urban said, "If one combines the two races (over and back) as a series, the top 5 boats were separated by just one point with a two way tie for first with 6 points (Ducks and Pussycat) and a three way tie for third with 7 points (Swell , Finesse and Catawampus). Pussycat takes the Peter Gookin Award on the tie breaker. Another great weekend of perfect weather and fun racing ... Thanks to Ernie for making the club so accommodating, and the club served a great dinner."