A reminder that our next race is on Saturday, July 23rd. Hope to see all of you on the water for the race and then at MRYC for some post-race refreshments!

Please make sure that you have the new courses (#25 and #26) in your HISF course books. If you haven't already done so, you can view and copy the new courses at http://www.hisf.org/upcoming.html. These courses were added for the sole purpose of giving the RC an additional option when the wind is extremely light, w/ no forecasted increase, and the powerboat wake is extremely heavy on the southwestern side of the river.  We encourage the RC to uses these courses only as a last resort when the above conditions are present.

Please welcome the following new members to HISF (joined since May 2005).......

Al & Cathy Adelman and Tim & Sara Adelman - Catalina 40' - "Lady Catherine"
Bill and Bonnie Wilson - Bristol 36'  - Adagio
Pierre & Esty Collet - Pearson 26' - "Jackie Lee"
Paul "Fritz" & Wendy Moritz - Cheoy Lee 30' - "Orient"
John "Tennie" & Priscilla Senner - San Juan 21' - "Clawfoot"
Ron & Roz Sharon - Catalina 33' - "Rose of Sharon"

Thanks to all of you for joining up and I hope you enjoy being a part of HISF. If you have any questions / suggestions / etc, please contact me at [email protected].

The first Jib and Main (JAM) race on June 26th turned out to be very successful, despite the light wind and near constant pounding by powerboat wake. A total of nine boats turned out for the race, five of which are new to HISF racing. The boats ranged from Si Boettner's Elite 34 to a Hobie 14 sailed by Joe Pickard and Mike Kabler. After the start, the fleet spread out wide. The course was shortened to 1.5 miles and the finish line was set up at the HP mark. Nevertheless, it took the first boat 1 hour 11 minutes to make it's way from start to finish. As the wind increased slightly on the final leg, the fleet began to converge.  Six boats finished (on elapsed time) within a time span of only 2 minutes! Quite unusual for a HISF race. It was an exciting race to watch from the RC. Ras Apenes with his crew of Tod and Anne Engelskirchen aboard Sielke had a fairly comfortable lead as they approached the finish when a powerboat (nose pointed high and directly toward the fleet) steamed across the finish line, apparently ignoring a variety of gestures from the RC (PF Flyers). The heavy wake killed Sielke's speed, allowing Homer Lange, sailing single-handed aboard "Cassiopeiae," to sneak in from the left, take line honors and hold time to win the race. "Sielke" finished second and the Hobie 14' "Buttercup" third. Congratulations Homer! Complete results are posted at www.hisf.org (race schedule and results - Jam Race #1). The next JAM race will be on Sunday, August 28th. Please talk it up!

Thanks to Bill and Carol Gordean and the crew of "Lady C" for doing a fantastic job as RC, and thanks to all those who came out for the race. The RC challenged the forecast of zero knots by 8 PM and started us on the preferred course.  Obviously, Bill knew something that "Inaccuweather" didn't, as the wind was light but held steady. We managed to get in 16.8 miles and Bill made the right call to shorten the course at Tilghman Point.  Hans Nilsen's "Redbeard" led the fleet for the entire race and took line honors, but the PF Flyers (crew of the J-29 "Phone"), through a combination of determination and good fortune managed to win the race on corrected time by a mere 16 seconds, with "Redbeard" second and Hugh Kabler's "Inka" third. Complete results are posted at www.hisf.org (race schedule and results - night race).

Thanks to the Herring Islanders who participated in MRYC's Junior Sailing Program - Big Boat Day. HISF skippers take the junior sailors along, with an instructor, aboard their boats for an afternoon of sailing. The idea is for the juniors to apply to the big boats what they have learned from sailing Opti's and Lazers. The juniors take turns steering and performing all crew duties. The first "Big Boat Day" was on June 30th with "Penniless", "Fiscal Stray", "Nancy IV", and "Phone". The second sail was held on July 21st with "Pagan", "Resolute", and "Esperanza". The next (final) big boat day will be on August 4th. If you are available to take your boat out for an afternoon sail, you will truly enjoy the enthusiasm of the junior sailors and instructors, so please sign up by contacting Second Smelt Ras Apenes at [email protected]

Thanks to Grouper Si Boettner, Grouper's Minnow Art Malsin and their hard-working crews for putting on a very nice spring picnic at MRYC on June 18th. We had a great turnout, largely due to Alex Schuster's ("Swagman") contingent of 21 people! Way to go Alex!

Hugh Kabler gave us a all a scare that night, but thankfully returned home shortly thereafter in fine form. Glad to see you back at the helm Hugh!

Great news!  Hans and Kathy Nilsen (Redbeard) have graciously agreed to host the summer picnic at their home on Long Haul Creek on August 20th.  The last three picnics at MRYC have been great, but returning to the tradition of the party at a member's waterfront home will be a nice change for our final outdoor party of the 2005 season. Many thanks to Hans and Kathy! Be on the lookout for an announcement from Grouper Si Boettner about the party details.

Doug Rollow is working with Embroidered Images of St. Michaels to produce shirts with the HISF / MRYC crossed burgees, which can be ordered with additional custom embroidery (your boat name, etc.)  Stay tuned for details from Doug.

Kipper's Minnow Bob Larsen will be racing "Blew Bird" in the International Thunderbird One-Design Regatta in Boston. This five-day regatta begins on Monday, July 25th. Keep track of Bob's progress at www.thunderbirdsailing.org. Go to the link for the International Regatta site in Boston.  Go get 'em Bob!

See you on the water (and/or watering-hole) and best of luck to all racers!

Doug Abbott,
Head Herring