1998 Colonial Cup

Severn Sailing Association, Annapolis, MD
05/30/98 - 05/31/98

The 1998 Colonial Cup was held May 30-31 at Severn Sailing Association in Annapolis, Maryland, USA. 19 Snipe teams competed in the event, which was designed to maximize racing by holding nine 45-minute races with six- rather than 10-minute starting sequences.

Saturday dawned with the promise of heat, sun, and a chance of breeze. The competitors made their way out to the course in a breeze slowly shifting from a northwesterly to a northeasterly. Unfortunately, this breeze wouldn't settle down for the race committee, leading to a delay in the first race. After a general recall the fleet got off a start in a dying breeze that was shifting to the right. Despite the fact that the breeze was shifting to the right, a group of boats led by Lisa Pline and Sherry Eldridge rode the last puff from the left side of the course across the boats on the right and led around the first triangle. On the second beat, the boats that held to the right side of the course gained, passing the initial leaders and arriving at the mark just in time for a delightful light-air run to the finish in a dying breeze in the famous "washing machine" created by Annapolis' numerous powerboats. At the finish, the team of Allan Carscaddon/Eleanor Bradley led, followed by Charlie and Michelle Bustamante and John and Maggie Manderson. After a wait for the wind to fill, the fleet packed it in for the day, with most boats accepting a tow back to the club through the chop. The sailors enjoyed a delicious dinner catered by Alex "Mr. Mom" Pline, and eagerly awaited the arrival of the forecast 15 knots from the south that was expected on Sunday.

Sunday dawned sunny and warm, but also breezy, as the sailors headed out to the course in a building breeze from the south, exactly as forecast, with Alex "Mr. Mom" waiving the fleet off, one baby in stroller and one baby on the hip (no they didn't have another, Lisa volunteered him to babysit for the daughter of an RC member). The first race started in a steady breeze, with the right side of the course favored up the first beat. Charlie and Michelle Bustamante led all the way around the course, followed by Carscaddon/Bradley and Lee Griffith/Lisa Griffith in third. By the start of the second race the breeze had built to a steady 15 knots and the chop, powered by the wind and the Annapolis power fleet, had become nasty. With less of an opportunity to change positions due to the steady breeze, getting a good start and following it up with excellent boatspeed was at a premium. In these conditions, the Griffith/Griffith team began to show the fleet their stuff, winning the third race ahead of Lorie Stout/Griff Hall and the Mandersons, then winning the fourth race just ahead of Pedro Lorson/Mimi Berry and Stout/Hall. With the breeze strengthening a little more, Stout/Hall broke through to win, followed by JR Francis/Liz Potter and the steadily improving team of Eric Reinke/Kim Couranz. The final race, a windward-leeward course that saw only eleven starters due to breakdowns (usually involving that double-edged sword, the pole launcher), Reinke/Couranz won, followedby the Mandersons and Griffith/Griffith, who easily assured their victory by staying close to the Mandersons. The final results showed Lee Griffth continuing his winning ways, this time with Lisa Griffith as crew, followed by John and Maggie Manderson and Lorie Stout with co-skipper Griff Hall. Thank to all of the volunteers who helped with this event, including the race committee, which included Steve Podlich, Mark Bennett, Mike Higgins, and Phil Richmond (who also server as SCIRA rep.), the jury chairman, Ham Palmer, and the registration "team" of Marianne Hackbarth. Thanks also to the competitors who made this a great event. We look forward to having even more Snipers next year. --Allan Carscaddon, 28142

PosSail#HelmsmanCrewBoatRace 1Race 2Race 3Race 4Race 5Race 6TotPtsPos
129204Lee GriffithLisa Griffith -5 3 0.75 0.75 5 3 12.501
228065John MandersonMaggie Manderson 3 5 3 4 -7 2 17.002
327054Lorie StoutGriff Hall -17 10 2 3 0.75 6 21.753
428044Pedro LorsenMiMi Berry -14 7 6 2 6 4 25.004
527872Charlie BustamanteMichelle Bustamante 2 0.75 7 -15 13 5 27.755
628142Allan CarscaddonEleanor Bradley 0.75 2 -13 11 8 10 31.756
725483Eric ReinkeKim Couranz -15 8 12 8 3 0.75 31.757
829147Lisa PlineSherry Eldridge 4 9 5 6 9 -20DNC 33.008
929369JR FrancisLiz Potter 11 14 8 7 2 -20DNC 42.009
1029702Bob ObergKristen Jones 9 11 -14 10 4 9 43.0010
1129014Don HackburthMaria Coppela 7 12 9 -16 10 7 45.0011
1228050Bill KelleyLianne Dunbar 10 4 11 13 -14 8 46.0012
1328575Tod SackettLee Sackett 13 13 10 5 12 -20DNC 53.0013
1428852Ned Jones Kari Warren 12 6 4 18CNF -20DNC 20DNC 60.0014
1527861Dave ApplegateMatt Hastings -18DNF 17 15 12 11 11 66.0015
1625871Margaret YellottKin Yellott 8 15 -20DNC 9 20DNC 20DNC 72.0016
1728680Brad DunnCourtney Cook 6 16 16 -20DNC 20DNC 20DNC 78.0017
1825171Robert HarmonMarianne Harmon 18DNF -20DNC 17 17 15 20DNC 87.0018
1928728Ray GauthierJoni Palmer 16 -20DNC 20DNC 20DNC 20DNC 20DNC 96.0019

Principal Race Officer: Steve Podlich