The Governor’s Cup weekend in 2008 was scored as three separate races, each with its own trophy, rather than a combined series total.

1st Race — William Sidney Covington Trophy (pre-1917 boats) / John B. Harrison Trophy (post-1917 boats)

11 of the 14 competing canoes raced, over a 6.14nm course starting at 10:30am. There was plenty of wind to start off the day — maybe a little too much for some. The Spirit of Wyetowne, Island Bird, Billie P. Hall, and even the mighty Jay Dee all capsized before the race; Jay Dee was crewed entirely by female Log Canoers assembled from across the fleet. Island Lark got the gun!

Covington/Harrison Trophy (pre-1917 boats): 1st Island Blossom, 2nd Island Lark, 3rd Silver Heel. John B. Harrison Trophy (post-1917 boats): 1st Patricia, 2nd Oliver’s Gift, 3rd Edmee S.

2nd Race — James Oliver Duke Memorial Trophy

11 of the 14 canoes competed over a 7.09nm course starting at 2:10pm. The wind built through the day; Silver Heel and Island Bird capsized before the start, and Edmee S., Billie P. Hall, and Magic capsized during the race. Island Lark got the gun!

Duke Trophy: 1st Island Blossom, 2nd Island Lark, 3rd Patricia. “Middleman” Trophy (middle of the fleet): Patricia.

3rd Race — Governor’s Cup

The last race of the weekend was set 8.42nm long over the “GLGBXGLG” course, and 9 of the 14 canoes competed. Jay Dee is traditionally ineligible for this race, since she was designed and built specifically to win it. Island Lark got the gun, though Island Blossom nearly snatched the win back at the finish.

Governor’s Cup: 1st Island Lark, 2nd Island Blossom, 3rd Silver Heel.

The last of three back-to-back weekends, another tough one with the wind staying fairly strong throughout. Special mention to the crew of Jay Dee, under Mariana Lescher’s command, who came back for a second try after heartbreak in race 2.

[audio:http://www.blogcanoe.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/europe-the-final-count-down.mp3] The final weekend, in this series of three race weekends back to back, is finally here! Hopefully it will be another great weekend like the last few, only this time we will be back on the Miles river. Hopefully we should have a large turnout of competitors! It will be nice to see Billie P. Hall and Oliver’s Gift joining the fleet and maybe more!

Also, this is a special weekend because the entire Jay Dee crew will be all ladies! An entire female crew will race her for both races on Saturday. Jay Dee does not race on Sunday, due to her ineligibility to race the Governors Cup Race due to her “cut off” stern unlike all the other canoes who have a pointed bow and stern.

So everyone come out and support our Canoers, and our ladies!

The ladies of Jay Dee from John J on Vimeo

See everyone on the water!

The first race was set “A,R,S” roughly around 5nm, with the race starting on time at 10:10am. There was plenty of wind, at least 10-15 knots. Only 6 of the 14 canoes registered raced this weekend. Mystery got the gun!

The second race started at 2:40pm with the course set the same “A,R,S” but twice around, roughly a 10nm course with steady 15+ knots of wind. Mystery capsized scoring a DNF (an omen of what was to come the next day), and Patricia capsized before the race and was unable to start, scoring a DNS. Island Blossom got the gun!

The last race of the weekend, set again “A,R,S x2” but slightly longer at roughly 10-11nm, started at 10:10am with plenty of wind and ran about 1hr 30min+. Patricia had jib trouble and ran aground fixing it, finishing last across the line. Mystery had a massive setback: the foremast gave way and broke in half nearing the finish, ending her race.

Thank you RHYC Race Committee, for hosting a great race weekend! Full results: RHYC results, pictures.

Another great weekend on the chester river, plenty of strong steady wind made for two days of great racing! Unfortunately there were only about 6 canoes that competed this weekend, but those that were able to compete raced hard and fast! Although it was a bit of a rough tow back to St. Michaels..

[audio:http://www.blogcanoe.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/gilligantheme.mp3] A long weekend…

Get ready for another exciting weekend on the Chester river!

LLLLLLLLLEEEEETTTTTTTSSSSSSSSSS GET READY TO RUMBLEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

[audio:http://blogcanoe.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/RUMBLE.mp3]

Sailing Instructions for the RHYC series provided by the Rockhall Yacht Club.

RHYC SI’s

Check out the RHYC page for race results and other regattas: rockhallyachtclub.org/regatta.htm

• Patricia protested Persistence for a port-starboard incident, the result being that Persistance was DSQ’d from the second race on Saturday!
• The race committee was protested for putting the “B” club mark too close to shallow water, causing 3 boats to run aground, the result being the 3rd race was thrown out!

There was plenty of steady wind in the morning for the first race, a marathon from the mark “E” all the way back up the river into Langford creek and back. Jay Dee got the gun for the first race.

The wind picked up more in the afternoon for the second race. Island Lark got the gun. Edmee S. was unable to start on time and scored a DNS, Island Blossom capsized during the race scoring a DNF, Patricia capsized during the race scoring a DNF, and Persistence was DSQ’d due to a protest by Patricia for a port-starboard issue.

The Protest Committee made the decision to throw out Race 3 due to a number of protests against the Race Committee for setting the “B” mark too close to shallow water, causing three log canoes to run aground. The mark, set far up the Chester river past Cliffs Point, was in water too shallow for anyone to react in time — Island Lark was the first to round and quickly ran aground, Jay Dee tacked away in time and gained a huge lead, Mystery ran aground and capsized, and Silver Heel piled on top of her, nearly capsizing as well. All crews stayed unhurt. It was still a tight race for the remaining canoes, with Jay Dee edging out Island Lark by a nose at the finish.

Results provided by the RHYC: CRY&CC Series.

Special thanks to the Russians for adding their own flavor to the Chester — is that caviar and vodka and a ham sandwich I taste?