C.F. -- BLUE BOATS Go Down Hard at Pirate on the Pungo

Yes it's true, but.... hey you can't win all the time. Blue Bayou in her sixth appearance at the Pungo District Hospital fundraising event brought down her average result again in the regatta with an overall 7th. The tally for this fun regatta at Belhaven now reads like this 1999 1ST, 2000 1ST, 2001 1ST, 2002 2ND, 2003, 3RD, 2004 7TH. Blueprint's first appearance at the regatta was not much better with a 5th. The sorrow & woe was short lived as the BLUE CREW bounced back in the drinking and "sportsmanship" arena. Congratulations go to Ron Medlin and the crew of Bash, Dennis O'Neil and his crew on Renegade as well as Charlie Nelson and his crew on Water Phantom for their trophy capturing performances.

So ..... what happened to the BLUE CREW? OH MY, what did not happen is just as appropriate a question. Splitting the TRIED & TRUE among the two boats was obviously an error ... "the bad thing". Having new folks there to "familiarize" themselves with the boats "the good thing" or at least "not as bad"

Blue Bayou, skippered by Mike Harrison with that veteran master of the pointy end Gary Peterson on the bow, played host to several "newcomers": Polly Thomas, David Whitney, Eve Dobson mixed in with some Blue Tinted sailors the likes of Pete Wedderein, Alex Peterson and Mike Afflerbach.

Blueprint, skippered by Jay Hood and crewed by Jimmy Restrepo, Sarah Afflerbach, Thomas Myers hosted Eddie Parker on the main, and Jason Thomas while, Ted Dunnebeck, serving as new foredeck for Blueprint, expanded his range of experience to an enviable level and assisted in establishing one of the criteria for the new Blueprint tee shirt.

So, with the cast in place the cluster comedy commenced. From starting problems on Blue Bayou, like "Oops, is that our class rounding the weather mark?" to Blueprint's own "spider man" catching anything that was suppose to fly in a curiously sticky web at the pointy end, both boats suffered through the "familiarization" process.

The three races, held in winds ranging from 14 to 22 knots, provided opportunies for new experiences for all.

Blue Bayou raced their own race from the begining twice ...... literally......missing the starts as the PRO from SAYRA blasted through the sequences like a mahchine gun. Blue Bayou managed a decent race three and was able to pass Blueprint due to excellent hand bearing work by Alex Peterson who kept the team informed of the bearing to the mark while Blueprint was going the wrong way.

The race 3 start was the most exciting with all of "A" class at the line as the gun went off. Water Phantom, in an unusually well-sailed race, rounded the weather mark first with Blue Bayou, BASH and Blueprint rounding shortly behind virtually simultaneaously setting kites as all came abreast. So with pesky Bash sandwiched twixt the BLUE BOATS an exciting begining to the first dwonwind leg was begun. Blueprint jibed to port and separated and was able to round the leeward mark with Bash and Blue Bayou several boat lengths behind. Going back to weather the favored left side provided all who stayed advantage and Blue Bayou was at the weather mark quickly regaining the lead ahead of Blueprint. A twisted spinnaker set and the broaches under a full 3/4 oz kite took Blueprint out as Blue Bayou and their infamous "fat cat" chute provided a stable ride to the leeward mark a second time. A full out jibe broach left all aboard Blueprint with crew cuts and dunked Ted to his shoulders. Outside the lifelines with a vice like grip on the shrouds, Ted took the opportunity to test the auto inflate feature of his PFD. The crew managed a recovery to go on to two more broaches. Successfully rinsing the starboard sidedeck and boom, it was not until the pole skyed (due to a cam release triggered by excessive line from a previous unraveling) that the kite was retrieved and number three jib reset as the rest of "A" class sailed on by. The beat back to the finish left no doubt as Bash finished within seconds of both BLUE BOATS.

Thanks to the shore side efforts and hospitality of Janice Peterson the BLUE CREW convened at the sportsman cottage and prepared for the evening festivities where, unbeknownst to all, one of the TRIED & TRUE BLUE CREW was to be honored.

Mike Harrison received the SPORTSMAN'S TROPHY for the efforts and persistence of the Blue Bayou crew in racing without a chance. Congrats Mike. You kept the BLUE CREW from walking away empty handed.

Oriental Dingy Club

Pamlico Sailing Club

Blackbeard Sailing Club