2021 U20 North American Championship - Hampton Yacht Club - June 4th - 6th

[U20 Site Moderator]

Save the date!  June 3 (measurement) through June 6, 2021.  Regatta will be held in conjunction with Southern Bay Race Week; additional details as available.

 

https://hamptonyc.com/yachting/southern-bay-race-week/

[U20 Site Moderator]

Regatta website is up:  https://yachtscoring.com/emenu.cfm?eid=14283

[U20 Site Moderator]

The latest:

Hope you have the 2021 NA's on your calendar and are planning to race June 4-6 in Hampton Bay VA.

  https://yachtscoring.com/emenu.cfm?eid=14283 

We will have our own racing and the NA entry fee is less than prior years.  ****If you register by April 30, the entry is only $155.  A late fee applies for entries after May 21.

The regatta team for Southern Bay Race Week has sent the following information to boats that have already registered:

Docking – detailed information is available at the event Yacht Scoring website-  click on “Documents”.  Check out the details on complimentary rafting, launching,  hauling, and trailer storage at   https://yachtscoring.com/emenu.cfm?eID=14283    .  And, note that reservations must be made for available slips.
Accommodations – SBRW racers – skippers and crew – and families and friends, who are interested in accommodations in Hampton during SBRW should make reservations as early as possible.  Early June is a popular time for Hampton visitors.  A sample of accommodations is available at the event website.  Please note that the newly renovated, and re-named waterfront hotel, The Landing Hotel at Hampton Marina, is open and taking reservations.  SBRW does not have a block of rooms this year, but expectations are that The landing will fill fast.  Early reservations are encouraged at area facilities.
Racing at SBRW 2021 is “full on”.  On-the-water preparations are well underway for PHRF, One-Design, and Cruising racing.  Race committees are ready, equipment gathered, and all the rest needed to provide racers with three days of top-notch competition.
Shoreside/social planning is still up in the air due to the pandemic related safety protocols that may still be in place at the time of the event.  As soon as regatta officials know something, you will know it.  We hope to give SBRW participants the best social experience possible.

Southern Bay Race Week is known for its tremendous racing and fun shoreside activities.  While similar to Charleston RW, this event is affordable and the launching/docking is easy.  SBRW organizers are optimistic that VA guidelines will permit all of the gatherings they have planned.

[TimPorter]

So far we only have five boats signed up.  To say the least this is disappointing.  If you are planning to go please take the time to go register for the event.  If you are considering going what can I do to get you off the fence?  This is a venue that does not disappoint.  We do have at least one boat that is available for charter with possibly another one.  Please reach out directly to me if you are interested.

[Travis Gregory]

Congratulations Emerson Smith and Team UFO, first place for the 2021 U20 North American Championship and Black Seal Cup Winners!  Second place Tim Porter and Team Mighty Mouse, Third Place BJ Jones and Team Rumbullion.  Full results here:

https://yachtscoring.com/event_results_cumulative.cfm?eID=14283

[U20 Site Moderator]

2021 North American Championship
Submitted by Emerson Smith

Hampton Yacht Club in Hampton, Virginia hosted the 2021 Ultimate 20 North American Championship this past weekend as part of Southern Bay Race Week.  Eight boats hailing from up and down the east coast contested for the title over a scheduled 3 days of racing.

An unsteady forecast filled with rain and thunderstorms damped the practice day, and limited the amount of time spent on the water and tuning up.  However, registration and measurement were completed, with boats launched and ready to sail for Friday, the first day of racing.

Day one of racing sent the U20s to the south side of Willoughby Bay, where they were greeted with light winds and a strong ebbing current.  The first race was sailed in 6 knots with the breeze building to 10-12 knots by the 4th and final race of the day.  Three different boats won a race on day 1 of the regatta resulting in tight score lines with Emerson Smith on UFO in first with 7 points, BJ Jones on Rumbullion with 8 points and Tim Porter on Mighty Mouse with 9 points.

The forecast for day 2 did not contain much promise with regards to wind.  Nevertheless, the fleet headed back out onto the bay and were greeted with another 6-knot breeze.  Racing began on time and the U20s were off for their 5th race of the regatta.  A dying breeze resulted in some tense moments and slow speed maneuvers, but when the dust settled UFO had added another first place to their score line, with Mighty Mouse and Salsa rounding out the top 3.  The prospect of a building sea breeze teased the racecourse for the rest of the day but never materialized, resulting in the fleet heading back to the club early with a nice forecast for the following day to look forward to.

Racers were greeted on Sunday with a bright sun and rising temperatures.  Great conditions for the beach, but apparently not so much for wind on Willoughby Bay.  After a few hours of waiting and at times struggling to stay near the committee boat in the strong ebb tide, the fleet was again sent home, wrapping up the regatta and signaling the race to the hoist.

Final standings after 5 races found UFO skippered by Emerson Smith in first, followed closely by Tim Porter on Mighty Mouse in second and BJ Jones on Rumbullion in third.  Due to the tight racing in the class and based on their low scoreline, UFO was also awarded the Black Seal Cup as the boat of the week for the entire regatta.

A big thank you to all the competitors and regatta organizers.  Congratulations to all of the competitors.