Bringing Back that Loving Feeling

Ron Breault has been following the various articles in Scuttlebutt regarding sailboat racing participation, and offers this report to add a bright spot to the discussion.

Last year, when the Camden Classics Cup (CCC) ran its first regatta for a mix of ‘classic’ wood and fiberglass boats, the timing was perfect. It provided a feeder regatta the week before the first race of the Eggemoggin Reach Regatta, which after 30 years was a raging success with 100+ beautiful classic boats racing.

The CCC is sailed on Penobscot Bay, where the mountains meet the sea, and is based in the lovely harbor town of Camden, Maine. In its first year, it gave sailors challenging racing conditions (unusually light air) and over the top onshore partying.

For my 1960 S&S designed Dolphin 24, the 2016 event was a great opportunity to kick off a summer of cruising in Maine. Racing in the CCC, with other classics tuning up for the ERR, was a really special way to start the following several weeks of cruising.

This winter I got the word out that after ‘sleeping’ for many years, here was a chance for Dolphin 24 owners to get together with our siblings at the 2017 event. With the offer from the CCC organizers to have a separate ‘one design’ class if four or more competitors entered, the competitive juices rose, and the Dolphin 24 New England Championships was (re)born.

At this early date we have 6 ‘committed’ entries, 2 to 3 more thinkin’, and two beautiful, classic trophies designed and built, ready for claiming. The Camden Harbormaster has even set aside some space at his dock for a pod of Dolphins, so it sounds like party time.

So, the moral of the story is it’s never too late – regatta organizers need to plan and execute interesting and fun events, get the word out, and we will come out of our hiding places and race, once again.