Locals come out for Annapolis NOOD

Annapolis, MD (August 28, 2020) – For a year in which the regatta calendar has been decimated due to COVID-19, the 2020 Helly Hansen NOOD Regatta Annapolis got underway today for the mostly local fleet.

For Roger Lant, it took a near Herculean effort to get his dismasted J/35 Abientot to the starting line, going so far to buy another J/35 last week. “We pulled the mast out of it, stripped it and then sent it to the junkyard,” Lent explained. “It was everything I had in me to get to the starting line. But, today went very well so I am absolutely thrilled.”

He credits his crew’s tenacity and great teamwork for their solid performance in the four-boat J/35 fleet to secure three first-place finishes and one second in shifty, challenging conditions on Chesapeake Bay. “It was very tough sailing out there, but also a lot of fun.”

The breeze, which peaked at 10 to 15 knots with large wind shifts, kept the committees on their toes to deliver three to four races across the 10 fleets and two circles.

Annapolis local Mary Ewenson on Evil Hiss, leads the eight-boat Viper 640 fleet. “It was a super interesting day,” said Ewenson. “There was a lot of everything and crazy windshifts. We had really tight racing in the Viper fleet, with leads changing all the time. Our strength today was changing gears, which I credit my team to making happen especially with crew weight.”

Ewenson’s crew, husband and professional sailor Geoff Ewenson painted the picture of the day. “There were times it was stunning conditions, then the breeze would disappear and shift 25 degrees. The race committee did an amazing job keeping us racing, often times adjusting marks and finish lines simultaneously for the six fleets on our circle.”

In the 11-boat J/70 fleet, the lone ‘out of town’ boat currently leads the standings. Chicago sailor John Heaton brought his boat Empeiria to Annapolis from Florida—where it had been doing the winter race circuit—in hopes of finding a place to train with his crew.

It’s Heaton’s first time racing in Annapolis in many years, and he thoroughly enjoyed the first day’s challenges. “It was super shifty and fun,” Heaton said. “I think we’re really good at shifting gears; we got off the line well and focused on staying in pressure.”

They were leading the fourth race until the wind died completely and they got stuck with a J/105 from a different fleet while rounding. “It doesn’t take much in these conditions and we finished that one in fifth.”

For the 79 teams competing, which is hosted by the Annapolis Yacht Club with support from Eastport Yacht Club and the Severn Sailing Association, racing continues tomorrow with more wind in the forecast.

Series information – Race details – Results – Facebook – Photos

Day One Results (Top 3):

Viper 640 (8 Boats)
1. Evil Hiss, Mary Ewenson , USA – 1 -2 -3 -1 ; 7
2. Big Rooster, Tyler Moore , USA – 2 -1 -4 -2 ; 9
3. Mostly Peaceful, Arnie Brown , USA – 3 -4 -1 -9 ; 17

J/30 (8 Boats)
1. TOTALed MAYHEM, Doug & Amy Stryker , USA – 2 -2 -1 -2 ; 7
2. Shamrock, Bruce Irvin , USA – 4 -1 -6 -1 ; 12
3. Suzie Q, Heidi Frist , USA – 1 -3 -4 -4 ; 12

Etchells (4 Boats)
1. Solsidan, Jonathan Forsberg , USA – 3 -2 -1 ; 6
2. Marge, Matt Lalumiere , USA – 2 -1 -4 ; 7
3. Make Mine A Double, Jeff Borland , USA – 1 -3 -3 ; 7

J/24 (6 Boats)
1. Rush Hour, Pat FitzGerald , USA – 1 -1 -1 ; 3
2. Spaceman Spiff, Kent Bartlett , USA – 2 -2 -3 ; 7
3. SISU, James Bonham , USA – 5 -3 -2 ; 10

J/22 (6 Boats)
1. USNA, Jeffrey Petersen , USA – 3 -1 -1 ; 5
2. Hot Toddy, Jeffrey Todd , USA – 1 -2 -4 ; 7
3. Rythmic Pumping , Zander King , USA – 4 -4 -3 ; 11

Alberg 30 (6 Boats)
1. LinGin, Tim Williams , USA – 1 -6 -1 ; 8
2. Laughing Gull, Patrick Seidel , USA – 3 -1 -7 ; 11
3. Latika, William Woodford , USA – 6 -2 -3 ; 11

J/35 (4 Boats)
1. Abientot, Roger Lant , USA – 1 -2 -1 -1 ; 5
2. Aunt Jean, James Sagerholm / AJ Syndicate , USA – 2 -1 -2 -3 ; 8
3. Maggie, James McNeely , USA – 4 -3 -3 -2 ; 12

J/105 (16 Boats)
1. Mirage, Cedric Lewis / Fredrik Salvesen , USA – 1 -1 -3 -1 ; 6
2. Bat IV, Andrew Kennedy , USA – 2 -3 -7 -7 ; 19
3. Santas Reign, Dear, Donald Santa , USA – 7 -6 -1 -6 ; 20

J/70 (11 Boats)
1. Empeiria, John Heaton , USA – 1 -2 -1 -5 ; 9
2. Murder Hornet, Cate Muller-Terhune , USA – 4 -5 -4 -1 ; 14
3. Wild Child, Henry Filter , USA – 2 -1 -7 -6 ; 16

J/80 (9 Boats)
1. R80, Will & Marie Crump Thomas Klok , USA – 2 -2 -2 -2 ; 8
2. USA 1162, John White , USA – 8 -1 -3 -1 ; 13
3. Meltemi, Mike Hobson , USA – 1 -6 -4 -3 ; 14

Source: Laura Muma / Sailing World

Operating since 1988, Sailing World’s National Offshore One Design Regattas, known as the “NOODs,” are the longest-running and most popular sailboat racing series in North America. Every NOOD regatta attracts regional, national, and international talent to compete against the local community on their home waters.

The 32nd edition of the National Offshore One Design (NOOD) Regatta Series returns to the same five venues across the USA in 2020 before it sets offshore again for the Caribbean NOOD Championship in the British Virgin Islands.

St. Petersburg, FL
February 14 – 16, 2020
St. Petersburg Yacht Club

San Diego, CA
March 20 – 22, 2020 (moved to Sept, 4-6, then Sept. 25-27)
San Diego Yacht Club
Coronado Yacht Club

Annapolis, MD
May 15 – 17, 2020 (moved to August 28-30, 2020)
Annapolis Yacht Club

Chicago, IL
June 12 – 14, 2020 (cancelled)
Chicago Yacht Club

Marblehead, MA
July 23 – 26, 2020 (moved to August 7-9, 2020 – cancelled)
Corinthian Yacht Club

Caribbean NOOD Championship
British Virgin Islands (cancelled)