14th Harkers Island Regatta draws 40 Sunfish for two-day sailing event

by Sunfish Class on 16 Jul 2015 My Own Bloody Yacht Club’s 14th Annual Harkers Island Regatta drew competitors from New York to Florida for racing July 11th and 12th in eastern North Carolina in what has become one of the larger Sunfish Class events in the United States. Competitors return year after year for the beautiful venue, sea breeze, shoreside parties and remarkable southern hospitality.

Proceeds from the regatta will be presented to the Edward Teach Youth Sailing Program in New Bern, Bow to Stern Youth Sailing Program in Oriental and Friends of the Museum Junior Sailing Program in Beaufort, NC to fund need-based youth sailing lesson scholarships.

A challenging ten-mile race around the island Saturday was sailed in a building 10-15 knot southwest sea breeze. With an unusual twist in racing, sailors may choose the direction they circumnavigate the island and with the prospect of sailing downwind through the shallow marshes, all but four boats headed out sailing clockwise towards the western end of the island.

Not long after the start, three women rose like cream to the top of the fleet with the lead changing several times between Sonya Dean of Raleigh, NC and Kara Wheeler of Oriental, NC. Ashlyn Park of Asheboro, NC was close on their heels with the closest men lagging several minutes behind. Dean with superior local knowledge and boat speed to match was the quickest to pass through the marsh portion of the course and extended a sizeable lead.

On the home stretch, Wheeler sailed her hardest around the eastern end of the island into current and a 15-knot breeze and crossed just 24 seconds behind Dean. Third place went to Park who was less than a minute behind the winner. Who says this is a man’s sport?
Top finisher in the Beater Class (older boats) were Katy Schmitt, top Youth Alex Jones of Charlotte, top Master John Park of Asheboro and top Grandmaster, George Sechrist of Oriental, NC.

A traditional low-country boil was served Saturday night for all racers and family members complete with steamed clams, rum cake dessert contest, Dark and Stormy’s, and a video tape reply of the day’s race including aerial shots.

A cold front crossed through the area overnight bringing a 10-15 knot northerly for short course racing Sunday. Three windward-leeward races were completed with Andrew Bates of the Merchant Marine Sailing Team taking first place, Alex Jones three points behind in second and George Midyette in third with ten points. Awards for the two days of racing consisted of traditional trophies supplemented by fresh crabmeat and a large array of Sunfish and other interesting gear.

The regatta was made possible through generous contributions by Goslings Rum, Wells Fargo Advisors, Hightower Communications, Annapolis Performance Sailing, Eberle Marine Surveys, Ella Vickers, Intensity Sails, The Cloth Barn of Goldsboro and Prospective Technologies.