2010 Gracie and George Regatta

This year was a pleasantly breezy Gracie and George Race. This is our annual doublehanded race with a woman at the helm a man as crew. The nine boat fleet started at the old Naval Air Station entrance buoy #2 on the beginning of an ebb with a 15+ westerly. Racer X, with Mary McGrath at the helm and husband Rich Pipkin crewing, pulled out an early lead heading toward South Beach only to be slowed down by a freighter. But Mary worked around it, kept up her speed, hesitated for awhile in the shifty gusty winds at the mouth of the estuary whether to fly her spinnaker but decided to go for it, so she could keep her spot, first to finish and first in div A, under PHRF 121. Uno, a Wyliecat 30, helmed by Karen Flick and expertly crewed by Steve Wonner, was hot on her heels. They not only saved their time to correct out first in Divison B, PHRF 121 and over, but also held onto their title from 2009 of over overall Gracie and George winner. It was a fast race, with plenty of wind even in the estuary, so all of the fleet finished the 12+ mile long course in less than 2.5 hours giving plenty of time for partying at the club afterwards.

Results can be found here.