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Weather has been a major topic of conversation in the Narragansett Bay area as sailors wondered if summer would ever arrive. June was one of the wettest in memory, and July started in a similar manner. After a downpour in Newport all evening prior to the start of the Swan Owners Association of America’s regatta and rendezvous, the sun shone brightly on the event, held July 23-26.
After learning that the Swan North America Regatta would not be presented this year by Nautor’s Swan, the Swan Owner’s Association of America organized their own event. Pantaenius was a support sponsor and had flags and banners flying at the shore events. Dick (Newport Office) & Jane Tracy provided local tactical knowledge aboard Neal Finnegan’s Swan 56, Clover III. Pantaenius also provided owners with a regatta hospitality bag.
Racing began for 28 Swans in two classes, cruising and racing, on July 24 in Narragansett Bay from the starting line off Jamestown, R.I. The size of boats participating ranged from a Swan 38, Edelwiess, to Selene, a Swan 80.
The racing class, using PHRF ratings, had a regular start and no limits in the use of their sail inventory, while the cruising class had a pursuit start and were not allowed to fly a spinnaker (or any other sail whose luff is not continuously affixed to a forestay). The course took both classes up the Bay to Bristol, where the Bristol Yacht Club was the venue that evening for cocktails, a New England lobster boil, and dancing.
Saturday’s racing saw both classes heading back to Jamestown with a start off Poppasquash Point in Bristol. Where Friday’s racing saw light winds that eventually filled to 10-12 knots, Saturday piped up to 18 and above—a smoky sou’wester—where Swans like it best. (Just ask Harald Baum, Pantaenius founder and owner of a Swan 48, Elan, winner of the 2009 Swan European Regatta!)
For those in the cruising class new to the pursuit format, the handicaps dictated the starting order and the goal of every boat was to be first over the line. At the finish, there was no wondering who won on corrected time. Another novelty was the race committee’s endeavor to be of the “friendly” sort, by informing all competitors of their intentions before signaling courses, delaying starts, etc., and answering questions.
Saturday evening’s festivities were held at the Jamestown Boat Yard where summer BBQ fare, keg beer, and BYOB hit the spot on a beautiful summer night. Prizes were awarded to the top three places in both classes, and the event concluded the next morning with a blueberry pancake breakfast at the yard.
Jane Tracy, crew on “Clover III” – Swan 56 |
