On February 23, 2014 Gary Jobson took the helm of SKIMMER, an Annapolis based Harbor20, for owner Peter Trogdon.  It was a cold sunny day with a 6-8 knot breeze from the North.  Seven of the thirteen Frostbite boats came out that day. Peter writes, ”We were very excited to be racing again because racing had been cancelled several times during the frostbite season due to the ice in the river.  John Sherwood, my tactician and coach, and I knew we were in for an amazing day of racing with friend and legendary Americans Cup tactician, author, and sailing commentator, Gary Jobson.”

All looking AFT at the competition, left to right,  Gary Jobson, John Sherwood, and Peter Trogdon

Gary wrote” After weeks and weeks of enduring unusually cold weather, it was a special treat to sail aboard a Harbor 20 on a mild winter day during the Annapolis Yacht Club Frostbite Series. Lucky me, I got to race with Peter Trogdon and the legendary John Sherwood in two races. I found the Harbor 20 to be a great boat for either two or three people. The boats are remarkably even in speed. In one race, everything went our way and we were happy with a victory. In the second race, the combination of a slow start and a missed wind shift left us deservedly in third. The open cockpit makes trimming and steering easy. The boat is a joy to sail both upwind and downwind. There is a warm camaraderie between the competitors. After the race everybody compared notes. I look forward to my next sail.”

After the races, Gary met and talked with all the Harbor 20 fleet sailors.  It was a treat for this relatively new AYC racing fleet to have the opportunity to share their love of the Harbor 20 with a local hero.

An unreconcilable conflict has required that the “Strategy & Tactics” seminar sechduled for Sunday, June 2, be cancelled and rescheduled for Sunday, July 21. Also, a C-Fleet Clinic is now scheduled for Sunday, June 9 at LIYC. Watch for details to be posted soon.

We had 9 H20 owners and 4 boats at the Cinco de Mayo party, some came by car
and a total of 26 people for lunch. The costumes made it special too. Jim
Ellis and Fulvia diMarzo won the awards for best costume. Big thanks to Pat
and Howard for being fantastic hosts. The new pilings made for a great H20
fleet marina so I hope we get invited back some day. Everything including
the wind was perfect.

I am organizing another social sailing event in September when we will sail
from Annapolis up the Severn River and dock on Luce Creek for lunch. It
will be hard to top Cinco de Mayo, but I will do my best.

Best,
Peter Trogdon
#311 SKIMMER

Boat Handling & Sail Trim

Sunday, March 11, 8:45 – 5:00            Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club

Course Description

Register

The Harbor 20s of Marina Del Rey battled again in the Friday evening Sundown series. The Sundown series is hosted by Del Rey Yacht Club and it consists of 3 divisions: PHRF, Cruising Class, and Harbor 20 One Design.

The Harbor 20s raced in healthy breeze on a 4 1/2 mile course which took them outside the Marina. Ed Golden driving ‘Marisa’ was able to fend off Jeff Friedman and his 2 daughters in ‘Sparky’ for the bullet. Ed and Jeff traded tacks up the channel, with the lead changing hands numerous times. Ed finally consolidated a lead when the boats went outside. The characteristic sloppy chop outside Marina Del Rey provided the opportunity for Harbor 20 surfing on the rollers.

Interestingly, both of the leading Harbor 20s sailed faster than many of the big cruising boats in the division ahead. Ed and Jeff sailed the course in 51 minutes 43 seconds and 51:59 seconds respectively. This was boat for boat faster than 5 of the boats in the division ahead.  They even sailed the course faster than a 33 footer !  The plucky little Harbor 20s showed their stuff in Marina Del Rey last Friday and will be back for the next Sundown race on August 19th.

For those looking to master sailing on their Harbor 20 and improve their race results, this “Dock Talk” presented by Mr. Tom Schock, will offer helpful tips that will increase speed and handling capabilities.

Del Rey Yacht Club

Dockside Clinic: 4 pm

Question & Answer: 5 pm

See Harbor 20 Dock Talk Clinic

The nascent Harbor 20 fleet in Marina Del Rey raced again in the Del Rey YC Sundowner series. The 4 participating Harbor 20s had their own start in the 3rd division, behind two PHRF divisions.  The race course was both inside and outside the MDR breakwater. Conditions were 7-15 knots  with lumpy 2 foot seas outside.

The plucky little Harbors showed off their superior pointing ability while short tacking up the channel passing the larger boats in the division ahead.  Outside the Harbors had quite a bit of fun going downwind catching waves and surfing. Tom Schock and Ed Gold won the race and passed all but one boat in the divisions ahead.

Del Rey YC provided a delightful barbecue and awards ceremony afterwards, with raffle prizes and fun for all.

The next Sundowner Race is scheduled for Friday July 15. The Harbor 20s will be there again.

Click Here to get information about the upcoming Harbor 20 Ocean Race.

To sign up for the Harbor 20 Ocean race, enter a comment to this post with your Name and Sail#

Ten domestic teams and one international yacht club team will face off using Harbor 20s in this fully umpired,  4 v 4 team race event.  In order to accommodate the overwhelming interest to compete, the OA has expanded to three fleets of boats allowing for a 12-team line up.  This spectator-friendly regatta will be sailed in a vacated mooring field directly in front of the NHYC main dock, a perfect place to watch the action with friends.

Twenty-six Harbor 20s have been loaned to the NHYC for the event. Each boat received a big dose of TLC as dozens of volunteers have worked for weeks preparing the boats for the event. Each boat got a nice buff and cleaning, repairs and tuning. The boats have been outfitted with colored jib sails to represent the different teams.

Enjoy and keep up with the event through one of many options: From the Docks of NHYC, where you can enjoy 25¢ beers and front row seats to all the action;  Live WebCam; Kattack GPS Tracking. Or follow the action on the Baldwin Cup Facebook Page, or get live updates via the Twitter account or visit the Baldwin Cup Website.

The eleven teams competing are:

• Balboa YC  (CA)
• Boston YC  (MA)
• New York YC  (NY) (2010 winners)
• Larchmont Yacht Club (NY)
• Newport Harbor YC – Blue (CA)
• Newport Harbor YC – Orange (CA)
• Rochester YC  (NY)
• Royal Thames Yacht Club (UK)
• Seattle YC  (WA)
• Southern YC  (LA)
• St. Francis YC  (CA)