Hi Md,
The Gunpowder Regatta will be hosted by Hobie Fleet 54 at the Gunpowder ST Park/Hammermill Area(@ the Concession Bldg) and has a "Open" Fleet Class start on May 2-3rd. This is really, really close to you. (I'll be racing my TheMightyHobie18 there if I'm not on Race Commitee)
That's the "Down the River Race" on Friday June 19th. Rock Hall Yacht Club's Annual One-Design Regatta follows on Sat/Sun, June 20th-21st at RHYC. The Down the River race is a "Hoot", it's a "Run What You Brung" format ... there are traditional Chesapeake Log Canoes, Catamarans, Lightnings, Windmills, Comets, Lasers ...etc I wouldn't be surprised if someone uses an Opti! It's just a really fun race down a the river with lots of turns and a party afterwards at RHYC. I can 't say that it is a windy race as it is usually light to med winds, but it is a fun race. Then you can race Sat/Sun at RHYC in the area that's is nice and wide w/ good breezes and flat water where the Chester River widens out and the Corsica River along with Langford Cove joins in. Minimal power boat traffic.
As you both have Nacras you'll be racing in the "Open" Class on the Chesapeake Bay. Have you checked out the "Open" Class web site? If not, goto
www.sailcrac.com there you will find lots of information. There is also the West River Sailing Assoc, they race on the West River just below Annapolis, Roger Holmes and Kieth Chapman organize those races. (I think their website is linked to the sailCrac website)
There will be several other "Open" Class Races in July, Cambridge YC's (July 20-21st)on the Choptank River and Corsica River YC's (July 25-26th) on the Chester River @ Conquest Beach/Spaniard Point. Both are very nice venues w/ camping so they are reasonably cheap and are fun times.
Some of the guys are using 1/8" spectra/vectra/dynema non-stretch line. I do something a little different since I hate re-tensioning my tramp all the time ... I use 1/2" bungie cord (availible at Fawcett's Marine Supply in Annapolis)... this keeps the tramp tight all the time, it makes it in fact self-adjusting/retracting. (But you need really strong bungie!!!) I believe that the average tightness of my tramp is greater then if I used non-stretch line (as the tramp stretchs if the line doesn't too) over the course of a day's racing. (Besides I want to be socializing after racing not tightening a tramp for the next days racing) Try either and decide for yourself.
Got to run off to a computor class to improve my skills
HarryMurphey
TheMightyHobie18/#9458, Fleet54/Div11
P19MX/#86, CRAC/Open Clas
RHYC Catamaran Fleet Captain
