Change of Watch: SAVE THE DATE! Saturday, January 20, 2024

 SAVE THE DATE!

Change of Watch Dinner

Saturday, January 20, 2024; 5:00 PM  

Cambridge Yacht Club

$50 per person on-line, $55 at check-in, Cash Bar

RSVP and details to follow.

Bridge Past and Present

ESSA Skippers on the Chesapeake 2023

Several ESSA skippers and their crews have been racing in other events on the Chesapeake.

Where have they been sailing? Here is a short summary.

Rocket J. Squirrel – J-105

• Steve Adams and Dotty Holoubek with crew, Branden, Anastasia & Rob
• Helly Hansen - NOOD Annapolis
• EWE Spirit Cup Annapolis
• Annapolis to St. Michaels
• Eastport Yacht Club One design
• Leukemia Cup
• Annapolis Yacht Club Annual
• Annapolis Labor Day
• Annapolis Fall Series
• Three series of the AYC Summer Series
•  All J105 One Design Races

 

Blur J-105

• Trevor Carouge & Crew
• Spring Race to Oxford
• Annapolis Race to Miles River
• TAYC race to Oxford
• Annapolis Race to Cambridge
• Naval Academy Sailing Race to Oxford. 

 

Touché  Comet -34

• Bob Dickey and Crew
• Governor’s Cup
• Annapolis Race to Cambridge
• Naval Academy Sailing Race to Oxford. 

3-6-9  Capri 30

• Liz Principe & Crew
• HHSA Women's Regatta
• The Race to Oxford 
• Naval Academy Sailing Race to Oxford 

Rocket J Squirrel on right at Annapolis

Dotty and Anastasia trimming the sails

 

 

Annapolis to Cambridge Race, Saturday, August 26, 2023

A2C Lighthouse Challenge (web page)

Eastport Yacht Club

Annapolis, MD, USA

Saturday 26, August 2023

Click Here: Annapolis to Cambridge NORSI and Information

8.26.2023

8.26.2023

OLD FLARES ? DISPOSAL OPPORTUNITY, MAY 13, CYC

 ESSA Fleet, 

The Cambridge Sail and Power Squadron will be hosting a Flare and Fire extinguisher demo on Saturday, May 13th at 1pm at the Cambridge Yacht Club.  

This is a great way to learn how to use this equipment, or to use up some expired flares that you might have in excess.  If you have any questions, please email us at 

CambridgeSailAndPowerSquadron@gmail.com.

 Thank you,

 John O'Reilly, Past Commander

Annapolis to Cambridge Notice of Race, August 27, 2022

Annapolis to Cambridge Yacht Club Race.

Click Here for Notice of Race (NOR)

Join us for the first ever race to Cambridge!

PHRF, PHRF Cruising, ORC, ORC Cruising, J/24, J/70, J/30, J35, J105, Cal 25, Alberg 30, Multi-hull

www.eastportyc.org  | www.cambridgeyachtclub.com

Cambridge Yacht Club Admiral Byrd Regatta: October 2nd and 3rd,

Attention ESSA Skippers and Crews 

Saturday, October 2nd includes fleet racing that is open to One Design, PHRF A, B, C, & N, Multihull, ORC, and CRCA. Classes with 3 or more entrants will have separate starts. A Skippers’ Meeting will be held at 0900 on 10/2 at CYC. Racing starts 1100, 3 races scheduled with drop mark courses. Awards handed out during Saturday night social at CYC. Live music.

Sunday, October 3rd will be a distance race from CYC to TAYC and is open to One Design, PHRF A, B, C & N, Multihull, ORC, and CRCA. Classes with 3 or more entrants will have separate starts. Classes will generally be started in reverse order, with slower classes starting first. First gun is 1000. After race at TAYC (contingent on Maryland and Talbot County restrictions).

See complete NOR  & SI

AB SI -Sailing Instructions

AB NOR - Notice of Race

AB Sunday Distance Race SI

FURTHER INFORMATION

Contact Race Chair Trevor Carouge: 

email: cycmdregatta@gmail.com 

Mailing; PO Box 287, Cambridge MD 21613

Physical location is 1 Mill Street, Cambridge MD 21613

SAVE THE DATE! Admiral Byrd Regatta, Saturday, Sunday, October 2, 3, 2021

Cambridge Yacht Club presents

82nd Annual Admiral Byrd Regatta 

Saturday, One design races.

Sunday, PHRF Pursuit Race to Oxford.

All events subject to change. Stay-tuned.

        Trevor Carouge

        2021 Admiral Byrd Regatta Chair

ESSA Cookout Reminder, After the race,

 ESSA Cookout Reminder

When: Wednesday, July 28 after the race

Where: CYC Gazebo

Menu: Hamburgers with fixing, chips, soft drinks and water. 

Cash bar, beer, wine, cocktails, soft drinks

Cost: Dues paying Choptank ESSA members - Free!

All Others - $15 (which includes tax and tip) 

How it Works - ESSA Members will sign in at the gazebo and be given a ticket good for a hamburger and chips and a drink ticket good for a soft drink or water. 

Non-members can purchase a food and drink ticket for $15 at the gazebo.. 

Next Steps - To help assure that we have enough food and drink on hand, Skippers, please send me an email  (rgallagher1.rg@gmail.com) 

with the number of people from your boat who will attend. 

Please note that the Yacht Club cannot permit any food or drinks to be brought on to the premises.

Thanks,

I will gladly pay you Tuesday for a Hamburger today.

Bob

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ESSA Choptank Cook-Out, Wednesday, July 28, 2021, After the Race

ESSA Cookout Reminder

When: Wednesday, July 28 after the race

Where: CYC Gazebo

Menu: Hamburgers with fixing, chips, soft drinks and water. 

Cash bar, beer, wine, cocktails, soft drinks

Cost: Dues paying Choptank ESSA members - Free!

All Others - $15 (which includes tax and tip) 

How it Works - ESSA Members will sign in at the gazebo and be given a ticket good for a hamburger and chips and a drink ticket good for a soft drink or water. 

Non-members can purchase a food and drink ticket for $15 at the gazebo. Cash only no credit. 

Next Steps - To help assure that we have enough food and drink on hand, Skippers, please send me an email  (rgallagher1.rg@gmail.com) 

with the number of people from your boat who will attend. 

Please note that the Yacht Club cannot permit any food or drinks to be brought on to the premises.

Thanks,

 

Bob

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Choptank Fleet 2021 Spring Note

Choptank Fleet 2021 Spring Note

Choptank Fleet,

I hope you are reading this note on a warm sunny Spring day with a 8-10 kts blowing across the Choptank. It’s finally time to wake your boat from hibernation and contact your crew - Sailing Season is Almost Here!

In this note I’ll highlight several changes (hopefully improvements) for the 2021season

Revised Course List    (Click Here)

From George Breig — Also shown on the ESSA Blog.

This year the Choptank Fleet will be using a predefined list of 32 courses.  Several courses from last year were deleted due to lack of use and redundancy. Some courses have been modified and some added to provide more reaching legs. The list has been reorganized from Zero degrees Magnetic to 360 degrees.  So trash last year's list. This is a major edit.

Laminated copies will be available at the Sailing Open House on May 1 (see below).

On occasion, the Race Committee may decide to customize the race course depending on weather conditions. Print a copy of the list and keep it in your boat.  Skippers are expected to have the list.  The committee boat will only post and announce the course number on VHF Channel 72.

New Cruising Class Fleet

This season we are introducing a Cruising Class Fleet. This new fleet is designed to attract skippers of boats better suited for cruising and skippers who are new to racing and do not want to deal with congested starts.

The Cruising Fleet will start 6 minutes after the Non Spin Fleet. The starting line will be “open” for 5 minutes to allow skippers to start when they want within that time. Boats will then report their elapsed time after crossing the finish line at buoy Z and the Yacht Club.

ESSA will waive membership dues and racing fees for 1 year to attract new Cruising Fleet boats to join us on Wednesday nights. If you know of a skipper who may want to sail in the Cruising Fleet, please encourage them to contact me at (513) 477-2584 and come to the Sailing Open House on May 1.

May Race Schedule

Practice Race - May 5

Series 1, Race 1 - May 12

Series 1, Race 2 - May 19

Series 1, Race 3 - May 26

FYI - The Stedman Smith Cup will be raced on June 5. We will again have the traditional crab cake lunch at TAYC. More information to come.

Sailing Open House

The Eastern Shore Sailing Association and the Cambridge Yacht Club are hosting a Sailing Open House on Saturday May 1, from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm at the Yacht Club gazebo on 1 Mill St. in Cambridge, Maryland.

 We hope to attract sailors new to the area who have a boat and want to learn more about racing with us on Wednesday’s.

 Also, we hope to meet people who want to crew. So if you need crew, please come and we’ll hook you up.

 Also we’ll provide information on the new Cruising Fleet and hope to sign up a few new skippers.

 The Yacht Club will be showcasing several sailing programs at the Open House including:

• A new Adult Learn to Sail program
• A season long G19 Buoy Challenge
• The Summer/Fall Cruising Program

 Fleet Zoom Call - Wednesday, April 21 at 7:00 pm (I’ll send out a Zoom Call invitation).

 Final Thoughts - I expect the 2021 Season to be a return to normal for Wednesday Night Racing. I’m hoping to see several boats back on the starting line after sitting out 2020 plus a few new boats and new faces who will add to our fleet.

So get your boat ready. Again, if you need crew, recruit them at the Open House on May 1. Hope to see you on the line May 5 for our practice race or on May 12 for the first race of the 2021 season.

Bob Gallagher

Choptank Fleet Captain

rgallagher1.rg@gmail.com

513-477-2584

 Bob

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Choptank Fleet Awards Ceremony

 Attention Choptank Sailors

A brief ceremony will be staged at the Cambridge Yacht Club Gazebo on 

Sunday, December 20, 2020. at 2:00 PM, 

Your attendance is encouraged.

Choptank Fleet Awards Winners:

Choptank Race Results 2020

Series 1 (Non-Spin) 

1. Aura
2. Reveille
3. Whistle Jacket

Series 2 Non-Spin

1. Reveille
2. Tamarind
3. Jitterbug

Series 2 Spinnaker

1. Jambo
2. Gabrielle
3. Ethyl Alcohol

Series 3 Non- Spin

1. Reveille
2. Tamarind 
3. Touché 

Series 3 Spinnaker 

1. Jambo
2. Aura
3. Gabrielle

Overall Non Spin 

1. Reveille
2. Tamarind
3. Touché

Overall Spinnaker

1. Jambo
2. Aura
3. Gabrielle

Stedman Smith- not raced in 2020

Wild Goose Chase

1. Jitterbug

Choptank Cup

1. Tamarind
2. Reveille
3. Jambo

Great Shoals Lighthouse Award - Tom Jackson

Awarded to the ESSA member who has demonstrated the most outstanding sailing accomplishment or performed the highest level of meritorious service in the promotion of sailboat racing, or a combination thereof.

Bluewater Cup - Richard Bearman

Awarded to an ESSA boat captained by its owner sailing the most offshore miles during a calendar year, but not less than 300 miles.

ESSA Promotional Award - Trevor Carouge 

Awarded to the person who has done the most to promote sailing on the Eastern Shore.

ESSA Spirit of Sailing Award - Leah Creswell 

Awarded to a member or volunteer who best exemplifies spirited and sportsmanlike sailing.

Your ESSA Bridge, Neill C. -  Commodore

Cruising Opportunities UPDATED 2020 Schedule

Choptank Cruisers on Channel 72

essasailing38@gmail.com 

Hello to all you Cruisers out there! UPDATED SCHEDULE 5-26-2020

Here is the list of cruising opportunities for 2020.  These cruise dates are jointly hosted by the Cambridge Yacht Club, The Power Squadron, ESSA, and Fleet 10.  The list shows where the cruisers plan to be. If you can’t sail the entire cruise join the fleet for part of the trip. Call the fleet on Channel 72:” CHOPTANK CRUISERS! ” Some cruises this year will be long weekend trips: Thursday through Tuesday. All planned itineraries will be influenced by weather conditions. All skippers will need to be flexible.

Skippers are responsible for their own marina reservations.

We have added a second Shakedown Cruise, Note the Date is JUNE 13, 14,15. Save the dates, but remember all cruises are subject to weather conditions.  

JUNE 13,14,15, Sat-Mon, Shakedown Cruise No. 2, We will start out in La Trappe Creek on the 13th and then for those that want too, we will head down to Plain Dealing Creek, (Which is across from Oxford).

June 20, 21, Sat-Sun, Little Choptank, Madison Bay, possibly Fishing Creek. Some of us may depart on Friday, June 19.

June 20- 26, Sat-Fri, Fleet 10, Southern Bay & Potomac: Point Lookout Marina in Smith Creek on the Potomac River; Palmers Cove on the Yeocomico River; Tangier Island at Parks Marina; Onancock, Md.; Crisfield, Md. at Somers Cove Marina; Coan River, (Virginia); St. Mary's College; Return Hom.  If you would like information on this group please contact George Breig at gbreig@comcast.net

July 9-14, Thur –Tues, Annapolis-Mill Creek, Baltimore 2 nights at Fels Point; Gibson Island, Tilghman Island: Cambridge

July 24, 25, 26, 27, Fri- Mon, Broad Creek, Boby Owl Cove; San Domingo Creek; Oxford; Cambridge

August 6-11, Thur-Mon, Dun Cove; Herrington Harbor North; Leadenham Creek, Oxford; Cambridge

Sept. 4,5,6,7, Fri- Tues, South River, Swan Creek, Rock Hall, Tilghman, (Oxford), Cambridge

September 21- 25, Mon-Fri, Dun Cove, St, Michaels Marina, Wye River, Tilghman or Oxford, Cambridge

October 5-9, - Mon-Fri, Short-daylight cruise: Harris Creek, Peach Blossom Creek, Oxford, La Trappe Creek. Cambridge

UGRR-Freedom Regatta - Saturday, August 3, 2019

AUGUST 3, 2019 

Volunteer Sailboat needed. 

 

The Underground Railroad Freedom Regatta will take place on Saturday, August 3, 2019. This is a high school age youth event. This year there will be 20 students participating. Half of the students participated last year and they all have taken a Power Squadron Safety course.

Each boat will carry 3, 4, or 5 students depending on size.

 

Just like last year, we plan to compete on two short course races against other Non-spin cruising class boats.

The courses will finish at Zulu which is in front of the CYC.

We can decide at the skippers meeting beforehand on the best routes.

 

Here’s the Saturday schedule for the regatta.

9:00 AM Boats arrive and tie off at CYC docks. The floating dock is available.

9:30- 10:00 AM Students arrive at the CYC

10:00 AM- 11:00 AM Safety and sailing Orientation for Students, Boat assignments

10:15 AM – Skippers meeting at the Gazebo- course selection, PFD count.

10:30 AM – Committee boat takes position near regular ESSA mark.

                   We should have a chase boat and a Comm boat but this is not yet confirmed.  

 

11:00 AM – Students board boats, practice sailing

12:00 PM – First race begins

1:30 PM – 2:00 PM. return to dock for lunch at the Gazebo

2:30 PM – Students depart for pool

 

Sunday, winners are announced at Sunday luncheon at the Ruark Boat Works.

 

Sailboats participating

~ Dudley DoRight – Dave Buchanan

~ Sawdust – Bill Lachenmayr

~ Jitterbug – George Breig

~ Konami II – Carlos Estin

~ Need one more volunteer Know anybody?

 

Each boat should have three experienced sailors; Helmsman and two sail hands.

The objective is to get the kids to do the work. 

Call me or email me with your questions.

 

Regards,
George Breig - essasailing38@gmail.com 

(443)521-9920

This Wednesday, ESSA Cook_out at the CYC Gazebo, July 27, 2019

Good Morning Choptank and all ESSA racers!

Wow! the year has certainly sailed by fast. This coming Wednesday is the official ESSA Choptank after race BBQ. The Gazebo will be rocking!

We invite skippers and crew to come and enjoy a burger or hotdog on ESSA. I will personally be treating each of the skippers to a drink of their choice! I do ask that each boat prepare a side dish to bring along. Things like potato salad, pasta salad, macaroni salad, brownies, etc.

I hope to see you there!

Best wishes for a safe and competitive race Wednesday!

-Trevor Carouge

Hard A'lee - PHRF BURGER TIME

essasailing38@gmail.com

SAVE THE DATES, JULY 19, 20, 21, 2019

CALLING ALL ESSA SAILORS... 

I REPEAT... 

CALLING ALL ESSA SAILORS

Registration is now open for CYC's Admiral Byrd Regatta; 

REGISTER - CLICK HERE

Things are really getting exciting in anticipation of the 108^th Admiral Byrd Regatta at Cambridge Yacht Club, July 19 through the 21^st.  We’re expecting 40-50 boats to race that weekend including PHRF boats as well as at least five one design classes.

On Friday 7/19 afternoon/evening, Opti’s will race followed by team Laser racing.  Later that evening in the Gazebo we’re bringing Charles Kavoossi over from Annapolis.  Charles is more than just a singer/songwriter.  As a multi-instrumentalist with a passion for composing, his songs pack unique and technical experiences between catchy choruses that are bound to get stuck in your head.  He’ll certainly be playing our favorites as well.

Saturday the PHRF boats along with the Hampton, Comet, and Shield one design classes will race starting in the morning.  There are several other one-design fleets considering and certainly, it’s not too late to get your favorite group involved!

We’re doing it straight up proper with two accredited PROs working with us from Eastport Yacht Club and two accredited protest judges also coming from Annapolis. 

Saturday evening will feature Gazebo libations and grub (dinner comp’ed for Captains), trophy presentations, not to mention the widely acclaimed and known Big Money Band who always rock the house with an exciting blend of Electric Blues, Classic Rock and Country, Soul, Oldies, and Old School R & B.  A guaranteed good time!

Sunday we round out the weekend with a ten-mile pursuit race down river to the Spider at the mouth of the Tred Avon River.  You’re not going to want to miss this weekend!

OH!  We should mention that weekend we’ll also be celebrating the 50^th anniversary of that “Giant Leap for Mankind!”

Details and registration information (which is now open), can be found at CambridgeYachtClub.org or by contacting the Regatta email at CYCMDRegatta@gmail.com

Thanks,

Trevor Carouge

Choptank Fleet Captain

NOW HEAR THIS! a message from the Choptank Fleet Captain

Good afternoon Choptank Fleet!

Click here for Series 2 Course Menu  June 19, 2019

I am pleased to announce that with the help of spinnaker and non-spinnaker boats alike, a new course menu has been established, and is forthcoming. The course number will be announced on the VHF, but may also be displayed on a course board. Make it a habit to sail past the committee boat to check in regardless. Doing so will also enable you to see if any custom courses are displayed. The committee boat will continue to have the authority to make custom courses should the conditions warrant. With the help of Eric Johnston and others, I am working on an alternative ‘text option’ for receiving that evening’s race course - more to come.

In addition to the new race courses, you will also see a randomly chosen (from a hat) list of boats who will serve as race committee in the event that no race committee boat or captain is available that week. Please review this list (see below), and confirm dates with your calendar and crew. For scoring purposes, your boat will be given an average (George is the wizard on this front). Check your anchor gear in preparation.

The Cambridge Yacht Club continues to support ESSA in every way possible. Last week they approved the use of their club tender for ESSA committee boat purposes. They also wanted me to report that any ESSA member who for whatever reason cannot get their boat(s) home that evening may tie up to the pier no questions asked until they are able to return safely. Furthermore, if you are bringing your boats from TAYC, feel free to bring them a day or so early and tie up at the club. Simply contact me beforehand so that I can give the club a heads up.

Your patience through some of these changes is much appreciated. I am looking forward to series two!!!

Your fleet Captain,                                 

Trevor

Random committee boat list;

6/19 - Aura

6/26- No Mas

7/3 - Sawdust

7/10 – If…

7/17 - Reveille

7/24 – Nothing Artificial

7/31 – Touche’

8/7 - Jambo

8/14 – Do Right

8/21 - Gabrielle

8/28 – Ethel Alcohol

9/4 - Javelin

Alternates;     

     1)      – Slice

     2)      – Tamarind

     3)      – St Judy's Comet 

         4)      - Epicure

Click Here -Race Committee Responsibilities

T r e v o r   C a r o u g e

Mark your Calendars, Wednesday, June 25, 2019, SaIlors Cook-Out

Sailors Cook-Out at the Cambridge Yacht Club Gazebo.

ESSA Racers, CYC Cruisers, and Fleet 10 Cruisers.

The Gazebo will open at 6:00 PM 
1/2 lb. Hamburgers $6.00
Jumbo Hot dogs $5.00
Cash bar including, beer, wine, and cocktails.

Join us to watch the races, and discuss the results and cruising the Chesapeake afterward.


Eastern Shore Sailing Association





Fleet 10 Cruising Association





Cambridge Yacht Club Cruisers

 Comments?  Questions?
send them to essasailing38@gmail.com

ESSA Choptank LAMINATED Skipper's Guide

Choptank Skippers.

I have made 10 laminated racing guides.

One side has the race course listing.

The flip side has the local chart and bearings table.

Everything you need on one waterproof card.

Click on the links to see a full page view.

>  Printable chart & bearings

>  Printable Course List

Cost $3.00 (This what it cost me to have them made.)

These will be available after the Wednesday Night Practice Race at the CYC or whenever you see me.

Look for me at the CYC, George the scorekeeper.

Laminated Choptank Skipper's Racing Guide

The chart includes G and Z markers.

THIS Saturday, April 13, 2019 Boaters Garage Sale at the CYC

Postponed due to rain forecast

Sunday April 14