2015 Classic Moth Nationals

Although the CMBA Nats were held way back in mid September, I'm just now getting the gumption to post a few of the better ones.  Due to my head injury I was a spectator this year.

Mike Parsons scopes out the wind before the first warning on Saturday.

Gary Gowans leads Ed Salva out from the dock.

14 year old Jake Keggans borrowed Susan Bousquet's Shelley for his inaugural Moth event.  A solid choice!  This boat competed at the Moth Worlds in '65.

Carol Terryberry borrowed Arch Farmer's vintage Dorr Willey Moth.

A closer view of the vintage division boat Tennis Bracelet.  Gary rehabbed this boat over the winter.  He said he removed about a zillion brass screws (the only source of apparent stiction in this 65+ year old boat).  Gary relocated the centerboard trunk and mast step, turning a boat that previously rarely finished a race into a division winner.

Jamey Rabbitt once again borrowed Jeff Linton's Mousetrap.  But what's that bumper sticker on the transom?

Ed Salva enjoying Legend, Greg Duncan's Connecticut.

Joe Bousquet (Nr 48) mentors junior sailor Jake K before the start of one of the early heats.

Our other junior sailor, 17 year old  Zach Balluzzo.  Zach rehabbed this freebie Mistral hull and transferred the rig and hardware from last year's boat.

Don Janeway's Ventnor.  This boat has been in his family for two generations.

"South of the Border".  Those unfamiliar with this "oasis" just off I-95 at the north/south Carolina border can educate themselves here

Walt Collins flew up from Florida and borrowed a Dorr Willey from Greg and a sail from me.

Another look at Tennis Bracelet.

Zach Attack!

Both juniors were quite competitive!

Fighting for a clean lane, Carol T. comes to grips with the Dorr Willey's wishbone tiller.

Joe Bousquet's Mistral Try-Umph at rest.

Flip flop paint jobs Connecticut vs Dorr Willey.

The mighty Mousetrap is still the boat to beat in Generation II.

The Ventnor pounds a bit.

The large green roofed building in the background is the Museum of the Albemarle's new-ish home on Water Street.  The building dominates downtown Elizabeth City.

Joe Courter (Nr 40) lasted one race before gear breakage side lined his Europe.

Greg Duncan, so far, is the only one to experiment with full battens and a loose footed sail permitted after a recent rules change.  Opinions are divided about it's effectiveness.

Taking a break in between races.

John Pugh's Europe

Nr 105 is Tweezerman's Maser (Moth created from a dead Laser hull).  Some argue that Rod retained the least desirable parts!  The boat does go however.

This boat, BBB jr was once owned by champion racer Jane Bateman.  Her father owned a construction company and the family also owned a larger Comet class sloop named  BBB which stood for "Bricks By Bateman".  Mr. Bateman prided himself as a shrewd building material estimator.  Back in the late 1940s Dorr Willey was getting ready to build a new shop and so he asked Bateman to estimate the number of cinder blocks required.  Bateman did so at the conclusion of a fall regatta.  The two men, one living in Philadelphia, the other in Elizabeth City, didn't see each other until the following spring when racing resumed.  Mr. Bateman asked Dorr how he'd made out with the building project and Dorr looked up at him and said "not too good".  Bateman, taken aback, said "what do you mean?"  Dorr replied "I had two block left over."

Pedro says "that's all folks!"  Hopefully I'll be fit enough to race by the time the Mid-Winter regatta rolls around in February.