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While most sailors view January as a time to put the boat away until spring, a hardy group of Oriental sailors greeted the New Year with a race on the Neuse River. Well, some of the sailors treated it as a race.

This year the “Instead of Football Regatta” welcomed one of the largest fleets since its inception 14 years ago.

A bounding “Bounty” at the Instead of Football Regatta (Ryan Honnoll photo)

Organizer Tom Lathrop explains how this year’s regatta unfolded on the Neuse:

In a stroke of brilliant planning by the race organizers and a grant from the local weather gods, New Year’s Day 2008 found the Neuse River in a receptive mood for the annual regatta.

Near-perfect conditions on the course. (RiverCam photo)

The fleet came together in bright sunshine and near 60 degrees temperature to meet the New Year. All boats sailed from Oriental #1 channel mark toward Adams Creek promptly at 12 noon in wind of about 12 to 15 knots.

Part of the fleet after the start(Tom Lathrop photo)

After rounding Adams Creek mark, the wind gradually increased on the way downwind to Garbacon Shoal marker. For the final upwind leg to the finish at Oriental entrance mark, 25 knots of wind was quite enough strength to blow sedentary cobwebs accumulated over the holidays from the minds of the intrepid crews.

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Posted Wednesday January 2, 2008 by Bernie Harberts