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squall on the second day of summer delayed the start of the 19th annual Whortonsville Yacht and Tractor Club Solstice Regatta. About two dozen boats waited out the storm and eventually completed the course.

The winning boat was “Nevermoore” a Moore 24 owned by Brian Brown. He is, like all winners of the Summer Solstice Sailebration Regatta, a first time winner. In the 19 years of the event, no one has ever won twice. The rigorous handicapping of past winners by WYTC race organizer Nick Santoro is seen as the reason no repeat winners have emerged. Last year’s winner Graham Byrnes made it close however, finishing 2nd.

The crew of “Nevermoore” shows the Moore 24’s form just before the race. (Brian Palmer photo)

Saturdays race was marked by some mishaps along the way. “Topsy” snagged the pin, or float, that marks one end of the starting line (that was before the race was delayed). The sailboat’s encounter with the pin lodged its anchor so well that it took the efforts of three men to raise the anchor after the race. Once loose of the marker, “Topsy” wasn’t slowed down too much, ultimately placing third.

“Long Run” & “Dawn Treader” collided shortly after rounding the downward leg mark. No sailors appeared to be injured, however “Dawn Treader” (a Hinckley Bermuda 40), just fresh out of the boatyard with a glistening paint job, will be heading back there for repairs.

After the race, about 100 people gathered at Ensign Harbor Marina, aka Nick and Jeannette Santoro’s place, where the Yacht and Tractor Club potluck has taken place for 19 years. Pig was served, and a potluck table laid out.

Here are photos from the day. Special thanks to Brian Palmer for the race course photos. Race results on page three.

The starts were staggered according to Nick Santoro handicapping. Here are some of the boats in the second of the nine starts. (Brian Palmer photo)

Marshall cat boat, “Grace” with Ned Ferris at the helm. (Brian Palmer photo)

A 1960 HInkley Bermuda 40 yawl passes the white marker of the starting line as part of the fourth wave of boats to start the race. (Brian Palmer photo)

Graham Byrnes, Beth Bucksot and Tom Lathrop onboard “Southern Skimmer”, a Graham designed Everglades Challenge 22. (Brian Palmer photo)

Orion and crew, Margaret Alexander, Regina Dubiel and LuAnn Parins. (Brian Palmer photo)

For a while Saturday, it was fine racing weather for a cruising boat such as the Pacific Seacraft 31 “Slainte”. The squall that settled over the race course prompted a half hour delay for the start, during which the squall passed. Winds went from 22 knots to about 10. Still,“Slainte” did well with a fourth place finish. (Brian Palmer photo)

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Some of the field in the WYTC Regatta. That spinnaker helped “Nevermoore” catch up and then overtake the rest of the fleet, and win the race. (Brian Palmer photo)

Wait, there’s more. Brian Brown won not only the ceramic WYTC cup, but for his first place finish in “Nevermoore” he also came away with a WYTC burgee and a loaf of Reba Tiller bread. .

In the 19 years of the WYTC regatta there has never been a repeat winner. Graham Byrnes, last year’s champion, came close though. He finished second, about 70 seconds behind “Nevermoore”. As he picked up his prize — a loaf of bread — someone called out a suggestion that in next year’s race, Graham’s staggered start should be ‘‘on Sunday’.

The crew of “Topsy”, Nancy Crain, skipper Earl Evens, Sandy Evens, Larry Jones, Darrel Wiard. Their second start surpassed their first, in which they dragged the pin marking one side of the starting line. Earl says they got caught in irons with 15 seconds to the start, and that, too close to the line marker, the rudder caught its anchor line. Race officials watching say the boat proceeded sideways rather than forward. (Around the same time, the race was postponed for half an hour due to the weather.) Because of that tugging encounter, the starting line marker in place got set very well. It later took three men to raise its anchor.

Melydia Edge, who came in last last year and won a giant zucchini for her efforts. For her 4th place finish this year, the captain of “Slainte”, a Pacific Seacraft 31, won a loaf of zucchini bread. It was presented thru the banister of the stairs. That’s Nick’s hand at left.

Stefan Ufer says he has still more burgees. Several on display Saturday were from Germany, including one from his hometown of Ulm. Stefan’s boat, “Layla” was last across the finish line.

Two objects may not occupy the same space at the same time. The race had one collision – between a Tartan 34 and this Hinkley Bermuda 40 yawl which had just recently been painted.

The crew of “Second Wind” sporting more turquoise than any other boat. and showing off the logo of this year’s T-shirt. They also point the way to one more page of photos.

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At the WYTC potluck.

Some of the younger sailors.

Reba Tiller, a part of the WYTC from the start, sporting that first year’s (1990) t-shirt. Reba lives down the creek from the festivities, on the most sailor-ly road in Pamlico County, “Tiller Extension”.

Jeannette and Nick Santoro, who’ve been hosting the WYTC event for 19 years, at the waterside of Ensign Harbor Marina.

Berkeley Hill of Reelsboro has been cooking the pig for the WYTC race for several years. When he’s not doing this, he’s an EMT with Pamlico Rescue.

The turquoise-clad crew of Second Wind, revealed. Jim Miller, Jacques and Susan Miller in back, while in front are Joyce Bellassai, Carolyn Bellassai, Gina Mills and Andy Facemire.

Race Results

1. Nevermoore – Brian Brown – Moore 24 3:13:43
2. S. Skimmer – Graham Byrnes* – Graham Byrnes Design 3:14:57
3. Topsey- Earl Evens – Watkins 33 3:16:15
4. Slainte – Melidia Edge – Pacific Seacraft 30 3:17:32
5. Pressando – Gordon Kellog – Catalina 36 3:17:38
6. Joy Ride- Mike Evans – San Juan 21 3:18:01
7. Southern Star – Lane Kendall – Catalina 30 3:18:12
8. Orion- Margaret Alexander* San Juan 21 3:18:32
9. Grace- Ned Ferris* – Marshall 3:18:45
10. Laura- Skip Fenner – Tartan 37 3:19:21
11. First Draft – Paul Bogardus* – Catalina 27 3:21:43
12: Spindrift – Bob Miller – Sabre 28 3:27:45
13. Last Detail – Dan Tracey – Irwin 34 3:27:47
14. Snowbird – Nick Santoro – Endeavour 32 3:28:02
15. Leap of Faith – Walter Lane – B. Oceanic 37 3:29:48
16. Merry Mary – George Duffie – Tartan 34 3:31:34
17. Long Run – Kevin Bryan* – Tartan 34 3:33:41
18. Akela – Dan Albert – Tartan 34 3:34:05
19. Wind Melody – Dick Manion – Bristol 31.1 3:34:30
21. Janel – Mike Trogdon – Sabre 38 3:39:09
22. Avanti – Paul Triulzi – O’Day 28 3:40:48
23. Second Wind – Jim Miller – O’Day 34 3:41:11
24. Layla – Stefan Ufer – Sabre 30 3:41:36
X25 Dawn Treader – Joey Darr – B-40 (left race due to collision)
X26 Miranda – Ken Small – Pearson 34 (left race due to crabpot entanglement)

“*” signifies a winner from a previous year.

The Committee Boat noted that the weather conditions were overcast during the race. There had been a squall that stalled just as the staggered-start race was to begin at noon. The decision made to delay the race and starts by 30 minutes. Winds during the race were measured at 8-10, with winds at 22 noted during the squall.

Posted Monday June 23, 2008 by Melinda Penkava