John’s crew this year was Ed Morey from Boston who flew in for a few quiet, beautiful, Eastern Shore laid back days. The Miles River treated us to about all conditions possible in the two day event held at the Miles River Yacht Club. The pressure was on for Ed—John had 19 Blue Stars, what if they got second?

The fleet gave John no breaks at all. The first race was an instructional overview of how to win a Star race by Read Beigel skippering for his dad. Read is a new Junior member of ISCYRA and the Annapolis Fleet. They won handily with Tom and daughter Saidee Price keeping the pressure on and John followed in 3rd. The breeze was light and spotty but by no means a throw of the dice.

In the second race the breeze picked up slightly and it was Tom and Saidee leading us around the course with Mike Hecky and Scott Leppert in second and once again John Mac and Ed in third.

In race three the breeze was just perfect—you know the crews are all over the side, the boat finds her groove the rig is singing and everything seems perfect. It was Mike Hecky and Scott Leppert’s turn to show their style, John Mac and Ed were second and Barbara Vosbury and Guy Avellon came in 3rd.

After racing we retired to Dan North’s place next door to the Club to enjoy oysters, beer, hors d’oeuvres, wine, Kentucky Derby, great company and the delicious aroma of dinner wafting out over the water. Star sailor and Chef Carl Langkhammerer ditched his hiking vest for his Chef’s apron and cooked us Chateau Briand, asparagus and new potatoes with a side salad and the perfect wine pairing. Have we died and gone to heaven? Maybe. We were “on the shore” after all.

Sunday morning came with breeze on. 12-18 knots and puffy. It was a picture perfect day with awesome clouds, good breeze and chilly water. Once the race committee got settled down we got down to business. Race 4 was John Mac’s turn to teach the lesson with Mike Hecky and Read Beigel cutting him no breaks. Tom and Saidee hung on by smart thinking and making all the right rig adjustments to overcome their light weight.

Race 5 Barbara Vosbury and Guy Avellon were first out of the gate and led around the course until the last 1/3 of the last leg when John Mac and Ed finally closed her out. With Mike Hecky and Scott closing in on every leg it was a tough race for all.

A big thank you to Marshall and the Race Committee at Miles River YC for a job well done, to Will Murdoch for making all of the arrangements and setting up the Clinic on Friday with John Mac.

And to John Mac: while sometimes we might, under our breath, wish you would be busy sailing Lasers while we have our Blue Star do not ever stop attending this event. We need you to keep pushing us to better our racing. Thank you.