Not on my agenda for this weekend I was coerced into crewing for Andrew Parish, well just because we needed to get more boats out. Then came the call where he tried to tell me he could no longer race because of a spontaneous “boys only weekend” with his 8 year old son, to which I responded “so….? I think it’s time to shut your competitive brain down Andrew and take your 8 year old out Star sailing. You will never be able to get this time back with him.” And so he did.

Eight year old Spencer Parish brought along his friend Mathew Periconi for the day. Funny, when you are 8 there is plenty of room between the barney post and the dashboard. Room enough for games, lunch, your best friend (imaginative or real), and just plain talking. These two boys, and mostly dad, had a blast sailing Stars. A jibe consisted of one kid with the pole and one with the jib sheets and then one of the two doing the backstays while dad brought the main over. There was lots of giggling, Chex Mix, apples and entertainment emulating from Black Seal on Saturday. Some of us held our heads low at the end of the day when we were amply beaten by 8 year olds.

Avery Donald skippered Stars for the first time this weekend. Her dad, Keith was ever ready with helpful suggestions and good tactical advice. Avery won the Novice award and she and her dad took the whole event.

Brittney Beigel skippered for the second time (the first there was no wind) for her dad, Read. Having entirely too much fun, she was overheard saying “I’m not sure parents should expose their children to their addictions.” She’s hooked.

The racing.

Saturday was a light and shifty easterly that completely died out when the tide changed. John McCarthy (PRO) and Tot O’Mara (DRO) and the RC were lucky to get two races off, but they did. We’d have an early start tomorrow.

Sunday started out with a 8-12 knot breeze out of the northeast. It pretty much stayed from the same direction but got shiftier as the day went on and the breeze died down. It was a picture perfect day with puffy white clouds and brilliant blue sky, a photographer’s delight. The fleet stayed more compact today and we got three races in. Places switched on each leg, it seemed, and good sailing was enjoyed by all.

Next year.

This event was added late to our schedule as a warm up for the PRO John McCarthy. He will be the PRO for the North Americans in October. We hope we have a better turn out next year, but if we don’t I am sure we will once again be entertained by young kids and whooped by Juniors. And we welcome either.