Photos Link: https://judybonanno.smugmug.com/Sailing/J-regattas/CPM-Raceweek-Down-the-River

The 2024 Down the River Race held in Ken Narrows Maryland off Cedar Point Marina is a long distance race where each entry has its own Chase boat. for those out-of-town entries that did not have their own chase boat Rick Boulay and Chesapeake Whaler Towne provided a boat. Special thanks to Rick and Erick Howell for providing chase boats to skippers that needed a boat. The weather really got off to a poor start with rain and high winds forcing a postponement until after lunch when we were able to get started and out on the water in overcast sky's and a super light drizzle. Winds were 4-8 from the NE and just as we were starting the start sequence, we lost Mark Fleckenstein's Shamrock V with a broken jib headstay fitting losing the rig. We were able to fish the boat and rig out and into Rickes Whaler and racing started back up. At the start Alex and David Ramos followed by the Bom Bonanno and Wick Dudley got the jump off the line for the weather mark about 300yds to weather Ale made an error and rounded to port rather than to starboard and had to unwind the string and reround the weather mark allowing Dom and Wick to jump out to a slight lead. The long downwind leg to Hog Island of about 1.4miles had the fleet slightly compress on the run with Alex and Dave Ramos able to overtake Dom and Winch as we rounded the island from the south round the island clockwise forcing a slight beat to weather on the NW side of the island until able to clear the northern edge of the island and head back to the weather mark again. The wind went slightly to the north allowing almost a fetch to the weather mark. The question was whether to hug the north shore and suffer the light winds near the condos on the north edge of the course or foot off into stronger winds on the right side but forcing a little more weather (Tacking) work as you came out from the lee of the condos and needed to get up to the second weather mark rounding. Alex and David decided to stay left as were able to get thru the light airs and escape slightly heading down to the new leeward mark about a mile toward the Kent Narrows channel. Alex and David again stayed left with Dom and Wick following suite on the last beat to the finish. Doug Reiger closed the distance a but on Dom and Wick but were not able to reach them before the finish while keeping an eye on Brian Kerrigan following him. All in all the DTRR was a huge success, and everyone had a blast. Thanks to everyone involved as well as some of the volunteers and team members that made the race possible. great time! Until next time......Fair winds Dave