Are you an avid sailor who is looking for a little fun competition for a good cause? Well it is time to dust off your sailing shoes and get out on the water and support the Second Annual Hospice Challenge Regatta planned for Saturday and Sunday Aug. 23 and 24. The event started as a one-day event last year, has grown into a two day team racing event planned for this upcoming weekend.
Teams racing consists of teams of six persons, racing in three boats with a skipper and crew in each. Courses are established depending upon the wind but generally consist of windward leeward and triangle course legs with one team competing against another in a round-robin event until all teams have competed against each other. Team racing is unique in that the racing is based on a point system for a particular race so teammates help each other out to achieve the highest finishing points for a win versus a pure finish place. It makes the event a little more challenging and tactics play a huge role.
Competitors can participate as a sponsored team, where a business steps up and pays for the entry of all of the team, or persons can contribute individually to form a team. There are levels of sponsorship available above and beyond team sponsorship for individuals and businesses who might be interested.
Racing will take place over two days and costs $450 per team to enter. Racing begins at 11 a.m. on Saturday. Boats will be launched from the beach, off the northern end of the Solomon’s Island Boardwalk each day. Flying Junior sailboats will be supplied for each team by the Southern Maryland Sailing Foundation and entry is limited to the first twelve teams to sign up. Awards will be given to the top team sailors at an awards ceremony on Sunday evening, Aug. 24.
Spectators are welcome and encouraged to observe the racing from the Solomon’s Island Boardwalk area. A casino night with live music to further benefit the charities follows the racing on Saturday. Tickets are available through St. Mary’s and Calvert Hospice organizations. More information on the on the water activities, sponsorship, and the casino night can be found at http://www.calverthospice.org by clicking on the Hospice Challenge link. Hope to see you on the water.
