2010 Sperry Top-Sider Annapolis NOOD
The 2010 Sperry Top-Sider Annapolis NOOD regatta was held in Annapolis, MD this past weekend, April 30th through May 2nd. The event was hosted by the Annapolis Yacht Club with race management assistance from the Eastport Yacht Club and the Severn Sailing Association. The event upheld its reputation as the largest of the NOOD regattas on the east coast with a total of 215 entries in 16 classes. The regatta also saw 8 total races in each class over three days of near perfect sailing conditions, with temperatures in the mid to upper 70s and a traditional Chesapeake Bay “sea breeze” of 6 to 10 knots out of the South/Southeast each day; with abnormally warm spring temperatures, most sailors could abandon their heavy sailing gear for shorts and t-shirts.
The largest fleets at the event were the J/80s with 35 entries, the J/105s with 28 entries, and the J/22 fleet with a total of 23 entries. The J/80 class saw a major increase in numbers from last year’s event and was arguably the most competitive class leading up to their World Championships, to be held in Newport, RI this October. The overall class winner was Huston, TX native and Quantum sail maker Terry Flynn with a 32 point total and 17 points ahead of second place Brian Keane sailing for the Beverly Yacht Club in Marion, MA. The J/105 fleet, which is traditionally the largest one-design fleet on the Bay, was won by AYC club member Peter McChesney with a total of 21 points, and another 21 points ahead of the second place boat. In the J/22 class, Greg Fisher was the overall winner once again, sailing for the Eastport Yacht Club and beating out second place Jeffrey Todd by only three points.
I was sailing my first Annapolis NOOD as a skipper in the J/22 class for team CompleteSailor.com, and using a borrowed Annapolis Yacht Club owned boat. I thought that the event was run extremely well and that the race committee did an excellent job of getting off the perfect amount of racing over the three days of the regatta. The sailing went very well for us on day one, Friday, with the shorter 3-leg windward/leeward courses. When the courses were changed to 5 and 6 leg windward/leewards however on Saturday and Sunday, our lack of time in the boat, and the boat’s age, which was older than me, became apparent in our lack of up-hill speed. Nevertheless, the J/22 fleet was very exciting to compete in, with close racing and friendly competition. Congratulations to Greg and his crew for a well sailed event!
Overall, the Sperry Top-Sider Annapolis NOOD was an incredible event and a blast to compete in. With top-notch event management and ideal sailing conditions, it’s no wonder this regatta has been so successful over the past few years. Complete regatta results can be found online at SailingWorld.com.