You too can drink fresh beer or bubbly from the shiny Craighill Cup. You’ll just have to wait until next year to get the opportunity! Craighill Channel Lower Range Front Lighthouse stood proudly as sailboats battled dying winds to take a turn around it last Saturday in the Chesapeake. If I do the links right, they should open up images with a “next” button in the upper right (or press ‘n’) and a “close” link at the lower right so you can return to this post.
Chris Overcash, a member of North Point Sailing Association and new board member of HPP, organized the first ever Craighill Cup Regatta to benefit the restoration efforts at the lighthouse and we are eternally grateful! What a cool event! Nine boats participated in the regatta on what was supposed to be a sunny warm day for the end of September, but started out raining and gray instead. No worries, the race went on. New lifetime member of HPP, Willie, and I boarded the lighthouse early to photograph, video, and wave as the boats rounded the light (in theory). I also got to show off the lighthouse toilet that I’m oh-so-proud-of (not many opportunities to do that!). Using binoculars, we watched them get ready at the start line around North Point.
We watched the leader, Flying Circus, approaching quickly and then stop suddenly just short of the light. They took down their sail and puzzled, we watched as they motored away. I’m still not sure what happened there. Not much later, other boats started cruising between the fishermen and the lighthouse before the sound of ratchets and gear clanked as they swung around to make the turn around the lighthouse. Seeing all these sailboats heading in our direction was probably one of the neatest experiences I’ve had.
Roaring Fortys was the big winner of the first annual Craighill Cup and relished their prize of the Craighill Cup and a plaque.
We hopped in my little inflatable dive and rescue boat to pull ahead of the sailboats and hopefully get a good shot of them with the lighthouse in the background, but they were too fast for us. Instead, we pulled up to Commodore Charlie Rouse’s boat and watched the last half of finishers cross the line. We rafted up together with several of the finishers with my boat serving as a buoy between the big guys. Made me think of Sesame Street’s “Which one of these is not like the other…” song from my childhood! Burgers and sausages and beer for all!
I had a wonderful time and look forward to even more entrants next year! Let’s fill the horizon with sails and really make a statement! Thanks to all who participated. Truly an awesome experience!
1st Place: Roaring Fortys
2nd Place: Phaedrus
3rd Place: Ringmaster
I even made it back down to DC in time to video tape my neighbor’s son sing the National Anthem, although my pants were still wet from falling in the water while pulling the boat up on the trailer AFTER I changed. Oops!
[Complete Photoset]
