The forecast for the 2009 Tred Avon YC Penguin Frostbite sailed on November 7^th was exactly right as to direction and exactly wrong (I should say reversed) as to velocity. The breeze continued to build rather than diminish from the southwest. The nine competitors enjoyed one of the finest, if bumpiest, sailing days of the summer in mostly 15 knot plus wind and sunny 60 plus degree temperatures.  

Seven of the competitors enjoyed the skilled services of local and regional Opti and 420 aces. Patrick Floyd sailed with winner Jonathan Bartlett. Andreas Adam was with me and took great joy in beating best friend and archrival Read Beigel who enlisted his dad Read, Sr., as crew. Hayley Crowder crewed for new Penguin sailor Elizabeth Wainwright. They sailed in a beautiful borrowed Horner, previously owned by Dick Kelly. Scott Williamson had regular crew Aubrey Barringer, a veteran of the Gibson Island program.

Local celebrity attorney Sandy McAllister enjoyed sailing with 420 sailor Miriah Luffingwell. Finally, the sailor with the most Penguin experience of all, Bill Lane,  had Grey Benson as crew.

 Only one sailor had to make do with help from a big person. Donna Mackenzie has become Charlie Krafft’s regular crew. This has proved to be an outstanding team.  They won the Internationals together and sailed to a solid second place in this regatta.

 Bob Blomquist deserves a lot of credit for single-handing in the big breeze. He commented, after the fact, that he now has a good grip on the idea that live crew (as opposed to water bottles) would be most helpful. Check out the local Opti and 420 fleets for enthusiastic crew, Bob.

 Thanks to PRO Andrew Parrish and Eric Crawford and Skyler Benson for a great final regatta for the 2009 season. They provided two crash boats for a great margin of safety on a beautiful fall day.

 Results are available on the TAYC website. www.tayc.com

 Paul Hull