Trippe Creek Frostbite 2015

The weather played havoc with the Trippe Creek frostbite this year.  Based on a forecast of 18 knot winds with gusts to 25 and a high temperature of 50 forecast for Saturday, we decided to let the weather system calm down a bit and sail Sunday which had a forecast high in the 60’s and winds in the more manageable 5 – 10 knot range.  Well, when we arrived Sunday morning, the temperature was in the low 40’s and there was a stiff southwesterly breeze blowing up the Tred Avon, making our decision to wait a day somewhat suspect.  Three teams opted not to sail, but 9 did and PRO Tot O’Mara took us up the Trippe Creek, instead of out into the Tred Avon, so we were well protected from the southwesterly breeze.  Tot set up a triangle course, with the windward mark perilously close to the shore, or at least close enough that there was a huge wind shadow cast by the trees on the shore so getting around the mark was a bit of a challenge.  Bob Lippincott arrived at the windward mark in race 1 first, however Bill Lawson, who was right on his heels, took a low road on the reaching leg and found some breeze (where did all the wind go), and was far ahead at the gybe mark and never looked back.  In races 2 and 3, (and spoiler alert) 5, it was pretty much the same story with Bill Lawson and Colette Preis getting a good start, getting to the first shift first, and then leading around the course.

Notable exceptions were, for instance in race 3 when Carl Langkammerer sailing his newly refurbished Wright Penguin, found a favorable wind on the right side of the course and rounded second and was only passed on the long, final beat.  The first crew to finish the crew race was Hayden Gibbons-Neff, sailing with Bob Lippincott. 

This event also served as the Atlantic Coast Championship, counting the 4 race series, exclusive of the crew race.  Bill and Colette won that as well.

New this year, a perpetual trophy for the Trippe Creek Frostbite was donated by Anne-Lise Fink.   Originally awarded to her husband, Walter Fink, who sailed his yacht, named Turkey, to victory in a race in the MORC (Midget Ocean Racing Club) class on Long Island Sound in 1967, this beautiful silver bowl has been repurposed and will now serve as a perpetual for this event.

Jim Thompson and his daughter Holly were marvelous hosts.  A not so small army of volunteers assisted, taking care of everything from making sure signs were posted so people could find the venue, setting up registration and an entertainment station with videos from past years events including old UMPFR’s.  Setting up a couple of outdoor firepits so contestants and visitors could warm themselves, having a launching crew ready to assist with putting the boats in the water and then getting  them to the floating dock, so contestants could step into their boats without getting their feet wet,  to ensuring the food and beverage tables were constantly replenished.

Holly Thompson, in emceeing the awards ceremony, acknowledging the 26 years of combined legacy behind this end-of-season eastern shore Penguin frostbite, said that they recognized that they were merely stewards of this event and were glad to see the tradition continue.

Results

Trippe Creek

Boat

Skipper

Crew

Race 1

2

3

4

5

total

9677

Bill Lawson

Colette Preis

1

1

1

2

1

6

9478

Charles Krafft

Cairn Krafft

3

2

3

1

2

11

9664

Bob Lippincott

Hayden Gibbons-Neff

2

3

2

5 (c)

4

16

4200

Bill Lane

Bennett Thompson

4

5

7

3

3

22

9632

Sandy McAllister

Annie Bartlett

5

4

6

4

6

25

9575

Philip Logan

Katrina Greer

6

7

4

6 (c)

5

28

7565

Carl Langkammerer

Carolyn Draper

7

6

5

9 (c)

7

34

8823

Sewall Cox

Izzy Rogers

9

8

9

7 (c)

8

41

9676

Amy Krafft

Stephanie Gajar

8

9

8

8 (c)

9

42

5282

John Majane

nc

DNC

 

 

 

 

 

9320

Hank Krafft

nc

DNC

 

 

 

 

 

7702

Elizabeth Wainwright

Wendy Grubb

DNC

 

 

 

 

 

 Race 4 was the crew race, (c) indicates a crew skippered boat

Atlantic Coast Championship – scored races 1, 2, 3, & 5

Boat

Skipper

Crew

Race 1

2

3

5

total

9677

Bill Lawson

Colette Preis

1

1

1

1

4

9478

Charles Krafft

Cairn Krafft

3

2

3

2

10

9664

Bob Lippincott

Hayden Gibbons-Neff

2

3

2

4

11

4200

Bill Lane

Bennett Thompson

4

5

7

3

19

9632

Sandy McAllister

Annie Bartlett

5

4

6

6

21

9575

Philip Logan

Katrina Greer

6

7

4

5

22

7565

Carl Langkammerer

Carolyn Draper

7

6

5

7

25

8823

Sewall Cox

Izzy Rogers

9

8

9

8

34

9676

Amy Krafft

Stephanie Gajar

8

9

8

9

34

5282

John Majane

nc

DNC

 

 

 

 

9320

Hank Krafft

nc

DNC

 

 

 

 

7702

Elizabeth Wainwright

Wendy Grubb

DNC