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Junior Olympics at the Baltimore Sailing Center
The scores for the event can be viewed online at What a production and whoa…conditions.
Saturday morning, as the sun glittered over Hawk Cove, our beach was littered with dozens of coach and boats and support vessels , while the committee boats and motherships of visiting clubs rested at anchor on the Cove. With all of the 100 race boats rigged on the beach and the support fleet poised to jump into action, Rocky Point was quite a sight.
The second day of races brought more child friendly conditions and another round of excellent races. Trophies and prizes were provided by US Sailing, Topper Sailboats, Ronstan, the CBYRA, and the Rybczynski Family. Music and Food sure do make a party. Many thanks to Jon Bova and Blue Stone Productions for keep the party going and for entertaining the crowds ashore during the races. Many visiting sailors commented on how the rockin music set the stage for a great day of competition. Additional complements are owed to our caterers and food sponsors who kept everyone well feed all weekend long. Delicious breakfast items from Oasis Coffee ,and Food Lion where also furnished by Neighoff Mechanical Contractors. Bagged lunches came from The Necks Stop on Sunday and Jim Moore Catering on Saturday. Jim's fabulous catering services have quickly become a BCSC tradition. Junior Olympians and families enjoyed a feast of pit beef, ham, turkey, beans, corn, mac'n'cheese, and more at the dinner on Saturday Night. Jim will also be catering the BCSC Annual Bull Roast later this summer on September 19th (save the date). Our volunteers are heroic.
I have received dozens of emails thanking us and congratulating the organization on the milestone event.
"I just wanted to thank you so much for having the gang there!! The Miles River Yacht Club
team had so much fun!! A lot of wind the first day - something we are not used to… great
experience…"Thanks so much, Parker Spurry, Miles River Yacht Club
We'd like to give on more BIG thank you to all of our sponsors and contributors.
All photos courtesy of
bsphoto.printroom.com
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After 7 months of anticipation, last weekend, at Rocky Point Park, the Baltimore County
Sailing Center hosted the marquee event of the junior racing season, The US Sailing Junior
Olympic Chesapeake Open. This event was a resounding success as it involved 117 athletes and
100 sailboats! Read more below about the many highlights and happy memories that our
community shared as part of this epic event.
The earliest boats arrived on Thursday evening. Racers from as far as Fishing Bay Yacht
Club lined up their trailers at BCSC to be ready for their early morning practice on
Friday July 10th. Though camps were stilling running on Friday it was clear, very early,
that this was about to be a very special weekend. The FBYC kids were joined by several other
clubs including TAYC for an open practice day. Very few sailors outside of our own community,
have every sailed the waters that we are so familiar with. After a long day of practice, summer camp,
and endless preparation BCSC was ready to host the nine clubs that converged on Hawk Cove.
Before the sun set, our volunteers were treated to delightful BBQ treat courtesy of the
Fishing Bay laser coach, Alessandro.
Our own wind reader on Hart Miller Island indicated very heavy conditions of 17-20 kt.
winds from the south. While many sailors found the conditions challenging, the races
continued, challenging even the most skilled of athletes. The Marine Trades Association of
Baltimore County hosted a delicious dinner and party, where Topper Sailboats showcased
their three newest sailing dinghies with tests sails in the cove. Hal Ashman of the Essex
Middle River Chamber of Commerce joined us to present the scores from day one.
I think I've counted at least 70 volunteers who, over seven months, contributed their time
and enthusiasm to helping BCSC host the Junior Olympics. I know that I am leaving out so
many others who helped to plan, prepare, and execute the event, that we may never know the
real total. In the end this event was truly and group effort by the entire waterfront
community. I was additionally struck diversity of our core volunteer group and how it
represented a cross section of our community. GSA members, BCSC Instructors, local cruisers,
Rocky Point Park Staff, Park and Recreation officials, Holly Neck and Back River Neck
locals, Junior Racing Parents, Monday Night Racers, Scholastic Sailors, Merit Badge
Instructors, and summer camp graduates were all in attendance and ready to lend a hand.
Together we were all able to achieve something that had never even been attempted in this
region. In doing so, we've shared the things that we all treasure at BCSC with the rest of
the Chesapeake Bay, and put ourselves on the map . I hope that everyone found inspiration
and joy in coming together to celebrate this amazing organization and family.
