Today, the final race was held for the 43rd Mobjack Nationals at Lewes Yacht Club.  Racing took place on the Delaware Bay, just inside Cape Henlopen near Breakwater Harbor.  Mark Arnold, of Chesapeake, with crew Matt Frank maintained their lead over Hank Strother and crew Steve Davenport of Alexandria, VA.  This makes the 8th time Mark has earned the National Championship and third for them as a team. Although Hank and Steve won the last race, they could not overcome the lead Mark and Matt had set up earlier.  John Gardner and crew Rob Scott of Alexandria, VA finished in third just one point ahead of defending National Champion Len Guenther of Chesapeake, VA with his daughter Heidi as crew. Mark and Matt scored three firsts followed by two thirds, with the other two races won by Len Guenther and Hank Strother. The racers enjoyed great competition and expert regatta management by the Lewes Yacht Club.  The five races were sailed around modified gold cup courses, a 5 ½ leg race (triangle / windward / leeward / windward) with each leg approximately a mile or more in length.  Twenty boats competed with skippers aged 15 to 80.  Many family teams and some husband/wife teams competed. The morning races were sailed in light air followed by lunch /wind breaks and the afternoon races became nice romps as a seabreeze filled in.

Lewes Yacht Club once again excelled at their hospitality, providing homemade pastries and fresh fruit breakfasts, a refreshing pool with morning water-aerobics, hearty meals, and an excellent, well staffed and alert race committee.

A highlight of the regatta was an eightieth birthday party for Roger Moorman (the designer and original builder of the Mobjack) of Gloucester, VA, and Rowland Marshall and Rodney Evans both of Lewes, DE. Rowland and Rodney were competing, placing 7th and 11th respectively. Friday and Saturday two historical sailing vessels provided an interesting back drop to the racing and a visual diversion between races. One was Delaware’s Tall Ship, the “Kalmar Nyckel“, a replica of the Swedish three-masted armed pinnace (warship), that brought the first permanent European settlers to the Delaware Valley in 1638.  The other was the “A.J. Meerwald”, a genuine Delaware Bay oyster schooner built in 1928 with sleek sailing lines and a gleaming white hull. In addition, the sailors were escorted out to the race course Sunday by fifteen to twenty dolphins. Chesapeake Bay Yacht Racing Association provided support and sanctioned the regatta.

During the Business Meeting, Tom Roberts was re-elected President, Jerry Desvernine Vice President, Mark Arnold Treasurer, Tom Ward Secretary, Perry Jones Chief Measurer, Tracy Kubinec Member at Large, and Len Guenther Member at Large.  A Commitment was made to build new boats and masts using Mobjack Sales, Inc.
 

REGATTA HIGHLIGHTS:

5 Races

WINNING TEAM :Mark Arnold and Matt Frank, Chesapeake, Va
 
 

Additional trophies and special awards:

The winner will be awarded the International Mobjack Championship Trophy.
                     Mark Arnold,Skipper             Matt Frank, Crew

Prizes will also be awarded to 2nd through 5th positions  See above:.

The Stein Award (Senior National Champion) - presented to the skipper with the best finish who is 63 years of age or older at the start of the National Championship Regatta.
 Bob Beach,  Winchester, VA

The Ulmer Award - presented to the member participating in their first Nationals as a skipper who finishes highest in the regatta but does not receive a position award.
 Paynter Ingram, Lewes, DE

The Stephanie Ann Ives Memorial Trophy (Youth Award) - presented to that member skipper, not having reached their 21st birthday during the year the Nationals is held, who finishes highest in the regatta but does not receive a position award or the Ulmer Award for the regatta.
 Meg Roberts from West Point, VA

The “Family Award” - presented to the qualifying skipper who finishes highest in the regatta but does not receive a position award, Ulmer Award or youth award. To qualify, the skipper must have at least one crew member from another generation of their family aboard.
 Rowland Marshall, Skipper                 Constance Marshall Miller, Crew, Lewes, DE

The “Top Woman Skipper Award” - presented to the female skipper finishing highest in the National Championship Regatta.
Meg Roberts West Point, VA

The Mobjack Systems Award - presented to the husband-wife team regardless of which is skipper and crew who have the best finish among husband-wife teams.
 Jerry and Cheryl Desvernine, Richmond, VA

The “Long Haul Award” - presented to that member who trails their boat the longest distance in order to participate in the Nationals.
 Al Williamson from Knoxville, Tenn

The “Fleet Award” - presented to the fleet (other than the host fleet) which has the largest number of boats participating in the Nationals.  In the case of a tie, the fleet with the highest total standing in the regatta shall be given the award.
 Potomac River Sailing Association

The “Anchor Award” - presented to the skipper who has the largest number of  total points of all skippers completing every race.  In the tradition of this award the winner is to maintain the trophy for the following year and add one piece of memorabilia or otherwise make improvements to enhance the trophy.
 Charles Beaverson, Lewes, DE

The Stephen McDonough Sr. Award - presented to the skipper who has displayed the best sportsmanship during the regatta.  This was determined by a vote of the participating sailors.
 Tie:  AL Williamson, Knoxville, TN and Rowland Marshall, Lewes. DE.

For more information:
Tom Roberts
President
International Mobjack Association
(804) 843-2682
mobjack@crosslink.net

Posted 8/20/02, Updated 8/25/02