Regatta 2006
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Pisces breaks a course record in ’Port & Starboard Regatta
On August 12, the 77-year-old sloop Pisces, owned and skippered by Harry Fish Jr.
of Jonesport, sailed to a new record in the ’Port & Starboard Yacht Club’s annual
Commander Wally Kurz Memorial Regatta.
Starting just outside Bucks Harbor, Fish completed the approximately 10-mile
triangular course around Machias Bay in one hour and 51 minutes.
Crewing for him aboard the 30-foot Pisces were his wife Sherry, niece Inge Herzog,
nephew Aaron Herzog, and a friend, Jeremy Bassett of Southport, North Carolina.
Fish credited his speed to a unusual combination of wind angles. “When we started,
it was more or less eight to 12 knots north-northwest,” he said. “That gave
us a close reach and a broad reach on the first two legs. After a wind shift more
to the west, we had another close reach back to the finish line.” The lack of an
upwind leg, except for a few short tacks to get back in the harbor, allowed Pisces
to sail more efficiently around the course.
Zephyr, owned and helmed by Harper Dean of East Machias, finished a close second
on corrected time. Arthur Hill of Jonesboro crewed for Dean. Mariah,
skippered by owner Ron Beiswenger of East Machias with a two-man crew
aboard, also competed but withdrew and came in under power to escape radical wind shifts
and approaching thunderstorms.
Bill Transue Jr. of Bucks Harbor served as Race Commodore, and his wife,
Virginia Transue, as timekeeper. Laura and Rick Herzog of Jonesport captained the
Race Committee boat, Aaron Thomas.
The ’Port & Starboard Yacht Club, named for the nearby towns of Machiasport
and Starboard, has held its annual race since 1967. The regatta winner is
the boat finishing first on corrected time, based on competitive handicaps assigned
by the Race Committee before the start.
P&SYC is actively looking for new members who enjoy boating, either
under sail or power. For more information about joining, contact
Vice Commodore Dave Rier at 497-5739.
