The 2008 Small Reach Regatta
To be held at WoodenBoat, Brooklin, Maine, August 14–17, 2008
Sponsored by WoodenBoat Magazine & the Downeast Chapter of the TSCA
Building on the success of the Small Reach Regatta of 2007—with 39 boats participating in three days of daysailing off the WoodenBoat waterfront—the regatta is set for its second year in 2008! This event is intended for small boats of traditional rowing and sailing types—generally speaking, boats that can put into a beach and relaunch without assistance.
Last year, we had everything from an Abaco dinghy to a fast knockabout sloop, from a traditional Banks dory to a Wayfarer dinghy, and they came from as near as just down the road to such far-flung places as Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia.
Generally, we will follow the three-day format used in 2007. The fleet will return to WoodenBoat’s waterfront each day, with campground space available at WoodenBoat School. We anticipate having a lobster shore dinner on Thursday evening and a chowder dinner on Saturday night.
Final details will be worked out by March 1. In the meantime, the 2008 application form is available by following this link (PDF 284kb). We may have a few surprises to add to the lineup this year, but nothing that would materially alter the seamanship, boathandling skills, or equipment requirements described in the PDF document.
One change we’ve made over last year is this: This initial application form is for the skipper and the boat only. Because we reserve the right to decide whether a given boat is suitable for these waters, whether the skipper has the experience to handle the boat, and the overall variety of the fleet, we can’t make this a first-come, first-served event. Depending on how many applications we get, we also may have to set a limit on the fleet size—last year, it was 40 boats.
Filing paperwork for the event should be considered very much an application. A seamanship committee will gather to finalize the fleet in early March, and you’ll be notified right away whether you’re accepted.
We’ll start taking 2008 applications on January 1, by e-mail or mail. Applications must be received no later than March 1, 2008.
Once a boat has been accepted into the fleet, we’ll send our informational packets asking for further information about the boat, a complete crew list, and other detailed information.
For a sense of what the 2007 event was like, view a slideshow of Maynard Bray’s photographs of the participating boats, and a participants’ photo site has also been established at Flickr.com. Also, WoodenBoat magazine’s “Small Boats” edition of December, 2007, carries an article and photographs by Benjamin Mendlowitz about the 2007 event. The Small Reach Regatta, founded by WoodenBoat Senior Editor Tom Jackson, is inspired somewhat by the European “Raids,” (see WoodenBoat No. 187) and a little bit by the Eggemoggin Reach Regatta, which is also held off WoodenBoat each year but is for larger boats.
So, here’s to another great fleet in 2008!
Tom Jackson, Senior Editor
WoodenBoat,
P.O. Box 78
Brooklin, ME 04616;
207.359.4651