The 2009 Small Reach Regatta
To be held at WoodenBoat, Brooklin, Maine, July 9–12, 2009
Sponsored by WoodenBoat Magazine & the Downeast Chapter of the Traditional Small Craft Association
Applications for the 2009 Small Reach Regatta are now closed. Those who have already filed applications should hear from us during the week of March 9. A second information packet with greater details about food service costs, fees, and requiring information about your crew will follow as soon as we can get it all together, probably within a couple of weeks.
The 2009 Small Reach Regatta
To be held at WoodenBoat, Brooklin, Maine, July 9–12, 2009
Sponsored by WoodenBoat Magazine & the Downeast Chapter of the Traditional Small Craft Association
After welcoming almost 50 boats for the 2008 Small Reach Regatta, planning is under way for the 2009 edition of the annual gathering at the WoodenBoat waterfront in Brooklin, Maine. The date has been set for July 9-12, 2009.
The three-day regatta is intended for small boats of traditional rowing and sailing types—generally speaking, boats that can put into a beach and relaunch without assistance.
Generally, we will follow the three-day format that we started with in 2007. After arrival on Thursday and an impromptu boat show and dinner, the fleet will daysail in company for three days, returning to camp at WoodenBoat’s waterfront each evening. In past years, we have held the regatta in August, but this year weekends with no conflicting scheduled events and the nature of the tides led us to conclude that the July 9-12 weekend would be best.
We anticipate having a chowder dinner on Thursday, a grilled dinner on Friday, and a lobster shore dinner on Saturday. The prices for each dinner will be established well ahead of time, and participants can opt-in or opt-out of specific dinners.
Final details will be worked out by March 1. In the meantime, the 2009 application form is available by following this link to this PDF document. 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.
We also anticipate possible presentations and perhaps panel discussions. After last year’s impromptu fiddle and flute session, we will also try to encourage those who have musical talent to bring their instruments with them.
One significant difference this year is that we anticipate having a $30-per-boat general entrance fee in addition to the fee for meals. The primary reason for this is to provide for event insurance.
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 2009 applications on January 1, by e-mail or mail. Applications must be received no later than March 2, 2009.
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.
The Small Reach Regatta was founded by WoodenBoat Senior Editor Tom Jackson, 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 yachts of over 26’ in length.
So, here’s to another great fleet in 2009!