Down this way we always mark our calendar for the first weekend in August to go to the Rockville Regatta near Charleston, South Carolina. The sailing area is unusual to say the least. There is a one mile long river that is no more than a quarter mile wide and there is a large bay towards the ocean. The courses start in the river right off the club dock (regardless of what way the wind is blowing). All the starts this weekend were on a broad reach, not because of a freakish, last second windshift, but because that is the way the wind happened to be blowing this weekend. This is part of the charm of the racing at this regatta. This regatta must be pretty charming as there have been over one hundred of them before this one.

The 12 MC sailors experienced every point of sail, every wind speed from 4 to 23 and all manner of water conditions from flat to bumpy. Oh, did I mention a four foot tide swing? The only fleet bigger than the MC fleet was the 16 boat E-Scow fleet.

Augusta provided 4 boats, Columbia, SC provided 1 boat and the Charleston and Low-Country area clubs provided the rest.

John Gervais of Charleston (new to MC's-- but long to sailing) raced with his daughter in #840 JBW and was in the lead almost all of race two and slipped to third on an unlucky shift of fortune on the last beat. Then in race 3 he was in 6th place and made a slick move by sailing out in the middle of the river against the strongest tide but in the best wind. The front 5 boats shot up to the windward shore to get out of the tide and accidentally got out of the wind along a line of trees. John was 5rh in the regatta despite a dns in race one.

Three of the Augusta boats were hosted overnight at home by Bill and Anne Rembold. They even invited the entire 4 boat Augusta team over for dinner on Saturday night. Meanwhile at the Sea Island Yacht Club there was a huge party with a band and all the trimmings.

Ron George from Augusta did his first real regatta in an MC and finished well in race two. He brought along Laura Norman to crew and when they got blown off the course on Saturday morning Laura crewed for Paul Rossman and Ron crewed for Bill Rembold. That was a good thing for Paul and Bill as the wind hit 20 mph during the race.

Jeff Annis, Augusta Sailing Club, GA, MC1860