Notes and Reults: 31st Annual Irene Southworth Memorial Race

I'd like to give you a report on the Irene Race but unfortunately my dress was still at the cleaners and I had to miss the event. I long for those days when I had a whole wardrobe full of outfits for any occasion but unfortunately my cross-dressing days are mostly behind me now. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReJHZFge7n4 Also I broke a nail during Wednesday night's race and I'm just sick about it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jHpBkPcCl0

But seriously, last Saturday was the 31st Annual Irene Southworth Memorial Ladies Race at North Cape Yacht Club. This race dates from a time when women were much more the exception rather than the rule on racing sailboats and the race was started to help provide a venue wherein the women of North Cape could have an opportunity to race without an undue perceived pressure of competing against the men in the other races at the club. While I didn't personally know Irene, my understanding was that she was a real supporter of women's participation in racing and this race is a celebration of her memory. I suspect that at one time this annual event may have provided one of the few opportunities for the women of the club to "show their stuff" on the race course and this event regularly gathered a good number of boats with exclusively female crews. Over the course of years, as we all recognize and appreciate (at least I know I do) women have become a regular and valued part of our local racing crews and thus the concept of "women racing" doesn't provide the novelty and perhaps allure it once did. Over the years as participation began to wane, modifications were made to the rules of this event to encourage more boats to participate. Where once we had both Spinnaker and Jam classes and only women on board the boats, now all boats race Jib and Main. A Cruising Class was added to allow one male to be on board but not allowed to participate in the actual sailing during the race and then more recently a 50/50 Class where an entrant could have as many men as there were women on board, and the men could participate in the sailing with the restriction that only women were allowed to helm the boat during the race.

However even with the changes, this annual celebration is still a valued part of our summer sailing season here at North Cape and does provide us with the opportunity to see some boats out on the race course that otherwise are not present in any of our annual races. This year eleven boats participated in the event. Two in the JAM class of women only; three boats were in the Cruising Class that allows one male on board and six boats entered the 50/50 Class.

Race day dawned cloudy and unusually cool for what our August has been thus far. Joan O'Connell commented that it looked like we were having an Irene Snowflurries race this year. But the wind was present for a good day of sailing for our participants.

In JAM, Cindy Cherry's Full Ride took top marks with Judy Greiner's Red Cloud in second place.

In Cruising Class, first place went to Colleen Philips' Orange Burst, with Paula Nels' Hobby Sox in 2nd and Donna Eichbauer's Alibi in 3rd.

In the 50/50 Class, 6th place was Cindy Degolier's Lola, 5th went to Joan O'Connell's Tyrannous, 4th was taken by Robin Horvath's Erie Grog, the 3rd place flag was won by Barb Jordan's Liberty, 2nd place was gathered in by Michelle Porter's Jubilate Deo, and the winner of the largest class was Elizabeth Swisher's Jagen.

Following the race we were treated to a great meal prepared by the men of the club and then another appearance by Crucial 420, the reggae band that was such a hit at the Commodore Perry Race party.

Thanks to Kristen Kania for organizing this event and to one and all who participated in this annual tradition.

Kent Gardam