Heritage Cup Regatta 2009 - Hempstead Harbor

Dave Seroy and I went to the Heritage Cup Regatta. Tried to stay out of trouble as we followed the fleet of classic boats: Herreshoff S Boats, a P Class yawl, and others at the third annual event in the Woooden Boat Racing Series.

We cast off from City Island at 8:53 and were off the Hempstead Harbor Club dock at 10:23.

I feel like a salmon home to spawn - because that little cove at the mouth of the creek in Sea Cliff is where I first sailed. My father bought an 18' Cape Cod style centerboard sailboat. I remember my sister Kathryn as an infant in a car bed under the cuddy - the youngest of four, me, the oldest nine. And I remember the feeling of relief when I sailed with my father on Lou Peretti's Friendship sloop. That is what led us 40 years later to rent in Friendship, Maine - and now to own a home there on the Back River.

The race was under leaden skies and several showers - but we all got in before the big 4 - 5 PM tropical downpour. We headed home about 17:30 and tied up at our home mooring at 19:20.

Thanks to Mike Emmert and Golden Eye for organizing this year's event. Same time, next year, we hope.

Images: schooner approaching Hempstead Harbor,
an S boat and Friendship sloop Mara E passing port to port pre-start, Hempstead Harbor Club under approaching storm, Dave Seroy, my crew on North River 2, after the rain.