Downrigging Weekend 2019

CCWBRA had a demo display at Chestertown, MD’s annual Sultana Downrigging Wooden Boat Festival weekend-long event on November 2nd and 3rd. If you have never attended this event, it is quite the unique experience to be surrounded by tall ships, such as the Kalmar Nickel, the Virginia, and Sultana sailing on the river and to be able to race around on the tiny cocktail class racers with the ships’ cannons blasting, is a truly unique experience.

Saturday morning started out a bit chilly, with Tom’s racer having a diamond-crusted look due to the frost. I see a ‘Girl’s Best Friend,’ ‘White Diamond’ or ‘Diamond Fizz’ boat coming in the future to CCWBRA racing with a sparkly finish!

It was a huge success and we enjoyed great weather for the event.   Board Member, Tom Kerr, Vice Commodore, Capt. Peter Urbani and National Secretary, Kimberly Shubert attended the event with 3 racers on display on Saturday and were joined by Past Commodore, Todd Steffes, and members, Fred Kerr and Harry Sesselberg on Sunday with a 4th racer to display. 

Two were displayed in the water for some intermittent demos. We lucked out with awesome weather all weekend, so there were a ton of people at the event and CCWBRA members talked to 100s of people about cocktail class racing.  Kids were so happy when they got a chance to climb in the boats for photo ops.

The funniest conversation was with a group of people visiting from Washington…not DC but the State..who are excited about Cocktail Class racing and will be looking in to joining the Washington group for their fun runs on Puget Sound!  

Next year the event is taking place on Halloween, October 31st.  Mark you calendars! CCWBRA is hoping for 15-30 boats to be displayed so we will be calling on local MD members to help out with display and at least drop off their racer to be displayed even if they can’t stay for both days.  Please join in the fun and this unique experience!