2024 Capital Cup Winners!  NMMYC!

Regatta Report: 2024 Capitol Cup

Date: October 5, 2024 

Location: Lake Whittier, Frederick, MD 

Weather: Sunny skies with temperatures in the high 70s and unpredictable winds at 5-10 mph 

 Overview

The 2024 Capitol Cup brought together a competitive field of 15 skippers representing four DF65 fleets from the five-state national capital region. Teams from Menno Haven (MH), Heritage Harbor (HH), Solomons Island Model Boat Club (SIMBC), and the Northern Maryland Model Yacht Club (NMMYC) competed for bragging rights and the coveted ‘Capitol Cup’.  It was a fantastic day and everyone had a great time.  A special thanks to our volunteers for helping everything run so smooth. Walter helped to set the course to perfection. Connie and Sydney did a fantastic job calling the line and keeping score respectively.  Braulio led the rescue fleet, as they completed two missions.  A special thanks to Bart and Connie for hosting this event, it wouldn’t happen without you! NMMYC always has great events and this one did not disappoint.

Race Highlights

The team event kicked off under clear skies, setting a perfect stage for the competitors. The regatta featured a total of eight races, with four races held before the lunch break and the remaining four after. The north wind was spotty, sometimes a little gusty, and occasionally in multiple directions at once. This really tested the skipper’s ability to stay on the wind.

The first half of the regatta saw Bart (and Mahi), a member of Team NMMYC, leading the pack, closely followed by Kyle (SIMBC) and Tom (MH). As the afternoon progressed, adjustments to the course were made to respond to the changing direction of the wind. From that point, Tom dominated the field and had 2 first and 2 second place finishes in the final 4 races and leading to him taking first place in the individual competition. Bart scored 4 thirds and slipped to 2nd. While Alan (HH) took 4 forth place finishes and moved up to 3rd overall with 41 pts.

The team competition was both friendly and hard fought. Several of the races ended in tight finishes up and down the fleet as each position/point counted towards your team’s total. In the end, the top 3 Skippers from each team were counted up for a total score. NMMYC’s Mari, Walter and Bart, took the honors of being their team’s top three skippers and them and Chris, George and Jonathan hoisted the Capitol Cup. Meno Haven finished 2nd, followed by Heritage Harbor 3rd and then SIMBC 4th.

The 2024 Capitol Cup proved to be an exhilarating day of racing. The unpredictable wind conditions added an extra layer of challenge and strategy while the format fostered camaraderie.  Congratulations to all teams for their hard work and sportsmanship, and a special shout-out to NMMYC for their outstanding performance as the top team! We look forward to seeing everyone again at next year’s regatta!

 Individual Standings

1.  Tom - 22 points 

2.  Bart - 26 points 

3.  Alan - 41 points 

Team Results

1. Northern Maryland Model Yacht Club (NMMYC) 

   - Total Points: 129 

   - Captain: Mari Spina (#32) 

   - Team Members: Bart (#777), JT Barrett (#23), Chris Carpenter (#965), Walter House (#02), George Schuld (#09)

2. Menno Haven (Defending Champions) 

   - Total Points: 179 

   - Captain: Mike Cavanaugh (#15) 

   - Team Members: Mike Gaizauskas (#806), Tom Schwartz (#201)

3. Heritage Harbor 

   - Total Points:211 

   - Captain: Alan Krusinger (#78) 

   - Team Members: Carl Mott (#08), Debbie Lund (#38)

4. Solomons Island Model Boat Club (SIMBC)

   - Total Points: 212 

   - Captain: Rob Dutton (#53) 

   - Team Members: Colin Parker (#49), Kyle Russell (#93)

Team Members (Left to Right): George, Jonathan, Bart, Mari, Chris and Walter

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