Carolina Spring Regatta 2019
April 2019
By Kate O’Donnell, CYC Sailing Director
Congratulations to the E-Scow class winners of the 2019 Carolina Spring Regatta, Augie-Dale Jewett and crew aboard T-37. Rounding out the team were Augie’s father Kevin Jewett, Carolina Davila Jewett, and Howie Meyers. Despite a spur of the moment decision to race, T-37 certainly came to win, finishing the seven-race regatta with only eleven points and carrying four bullets. The win was sentimental for the team as they dedicated it to the late Woody Jewett, Augie’s grandfather and Kevin’s father, who was a long time E sailor and friend to the class. T-37 was closely followed by John Brown’s Blind Squirrel (SS-37) and Robby Wilkins’ Vamoose (SC-55) to close out the podium for the event.
Racing was scheduled to begin Friday afternoon but was called after a short postponement due to high winds and rough seas, with cross-current gusts into the thirties and sustained breeze in the mid-twenties. Saturday morning brought the reverse with Race 1 being abandoned before the first weather mark as light winds and heavy current made rounding the course unreasonable. A quick AP followed that allowed for the sea breeze to fill and the fleet saw its first race of the regatta in solid conditions. Three more races were completed Saturday in oscillating breeze that provided for excellent competition. Staying in the pressure and managing the current were the keys to success Saturday.
Competitors were greeted Sunday morning with lighter conditions, again building to a full sea breeze by midday. Three more races were sailed in the building sea breeze with scores coming down to the final race. Charleston Harbor provided characteristically dynamic current conditions Saturday with a tide switch during the first race of the day, creating opportunities for gains with the race course encompassing flows from both the Ashley and Cooper rivers.
The regatta concluded after Race 7, allowing competitors to return to the dock for a beer and breakdown before hitting the road.
Full Results