The Second Annual Great Scenic Hudson River Sunfish Race August 15, 2001
Report by Jeff Anzevino janzevino@scenichudson.org
By all accounts, the Second Annual Great Scenic Hudson River Sunfish Race was a huge success. Fourteen boats -- 13 Sunfish and a Phantom -- completed both legs of the 3.2-mile course from the sandy beach at the Kowawese Unique Area at Plum Point and across the Hudson River to the docks at the Beacon Sloop Club under bright sunny skies. Steady southerlies kept the paddles in the boats and out of the water.
Moments after the boats launched from the beach at 10AM two enormous Blue Circle cement barges pushed by monster tugboats appeared, one northbound and one southbound. Thankfully the steady wind propelled the boats on a reach quickly across the channel, which runs near the western shore of the river, without incident. By 11 AM, the wind diminished a bit, but the steady flood tide carried the boats toward Beacon.
Danny Seginak sailed his winning Sunfish, named "Save the Ales" across the finish line in 1 hour 7 minutes for an everage speed of 2.86 mph. Walter Hollinger sailed in 7 minutes later, then Rick Lafontaine another minute later. Six other boats crossed the finish line within the next thirty seconds.
As the last boats docked at the Beacon Sloop Club, NewsCenter 6 cameras arrived. Some of the boats raised their sails to stage the finish. Thanks for going through the trouble, guys. We enjoyed lunch provided courtesy of Big Brothers Big Sisters under the shade trees by the riverside.
The afternoon race began at 12:53 PM, just 51 minutes after high tide. Since the tide had just turned, the current ebbed southward along the shore, but still flooded to the north midstream. Some sailors were smart to avoid a midstream course, which would have carried with it a 1 mph penalty. Those sticking to the eastern shore had an advantage.
The wind had increased a bit to about 9 mph, which provided some exciting beating and tacking. No tugboats threatened the sailors, but several large motor yachts were intercepted by the Coast Guard Auxilliary and sent away from the pack. Sailing was so good in the afternoon that three boats failed to cross the River and instead sailed too far south past Bannermans Island. Fortunately though, realizing their mistake, they rode the south wind back toward Kowawese and the finish line against the tide without much effort.
Danny Seginak finished first with a time of 1 hour 9 minutes. Paul and Brien Dierze finished second at 1:11 and Walter Hollinger third at 1:13.
Whan we arrived at Kowawese the Big Brother Big Sisters Youth Day Picnic was in full swing. Cadets sailed kids and their mentors in Vanguard 420s. Ponies carried children around the park. Rhtythms of African drumming filled the air. Hot dogs, hamburgers, watermelons and salads were gobbled up by hungry sailors.
Thanks to Sailnet.com and Vanguard Sailboats for providing prizes for the winners and t-shirts for everyone.
Thanks, too, to Tom Occhiogrosso and daughter Nicole, as well as other members of the Cornwall Yacht Club for operating the safety boats. And thanks to Alan Orndoff for running interference with his rubber life raft equipped with 15hp outboard.
Thanks to my employer, Scenic Hudson, for providing insurance for the event.
All registrations ($310) went directly to Big Brothers Big Sisters. Thanks for buying us lunch, providing logistical support and folding us into your Youth Day Picnic. This is a great partnership in its second of what we hope are many years.
See you all next year!!
Finishers (top 3 places only)
Singles 1) Danny Seginak 1/1 2) Walter Hollinger 2/3 3) Rick Lafontaine 3/7
Mixed Doubles 1) Fred Pati & Ellen Kelly 10/13
Odd Couples 1) Paul & Brien Dierze 5/2 2) Gregory & Steven 8/4 3) Bob & Corey Siefert 14/12