How it all Started

The Run What You Brung Regatta started when two sailing buddies circumnavigated Kent Island, MD.  Although it was just a friendly day of sailing -well you know, with two sailboats in the same body of water-it has just grown out of control, so to speak.  The Regatta is timed to coincide with the Harvest Moon, which is the brightest full moon of the year. It occurs closest to the autumn equinox. 

Although this is not a "Race," and most participants are cruisers, the focus of the regatta is to have a great day of boating on the Chesapeake Bay with old friends and to make some new ones.  There is a PHRF group that starts earlier and competes for a challenge trophy each year. 

The circumnavigation is approximately 36 nautical miles and usually takes 7 to 10 hours to complete.  The “normal” start of the Regatta is near the G1 marker where Prospect Bay, Eastern Bay, and the Miles River meet, in the area known as Bald Eagle.  The start time is usually between 10:00 am and 1:00 pm.  Each year it changes based on sunset and moon rise.  If all the conditions are right, cruisers should make Bloody point by 3:00 pm, the Bay Bridge around 5:00 pm and be back to Mears Marina between 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm, depending on how long you decide to sail and take advantage of the best light of the year for night sailing.

Rules? We don’t need no stinking rules, just have some fun! The "normal" course runs clockwise from the start around Kent Island.  Of course if you want to be different, you can make up your own rules; there are others who start on the north side and go counter clockwise and some power boaters go around twice.  If you are coming from the western shore, you can join the fleet anywhere along the route.  There are two Captain's meetings before the regatta-one Friday night for the PHRF group and one Saturday morning for everyone else.  You may attend either. The Captain's meeting is not mandatory for non-PHRF racers, we can work things out in advance. 

 

For this year's Regatta, 27 September 2008, details to follow.  Timing with the autumn equinox usually makes for a great late afternoon/evening/night sail from Love Point up the Chester River and back to Kent Narrows.  For the 2008 event the Harvest Moon is 15 September. The phase of the Moon on 27 September will be waning crescent with 3% of the Moon's visible disk illuminated. This makes for a dark return after sunset at 6:54pm.  But the part will be starting at 7:00pm.

Each year the regatta gets better and better. Past years entertainment has been superb;

The RWYB Regatta entry fee is $50, which includes the RWYB Burgee,  plus $25 per person for the party is pretty hard to beat.  The per person cost for the party includes food and entertainment.  There will be a cash bar.

What's happening for 2008? Good question, we are working on it.  All I can tell you is it gets better each year.  The date is set for 27 September 2008.  As things develop, the information will be posted and e-mails will be sent out.

 

 

Call Run What You Brung Regatta at (703) 967-3224 today!