Written by B.B. Wright
Editing Kathleen Whitehead
Photos by Paul McBride, Kathleen & Mark Whitehead, B.B. Wright, Tim Wright
Layout Paul McBride
B.B. Wright Looks at 2020
The Back Bay Skippers had a wonderful season of sailing together. Many weekly pictures gave evidence to this. But the last two scheduled days of sailing were lost to very cold, blustery weather in the 30s. Then the dock was taken out. The season ended without an ending.
Videos and Photos
- Back Bay Skippers Video (WMUR NH Chronicles)
- Back Bay Skippers YouTube Channel
- Latest Videos: Solings, US12s, Lily Pond
- Latest Photos: Solings, US12s, Lily Pond
- Photo Gallery
Previous Highlights
- Sheila Ryan Memorial Footy Regatta
- Awards for 2019 Season
- Tim Wright Wins CAN/AM Challenge 2019
- Lake Discovery Camp 2019
- US12 AMYA Region 1 Championship, Nashua
- Sasquatch Footy Regatta (Nor’Easter Footy Series)
- Skippers Spring Party 2019
Score Sheets
It should be mentioned here that despite the ominous threat of the coronavirus, we all stayed safe while sailing this season. This was primarily because everyone dutifully followed the rules the New Hampshire Boat Museum set for us: to be diligent about wearing facial masks and keeping safe social distances. Even on Sundays, when Bill Hagerup organized our Lily Pond races, we adhered to the museum’s requirements.
After six months on the water at Back Bay and Lily Pond, none of our sailors, guests, or scorekeepers were taken ill during our time together. To have met this new adversary so successfully earned the Back Bay Skippers the right to sail during this challenging season. Our collective hats are off to Martha Cummings, director of the museum; her board of trustees; and to our commodore, Mark Whitehead, who spearheaded and enforced this new and critical initiative.
Ellen Koehler, who scores the Soling races, recently pointed out that we had more boats sailing this season than any other, averaging twenty boats each Tuesday. The US12 racers also had consistently good numbers each Thursday. It is good to know that our season was a safe and enjoyable one because everyone thought about the safety of fellow sailors as well as their own. Due to that caring attitude, two members who had been reluctant to participate due to the risk eventually made appearances. Everyone celebrated when Bill Quayle and Anthony Quinn stopped by to say hello, saw how dedicated to safety their fellow skippers were, and soon felt comfortable enough to take the helm. It was great to see them both!
Thanks to all who accepted these guidelines in the spirit of community well-being. We also want to thank Bob Brennan and Al Stevens, who were a big help to Mark with this year’s Soling workshop. Special appreciation should go to Paul McBride for his untiring work to organize and send photos out to us each week — a tremendous job to undertake.
Just One More Day — November 8
Looking ahead to an unusually warm November weekend, Tim Wright had an idea: Why not use one of those days to sail on Ossipee Lake? When word was put out, many sailors responded. Some wanted to be there but had conflicts. We wished they could have joined us! However, there were several who sent word that they would like to try this new venue.
Mark and Kathleen Whitehead, Anthony Quinn, Ellen and Skip Koehler, Paul McBride, and Joanne and Bruce Wilhelm all threw their hats into the ring to try sailing on Ossipee Lake with Tim and B.B.
The following pictures show a huge area of sand before the water begins. This is true because the dam in Ossipee is opened each October in order to lower the lake. Since it’s so shallow in the summer, the walk to the water is more than 100 yards. In the beginning of the spring season, the rains and winter snow-melts are often pushed by winds into lakeside properties, destroying their shorefronts. Thus, dam control in the fall helps to curb potential damage.
On Sunday morning, November 8, Tim was up early, getting what was needed to take out to the water’s edge. Tables, chairs, kayak, life vest, sailboats, six buoys, the timer, and a wagon to hold everything made ruts in the muddy sand as he made trip after trip, preparing for the sailors to come.
And come they did! They brought their own chairs, boats and other gear, water, and snacks. As they settled in, the observers — Ellen, Joanne, Kathleen, and B.B. — set up their own areas to watch and take pictures. They also tried their hand at a new game created by Ellen just that morning! (More on that later.)
Walking out to the water, it became evident that the immediate depth wasn’t enough to launch the boats. Sailors had to walk an extra distance in the challenging chilly water before they could begin to race. Tim had learned this prior to everyone’s arrival!
The pictures tell the real story. It was a wonderfully warm 70 degrees, just right for the planned races. The Ossipee and Sandwich mountains, along with Mount Chocorua were cloaked in a soft haze, and Mount Washington, fifty miles away, peeked at us throughout the day.
The races presented their typically good times and challenges. But everyone’s spirits remained strong and the fun made time pass quickly. The rescue kayak came in handy as Tim chased a boat that could have ended up three miles away instead of just across the bay.
After the last race, folks sat for a while in the warm sun. They then accepted an invite from the Wrights to join them on their old wooden deck to sit by an open fire pit. They reflected on the day and the season and shared personal stories. That was fun!
Then it was time to wash off the sand, gather everything, and pack up for the day.
We had hoped that two aerial kite pilots who flew by the day before, might come while the group was there. It wasn’t meant to be, but shortly after most had gone and while the Koehlers and the Wrights were still there, they did fly by so their pictures also are included.
Many thanks to ALL of our Back Bay Skippers for this November sailing day. Without the consistent congeniality of our group each week, this Sunday sail would not have taken place. Ours is a special group of people with various backgrounds, who come together with a common interest in sailing and racing. How fortunate we are.
