Busy weekend in store

bveneri@hotmail.com

Saturday is going to be a busy day in Buzzards Bay.
The Buzzard lands Friday night as 50 or more colorful Hobie Cats, Nacras and other makes and models of catamarans line up along East Rodney French Boulevard near the entrance to Fort Taber. Their owners plan to pull, push, and somehow get those cats on trailers unhitched and onto the sands of East Beach, where races get under way beginning at 10:30 a.m. Saturday.
Competitors in this 24th annual Buzzard Regatta plan to race all day Saturday, picnic, party and camp out at Fort Taber Saturday night, and race again all day Sunday, weather permitting. Members of Division 12 of Fleet 28 of the Hobie Cat Racing Association welcome New Bedford area residents down to East Beach and Fort Taber to watch the races and take part in the shoreside activities. For more information, contact Commodore Doreen Coughlan at (781) 848-7444.
The 100-mile Mattapoisett Yacht Club Centennial Race begins at 10 a.m.
Saturday, taking two classes of PHRF boats (racing and cruising) southward down Buzzards Bay to the Buzzards Bay Tower Light. Boats race around the light and up Vineyard Sound, through Quick’s Hole, north to Centerboard Shoals outside Sippican Harbor, then back past Angelica Point to Nye’s Ledge — not once, but twice — in a race commemorating 100 years of sailing by the MYC. Skippers have until 8 p.m. tomorrow to enter the race. Contact MYC Commodore Fran Grenon at FOG2@aol.com or at (508) 758-9811 for details.
The Low Tide Yacht Club (Fort Rodman Marine Education Association) holds its annual Steak Out at Fort Taber, beginning at 5 p.m. Saturday. All proceeds from the fund-raiser go towards FRMEA/LTYC educational programs. From 5-6:30, attendees can preview auction items. Dinner begins at 6:30 p.m., and the auction starts at 8 p.m. The Steak Out is open to the public. For more information, contact Kevin Melo at (508) 979-4219.
Lest we forget, boats and boaters have until Monday, July 30, to register to compete in the 29th annual Buzzards Bay Regatta, hosted this year by the New Bedford Yacht Club in Padanaram.
More than 400 boats in 18 classes are expected to race in six circles in Buzzards Bay for three days, Aug. 3-5. First gun for all classes sounds at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 3.
Registration for the Club 420 class has already closed at 100 boats.
Organizers are promising strong southwesterly winds, good food — including a raw bar, Del’s lemonade, and both grill and cafeteria-style breakfasts and dinners for participants. Competitors in the Club 420s, Vanguard-15s, Lasers and Radials even get a luncheon snack to take aboard while racing.
Converging on Buzzards Bay for the BBR are C & C yachts from all over the East Coast and beyond, as they sail north or south to compete in a special rendezvous race. This year’s BBR also hosts the North American championship races for Vanguard 15s, the New England championships for Club 420s, and the District 7 championship and Grand Prix competition for Radials (a Laser division).
As part of the BBR, West Marine has donated an eight-foot rubber dinghy to be raffled off at the Awards Ceremony Sunday evening. Tickets cost $5 each, with proceeds benefiting the Community Boating Center of New Bedford.
Skippers can purchase a raffle ticket when they register, and tickets will be sold at the NBYC throughout the regatta.
Here is a schedule of Buzzards Bay Regatta events: Wednesday, Aug. 1 — Boat launching by appointment.
Thursday, Aug. 2 — Launch service, 8 a.m.-10 p.m.; boat launching, 1-8 p.m.; grill service, 5-10 p.m.; registration and check-in, 5-9 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 3 — Launch service, 7 a.m.-11 p.m.; breakfast, 7-10 a.m.; boat launching, 7:30-9:30 a.m.; registration and check-in, 7:30-9:30 a.m.; first gun, all classes, 10:30 a.m.; grill, lunch, 12 noon-9 p.m.; after racing — bar, 3-10 p.m.; live entertainment (Chris Richards), 5- 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 4 — Launch service, 7 a.m.-11 p.m.; breakfast, 7 -10 a.m.; boat launching, 7:30-9:30 a.m.; registration and check-in, 7:30-9:30 a.m.; first gun, all classes, 10:30 a.m.; grill, lunch, 12 noon-9 p.m.; after racing — bar, 3-10 p.m.; live entertainment (Cheap Sneakers), 5-9:30 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 5 — Launch service, 7 a.m.-11 p.m.; breakfast, 7-10 a.m.; first gun, all classes, 10:30 a.m.; grill, 12 noon-6 p.m., boat hauling, 2 p.m.-6 p.m. Awards and raffle following completion of racing and scoring.
The New England Beetle Cat Boat Association annual regatta is planned for Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 11 and 12, at the Mattapoisett Yacht Club. For more information, contact Sue McGowan at (508) 758-4416.
Low Tide Yacht Club results for Series 2, Race 4, Course: 6.52 mi.
Class 2: 1. TireLess, Gil Canastra, 01:16:34; 2. Breezin’, Darryl Murphy, 01:16:40; 3. Dragon, Dick Hitchcock, 01:17:42; 4. Escape, Larry Smoski, 01:21:26; 5. Bogi, Bob Dixon, 01:22;43; 6. Head Girl, Chris Fletcher, 01:27:19. Class 3: 1. SeeFest, Ira Perry, 01:21:33; 2. Pieces of Eight, Mark Thornhill, 01:22:41; 3. Fiddlers Green, Jay Cafferty, 01:27:55; 4.
Prudence II, Ted Cioper, 01:28:00; 5. Banzi, Scott Morris, 01:28:14; 6. Ms. Hannah, Ray Davignon, 01:43:39; DNC – Absolutely, Dan Oliveira; Trade Secret, Bill Arneson; Ventana, Don Gracia.
Final results for Series 2 (July) – Class 2: 1. TireLess, Canastra, 3 pts.; 2. Breezin’, Murphy, 8 pts.; 3. Bogi, Dixon, 8 pts.; 4. Dragon, Hitchcock, 9 pts.; 5. Escape, Smoski, 14 pts.; 6. Head Girl, Fletcher, 14 pts. Class 3: 1. SeeFest, Perry, 3 pts.; 2. Pieces of Eight, Thornhill, 5 pts.; 3.
Fiddlers Green, Cafferty, 10 pts.; 4. Prudence II, Cioper, 11 pts.; 5.
Absolutely, Oliveira, 13 pts.; 6. Ms. Hannah, Davignon, 16 pts.; 7. Trade Secret, Arneson, 19 pts.; 8. Banzi, Morris, 23 pts.; 9. Ventana, Gracia, 25 pts.
Mattapoisett Yacht Club race results for Series 1, Race 4 (July 18), Class A (Course: 5.2 mi.): 1. Club A, Steve Andelman, 00:45:29; 2. In Deep, Bob Warren, 00:45:46; 3. Lung Ta, Paul Silva, 00:46:03; 4. Elusive, Ed Normand, 00:46:32; 5. TireLess, Gil Canastra, 00:46:54; 6. Undine, Mike Dahill, 00:49:06.
Class B (Course: 4 mi.): 1. Carina, Jim Broadwater, 00:36:56; 2. Joint Venture, Jon Henshaw, 00:39:19; 3. Survivor, Brian Lynch, 00:39:44; 4.
Gryphon II, Sue McGowan, 00:39:52; 5. Chickadee, Charles Smith; 00:44:00.
Class C (Course: 2.8 mi.): 1. Barkley, Harvey Pentleton, 00:57:39; 2. Jan Cap, David Jenney, 00:59:18; 3. Poop Deck Pappy, Bob Saltmarsh, 01:01:50; 4.
Mariner, Craig Correia, 01:01:54; 5. Minnow, Penny Cole, 01:05:04; 6. T. Bone, Chris McGowan, 01:06:23.

Barbara Veneri sails a 28-ft. Soverel yawl in and around Buzzards Bay. You can reach her by e-mail at bveneri@hotmail.com, by calling the Standard-Times Sports Department at (508) 979-4460, or by fax at (508) 997-7491.