Season Finale Sunfish Race

 

This is a friendly reminder that the final Sunfish Sailboat race of 2026 is this Sunday. We hope to see many of you out on the water!

Race start: 1:00 p.m. sharp
Rain date: Following Sunday, if needed

The Award Ceremony will follow the race at Mark and Rosie’s cottage on North Shore Road.

As mentioned in the JPA newsletter, our 54-year-old trophy, the Caledonian Cup, was beginning to show its age. When I brought it to NEK Trophy and Engraving, they generously offered to refurbish it at no cost to the Joe’s Pond Association. They replaced all of the nameplates, re-engraved every winner’s name using their new laser engraver, and lightly polished the metal components. The Caledonian Cup looks wonderful once again!

Unfortunately, there is now only enough space remaining to engrave the 2026 winners’ names. At the Award Ceremony, we’ll need to discuss how we would like to move forward with the Caledonian Cup races.

Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Looking forward to seeing everyone Sunday!

Thank you,

Susan Bouchard

A little history for you: Above, the 1995 winners Bob Kimball and Bob Colomb, and co-chair Tom Dente, winner Jay Chatot, and Tom's co-chair,  Eileen Morrison. At right, the fleet of racers in the 1970s when it was a wonderful new sport and everyone wanted to own a sunfish and be in the race. There were singles, doubles, and occasionally a "Powderpuff Race" for women only. As I recall, races were just about every Sunday, weather permitting, and during the week sailors were out there whenever there was a good wind, practicing. I think Burt Morrisson was giving sailing lessons most years in order  to encourage new and/or young sailors. Not only were there lots of enthusiastic sailors, it became a very popular spectator sport and non-sailors lined up on docks and decks with binoculars to cheer their favorite sailors on. Imagine what it was like navigating with this many boats trying to line up before the start of the race! It took skill, patience, and very often a sense of humor!