On Sunday, April 11, nine teams of frostbiters sailed five races. Top skippers and crew for the day: 1. Pedro Lorson/Mimi Berry (#536), 2. Ralf Steitz/Felicity Ryan (#29), and 3. Jonathan Siener/Elizabeth Schwarz (661). There was no crew race.

The 1999 InterClub Nationals will be held on April 17 - 18 in Annapolis, MD. The Annapolis Interclass Fleet and the Seven Sailing Association will host the regatta. Approximately 45 - 50 teams of IC dinghy sailors are expected to participate, with four teams representing the Manhasset Bay: Pedro Lorson and Mimi Berry, Ralf Steitz and Felicity Ryan, Ted Toombs and Monique Gaylor and Jonathan Siener and Elizabeth Schwarz. Results to follow.

The United States Pan American Snipe Trials were held on March 23 to March 27 at the Southern Yacht Club in New Orleans, LA. The three days of racing provided typical Lake Pontchartrain conditions, choppy waters, bumpy sailing, varying wind conditions, and lots of shifts -- very different sailing than what is encountered in Manhasset Bay and on Long Island Sound. This six race, no drop series was won by Henry Filter and Lorie Stout, who will represent the US in the Pan American Games, to be held in Canada in July. Local sailors Pedro Lorson and Mimi Berry came in ninth out of a field of 26 teams. Congratulations to both sailors.

Back home for the Easter holidays were John and Patty Devine and their daughters Holly and Maggie. John is the son of Joan Devine. He grew up here and became a well-known sailor. He was involved in many races (e.g. Bermuda and SORC) and sailed TransAtlantic several times.

Update on the Around Alone: On April 11, at GMT 1600 and about 90 miles off the Uruguayan coast, Brad Van Liew notified the Around Alone Race Operations Center in Charleston, SC, via COMSAT satellite messaging system that a sudden squall had dismasted his 50-foot yacht Balance Bar. J.P. Mouligne (Cray Valley), the leader in the race, was diverted to Van Liew's position to lend assistance. The dismasting surprised everyone involved in the race because the sailors were encountering relatively benign conditions. According to Ken Campbell of Commander's Weather, "The fleet was caught between a low that was just approaching Punta, and a big high pressure system off to the east. Inside that channel between the two systems, they were getting a lot of very strong squalls with winds that could easily gust to over 60 knots."

Van Liew reported that the mast, boom and all rigging and sails had gone overboard. Under race rules, to remain in the race, Van Liew may not motor to port. He must build a jury rig and sail to within 10 miles of port. If he motors or is towed more than 10 miles, he is disqualified.

Van Liew, the youngest competitor and the only Ameican left in the race, has come in third place in each prior leg, just behind Mike Garside (MagellanAlpha). After three legs, only 10 hours separated the two men in total elapsed time, the closest two competitors in the race's history. Before his mast tumbled, he had already pushed past Garside and was nearly 20 miles ahead of him. And he was closing in on the leader, J.P. Mouligne. Even if he can get back into the race with a new mast, it would be nearly impossible for him to fend of Garside.

Through an Internet news release to the editors of these papers, "On the Bay" learned about and passed along news of a dramatic sailing development in Stockholm, Sweden. The sport is skate sailing, with a sail that is shapd like a hollow wing, with the sailor standing inside with skates on his feet. Current speed: 120 km/h with higher speeds expected with new sails.

From a well-informed local sailor, "On the Bay" received the March, 1999 issue of Sailing News, a publication of the National Sailing Industry Association (Chicago). It reports something that matches the above. There's a record in land sailing: Wheels on a dry lakebed have less drag than boat hulls on water. Designer and pilot of a solid wing three-wheeled land yacht has achieved a new record: 175.5 km/h in 25.35 mph winds.

P.S. Andrea Watson contributed generously to the preparation of this column.