Menantic Yacht Club goes Up the Creek
This past Sunday, with only three weeks to go in the Menantic Yacht Club’s 2026 Sunfish sailing season, and with wind from the west southwest, the Race Committee, under the direction of PRO Betsy Colby, not only ran four regular races but the annual Up West Neck Creek Race as well.
The wind started the day blowing fairly strongly around 12 knots or more, but by the time the fourth race was over and the UPWNCR started it had slowed considerably. However, in the words of Peter Beardsley the wind “was as good as it’s ever been” and there were no dead spots.
The UWNCR is a fairly simple race, but very tricky due to constant wind shifts created by the narrowness of the creek, the trees and the houses, not to mention the sandbars that entrap some sailors. It can also get a bit crowded. The sailors cross the same start line as regular racing, leave the windward mark to starboard and go up West Neck Creek until they locate the rounding mark somewhere near Daniel Lord’s Road. Then they sail back down the creek to the finish, which this year was the same as regular sailing instead of finishing at Bill Marten’s dock as in the past.
The UWNCR was competitive, however, of the 25 boats that started the day, only 18 decided to compete in the UPWNCR. Paul Zinger, Peter Beardsley and Lee Montes took turns as leaders at various times during the race. Paul was first around the mark with Lee and Peter close by. All three sailed well heading back down the creek but then the unthinkable happened.
Paul and Peter hit the sandbar off of Montclair hard, even with their boards up, allowing Lee to take the final lead and win the race. Paul and Peter weren’t the only sailors to run aground. Linda Gibbs had to walk her boat out of the reeds at one point. At the finish Kate Bogart and Ruth Hakansen crossed the finish going the wrong way with John Modica bearing down fast. They quickly corrected their mistake and managed to beat John, who also came in behind Charlie. Paul placed second and Peter third.
Racing overall was fairly competitive on Sunday, but Paul Zinger outperformed all the others with three first place finishes. Lee, who placed first in the UWNCR, placed third in regular racing behind Kate Bogart who placed second. Linda has sailed well most of the season and did not disappoint on Sunday, placing eighth. Charlie Modica Sr. beat his brother, John, and is trying to catch up in their brotherly rivalry.
A warm welcome to Maddie Saladino’s friend Izzy Canada, and Olivia Ting, who joined us for the first time and appeared to have a wonderful time. Welcome back Ruth Hakansen, we’ve missed you the last few years, and Melissa Pumphrey. Fifteen-year-old Maddie was back from sailing in the Laser youth worlds in Denmark. It also appeared to be family day on the water. Prior to racing Kate Bogart was seen on her boat with her 4-year-old son, Santi. Melissa was seen on the beach with her 5-month-old and then sailing with her 3-year-old, Letty.
The mark boat, captained by Matt Fox, with crew of Mike Donlon and Ben Gonzalez, set marks and then enjoyed the day in Charlie Modica’s rib, instead of Tom McMahon’s Whaler that they usually use. The safety boat, captained by Betty Bishop and crewed by Dave Daly, also had an enjoyable day. Overall it was not a very busy afternoon for all the volunteers, unlike last week when boats flipped, broke parts and needed tows. Thank you, all.
Betsy Colby, our PRO, ran Race Committee, crewed by Susan Donlon and Rich Masse. Jonathan Brush’s boat was still unavailable and the RC got a treat when John Modica offered his Shelter Island runabout. He motors over from Connecticut every weekend to join the club. The RC ran four shorter races in order to get in the UWNCR. It was a last minute decision because the wind was lightening up and the UPWNCR is a long race. Many thanks, you all did a superb job.
We are a very congenial family-friendly club, open to all. We may not have a clubhouse, but the sailing is great, the camaraderie is superb, and we just have tremendous fun. All sailors, novice to expert, are welcome. Just show up in West Neck Harbor at 2 p.m. on any Sunday through Labor Day, check in with the Race Committee, giving them your full name and sail number, and be sure to bring your life jacket. Non-sailors are also welcome to assist with the race committee boat and the stake boat. You can get more information about the MYC on Facebook at Menantic Yacht Club, or from Bob Harris at [email protected] or 505-235-5844. Remember that you are out there to have fun.
See you on the water.
Results: Pts Place
Paul Zinger 7 1
Kate Bogart 13 2
Lee Montes 22 3
Eric Ryan 24 4
Peter Beardsley 33 5
Melissa Pumphrey 39 6
Maggie Saladino 39 7
Linda Gibbs 40 8
Joan Butler 42 9
Susanne Hulme 46 10
Charlie Modica 47 11
Rachel Beardsley 47 12
Will Lehr 49 13
Denise Fenchel 53 14
John Modica 55 15
Ruth Hakansen 57 16
Ed Kiaer 64 17
Kate Duff 65 18
Peter Zahn 66 19
Izzy Canada 67 20
Jodi Sisley 72 21
Tom McMahon 83 22
John Colby 86 23
Mary Vetri 88 24
Olivia Ting 97 25
Up the Creek Race Place
Lee Montes 1
Paul Zinger 2
Peter Beardsley 3
Maddie Saladino 4
Charlie Modica 5
Kate Bogart 6
Ruth Hakansen 7
John Modica 8
Joan Butler 9
Linda Gibbs 10
Ed Kiaer 11
Susanne Hulme 12
Peter Zahn 13
Izzy Canada 14
Jodi Sisley 15
John Colby 16
Denise Fenchel 17
Olivia Ting DNF
