Sailing finish uncertain for many

Annapolis (Map, News) - Unpredictable weather and current conditions will characterize the 2007 Governor’s Cup Yacht Race from Annapolis to St. Mary’s City this weekend.

If the wind doesn’t strengthen and the boats have to make their way upwind, entire classes of boats might not finish the 70-nautical-mile race in the Chesapeake Bay within the 21-hour time limit.

“With the wind direction, we’re going to have to tack a lot,” said Windborn’s skipper Jon Hilbert, of Annapolis, referring to a controlled turn into the wind.

“We may not be flying a lot of spinnakers, which could slow us down,” he said. A spinnaker is a large parachute-like sail that can be used only downwind.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Friday predicted winds from the south between 7 and 15 mph becoming west. Most skippers aren’t deciding strategy until they see the course conditions.

“You never really know how things are going to go before you get there; there are a thousand variables in any sailboat race,” said Ed Poe, of Towson, skipper of the J42 Ravenous.

Hilbert, who is participating in his 28th Governor’s Cup race, isn’t worried about finishing; in fact, he said he hopes to finish early.

“You want to get finished before the sun comes up. That river’s notorious for the sun coming up and the wind dying,” he said. David Mossburg, 41, of Forest Hill, will skipper Valiant, an Endeavour 37, in his first long-distance race, which is the equivalent of 81 land miles.

“It’s more for the fun. The Endeavour is like a blue-water sailor, so it’s not really built for racing. It’s built more for stability than speed.”

al.robinson@baltimoreexaminer.com

IF YOU GO
WHAT: Post-race party for the 2007 Governor’s Cup Yacht Race
WHEN: Noon to about 11 p.m. today
WHERE: St. Mary’s City in southern Maryland