Last Boat III captures first place in 30th Hospice Turkey Shoot Regatta

Several Deltaville boats participate in Rappahannock River competition

Sometimes it just takes patience. The weather forecast for Oct. 4 and 5 called for sunny skies and 75 degrees — but little wind!

The 30th anniversary Hospice Turkey Shoot Regatta was dedicated to the memory of John McConnico, one of the founders of the regatta who crossed the bar earlier this year. Of the 77 boats registered for the regatta, 63 made it to the starting line on Saturday. No doubt the light wind forecast kept some competitors away.

As Saturday morning emerged the race committee (RC) faced very light and spotty gradient west wind that was forecast to be replaced by a southeast bay breeze sometime in the afternoon. At the skipper’s meeting RC consultant, Jerry Latell, announced the 11 a.m. first warning would be delayed until 1 p.m. — no sense having boats bobbing about the Rappahannock River for hours!

The RC headed out for the rescheduled start and drifted about with the predicted 1-2 knot, gusting to 3-knot west winds waiting for the hoped-for bay breeze. Around 2 p.m. the signal boat could see a breeze coming east of the Robert O. Norris Jr. Memorial Bridge. With a mark boat positioned near the bridge, around 2:15 p.m. they finally recorded 5-6 knots at 115 degrees. The predicted wind had arrived.

The RC rushed to set up a B fleet (slower rated boats) triangle course with windward finish, of 3.4 nautical miles (NM) and an A fleet course of 5.7 NM, on the same triangle course and finishing to windward. Competitors, seeing the RC activity, massed near the signal boat for their starts and the first of six went off at 2:35 p.m. At the start the winds were 5-6 knots quickly building up to 8-12 knots. Bombshell, John Congdon’s XP-44, won line honors and finished at 3:40 p.m., with all boats finishing by 4:30 p.m. Everyone made it back for the scheduled cocktail hour and dinner — patience rewarded!

With the relatively short racecourse and 63 boats vying for position, the mark roundings were unusually crowded, but good sportsmanship prevailed and there were no incidents, just close calls and friendly discussion. Peter Larabee, skipper of Dram Buoy, noted multiple close calls in the Division 3 fleet that were skillfully avoided.

Deltaville-based Luna, the Colonial Seaport Foundation’s 18th century Bermuda sloop, 46 feet on deck with a 78 foot sparred length, is not a great light air boat, but fun to see on the course and well sailed by John Collamore and company.

At the finish, Luna fired its cannon.

After the meal, a memorial tribute honored the late John McConnico who co-founded the regatta 35 years before and brought it under the hospice umbrella 30 years ago. Speakers included Bill England, Norm Faulkner, who now owns McConnico’s Blackwatch 37 Country Woman, and grandson, David Anders.

Event co-chairman John Tidwell of Yankee Point Yacht Club (YPYC) presented Carole Jean McConnico a “Lifetime Hospice Hero Award” for all of her work over those 35 years and her continued support.

Winners

The Sunday forecast was for more of the same but considering the need to get the awards ceremony in before racers headed home, the planned traditional Pursuit Race was canceled.

The overall winner of the Virginia Spirit Trophy was Last Boat III, a Morgan 24, owned by Frank Murphy of the Fishing Bay Yacht Club (FBYC) with helm work by Scott Vail and trim by Chris Capel. Compliments of the Tides Inn, Murphy also received a free room and slip for the 2026 regatta. In addition, they will receive a plaque engraved with an image of their boat, compliments of AGA Correa and Sons.

Second place overall was Lisa and Bob Fleck’s Thomas 35 Orion, also from FBYC. Orion only trailed Murphy by 1.1 seconds per mile corrected speed, a barely detectable margin.

Third place overall was Dennis Hannick’s Goin’, a Tripp 26 also of FBYC.

The Corinthian award, for best performing cruising boat, sponsored by Waterway Guide Media Director Ed Tillett, went to Russ Seltzer in Joie de Vie, a Cape Dory 33.

The Most Beautiful Boat Award, voted by observers on the RC, went to John Bailey in Morgana, his Van Dam 32 gaff rigged ketch.

Wobbly Compass Award, for best finish by a classic wooden yacht, went to Krister Allen in Talelayo a Cape George Cutter, who will also receive an engraved plaque with an image of his boat compliments of AGA Correa and Sons.

The John and Carole Jean McConnico trophy, presented by Carole Jean McConnico, awarded to the Yacht Club or Marina with the best fleet finishes of their top three boats was a tie between RRYC and FBYC.

Division winners include:

• Division 1 — First, Bombshell; second, Tom Richardson/Glenn Oxford, Skyelark; and third, Gary Hooper, Spirit.
• Division 2 — First, Irrational Exuberance, Jesse Swartz; second, Victoria, Mark Maiocco; and third, Makai, William Wirt.
• Division 3 — First, Trilogy, Randy Alley; second, Endurance, John Pender; and third, Catitude, Louise Moore and Lew Thatcher.
• Division 4 — First, Orion; second, Goin’; and third, Clementine, Shaun Thaxter.
• Division 5 — First, Last Boat III; second, Freedom, Glenn Solt; and third, Yankee Point, Todd Patterson.
• Division 6 — First, Encore, Hal Starke Jr.; second, Joie deVie; and third, Resolute, Jake Pender.
• Division 7 — First, John Bee, Marco Monti; second, Acorn, Bill McHugh; and third, Gypsea, Event Co-chairman John Tidwell.
• Division 9/Typhoon fleet, — First, Ad Astra, Arabella Denvir; second, Slippery, Danielle Kuper; and third, Friday’s Child, John Friday.
• Division 10 — First, Talelayo; second, Morgana; and third, First Light, Chuck and Kathy Hall.