Monday Night Races
The Monday Night Racing program embodies our “Seriously Fun” philosophy. Starting in April and ending in October, we one design race our Rainbow fleet. These less formal races are designed to build sailors’ skills – everybody gets tiller time and there is pre-race, post-race, and on-the-water coaching. The coach makes up each boat’s crew so the better sailors learn by teaching and the sailors just out of 101 have an experienced racer on their boat. The emphasis is on fun and learning, not on winning. Basic Sailing graduates are highly encouraged to attend!
Our races range from multiple short laps around a windward leeward course to longer races out to the Naval Academy Bridge or the Bay Bridge. We have real starts and finishes but fouls are loosely called from the coach’s boat – no protests. Every once in a while the coach will throw in a skills test like reefing or “doing circles”.
Post-race, we assemble in our clubhouse – the “Sail Shed” – to view the race videos and pictures. After everyone has helped themselves to the cooler, the coach will give kudos and highlight general areas for the fleet to improve. Then it’s time to just enjoy a beautiful sunset over Back Creek and the camaraderie of the KBC.
Check out the videos and gallery below:
KeelBoat Club member and drone operator Brian Harrison shot the below drone footage during our Fall races.
Finally, a summary of our 2022 season by member John McConnell:
Fleet Racing in Annapolis
Have you ever strolled through Annapolis and seen the parade of boats with their spinnakers up racing up Spa Creek and thought, “that looks so beautiful and fun. I wish I was out there!” Now you can be.
The KeelBoat Club enters two Caraluna by Tartan 245’s in the Annapolis Yacht Club’s Wednesday Night Series. We also enter the boats in weekend fleet races in the Annapolis area. This gives our members access to racing in Annapolis’s competitive ORC fleet and experience with spinnakers.
The Caraluna by Tartan 245 was designed by Cai Svendsen and Tim Jackett as a modern sport boat teaching platform. With an asymmetrical spinnaker and carbon fiber mast, the boat is powerful enough to surf at over 14 knots but sailors can remain sheltered in the cockpit rather than “hiking out.”
These boats are also available to rent by our members after a checkout sail.
Checkout the video below by Brian Harrison: