FINAL RESULTS “Race for every point,” is a phrase heard often at regattas and that was certainly the takeaway for many teams at the 2025 Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series in Annapolis Three days packed with races for 240 teams in 18 classes gave every sailor an opportunity to make good on that cliché especially the team on Andy Graff’s J/88 Exile which won in its fleet after a stressful two-race final day earned them the regatta’s overall title and a berth at the Regatta Series championship in the BVI in October Exile was sitting on a marginally comfortable lead over John Bell’s Hiwassee and Graff’s intent was to sail a clean race and stick to what had been working for them over the previous two days That plan quickly unraveled in the first race “It wasn’t how I planned on things going when I woke up this morning,” Graff says “but we got out to the course and the breeze was like 17 knots We expected more wind and made the poor decision to go to the small jib and also got caught with the rig too tight and with chop the way it was today That was really a tough spot to be in when it dropped down to 8 knots We just couldn’t get wheels going through the chop.” Exile finished sixth in the 8-boat fleet and Hiwassee won the race there was a miscommunication on the timing and they found themselves OCS at the beginning of the second beat Bell realized their headstay had come off They quickly attached a spare halyard to secure the rig and continued to sail the race but we needed to beat one boat in order to keep first place When we got the one point we needed we we’re pretty pumped.” Pumped until they later learned that another boat had been OCS as well but wasn’t scored as such this time in favor of Exile—which finished fourth in the final race and was ultimately declared the winner on the tiebreaker “It was hard,” says Exile’s tactician Kris Werner “I was admittedly pretty dark after the first race because it felt like we just made a really poor decision with the jib we were kind of right in that top three for most of the race we had almost a photo finish with [Iris Vogel’s] Deviation A similar fate awaited Mike Beasley’s team on the J/80 Black Sheep which went into the day with a comfortable lead in the 21-boat fleet In the first race they posted a 13th and then a ninth in the second race “In the first race we got trapped off the start line and made it hard for ourselves,” Beasley says “The right came in…we were protecting the left.” Into the final race they were 1 point out of first behind Warren Flannery’s Canadian team on Feisty Feisty won the final race and Black Sheep stumbled again with an OCS that had them last and fought their way back through the fleet to salvage every point they could Jimmy Praley’s Robot Flamingo looked to have the Viper 640 title all but locked up this morning too the fitting was secured enough for them to start the first race and hope for the best ‘we have to win this one or we are toast,” Praley says Robot Flamingo got the clean start it needed and won the race easily which was enough to allow them to sit out the final race and get the win by a single point over Cole Constantineau’s team on Meow With storms and the potential for high winds approaching Annapolis in the morning which left Saturday’s standings final and David Starck’s Team Pat Strong atop the standings “This was my first time doing the Helly Hansen Regatta in Annapolis and it was first class,” Starck says noted the energy of the Annapolis Lightning fleet as the main reason for the great first-time turnout for the fleet at the regatta “The camaraderie amongst all the clubs—Annapolis Eastport and Severn Sailing—was incredible,” he says “The race committee on our course was excellent.” The Albacore Class contested its US National Championship with an impressive fleet of 20 boats with teams traveling in from several states perennial champ and Albacore class builder Barney Harris and his teammate almost went undefeated over 10 races Runner-up Paul Clifford was a good 25 point back even with a scoreline of all top-10 finishes Annie Sitzmann and crew Molly Bonhams continued their winning streak in the 29er class to win series with only 12 points in 10 races and Sarah Morgan Watters and Katherine Shermock held off a final day surge by Britton Steele to win the Melges 15 title by only 3 points racing for their 60-year old Maple Leaf Trophy the final day almost had the makings of an upset when Barbara Vosbury’s Carnival Lady won the first race Windswept won the final race to win the fleet by only 2 points after 8 races Jeff Hayden and his teammates on the J/22 Polar Express battled with their regular rivals on Brad Julien’s Yard Sail with Hayden posting a 2-3 to Julien’s 4-1 in the final two races Dan Watson’s Avita was the top J/30 by 11 points with Watson’s team winning both races on Sunday which sailed to Annapolis from New Jersey to compete with the rejuvenated Chesapeake J/29 fleet won seven of 10 races to easily win the class Cate Muller-Terhune’s Casting Couch topped the J/70s and Ray Wulf’s Patriot came on strong on the final day to defend its title in the J/105 division The ORC and Cal 25s sailed their second distance race of the weekend and while Bruce Irvin’s team on the Corby 40 Time Machine won the first race the breezier conditions today favored James Sagerholm’s J/35 Aunt Jean which ultimately won the race and the ORC title Pat Siedel’s Chicken Little won both races for the Cal25 fleet On the Division 4 race circle featuring J/24s and Harbor 20s Pat Fitzgerald’s Rush Hour went 1-2 to upset the overnight leaders on Pete Kassel’s Spaceman Spiff in the J/24 fleet and Garth Hitchens and Kate Dawson on Sugar did the same to best the Harbor 20 fleet and claim the Spring Championship title the “Flying Hawaiian” and now US National Championship was untouchable in the flying foilers Ball had netted only 18 points while his fellow islander Pearl Lattanzi finished the regatta with 29 Third-placed Zachary Severson completed the Hawaiian sweep of the championship The Annapolis Symphony Orchestra (ASO) has announced its 2025-26 season under Artistic Director José-Luis Novo, marking his 21st year leading the organization. Performances will be held at Maryland Hall and locations across Annapolis and Anne Arundel County The season includes a five-concert Signature Series now the longest-serving artistic leader in ASO history will conduct fifteen concerts featuring both classical and contemporary works and the Annapolis premières of pieces by Silvestre Revueltas Guest artists making their ASO debut include guitarist Pablo Sainz-Villegas and soprano Angel Blue Pianists Olga Kern and Pascal Rogé will return for featured performances Katie Edwards praised the upcoming season:“The 2025-26 season offers many exhilarating opportunities to celebrate and support our musicians including the extraordinary professionals on stage with the ASO and the promising young artists of the Annapolis Symphony Academy.” Two free Pops in the Park concerts will be held Labor Day weekend at Downs Park and Quiet Waters Park Novo emphasized their importance:“Pops in the Park is an opportunity to connect with our community It’s a celebration of music under the open sky where families and friends can experience the thrill of a live symphony in a relaxed Holiday Pops concerts will be presented at Maryland Hall and Severna Park High School The ASO will also offer school field trip concerts and a family concert in March 2026 The renamed Signature Series will include: Free pre-concert lectures with WBJC’s Jonathan Palevsky will continue at Maryland Hall performances The Annapolis Symphony Academy (ASA) will continue offering students performance opportunities alongside ASO musicians with free ensemble participation and scholarships available ASO Executive Director Erica Bondarev-Rapach commented:“Under Maestro Novo’s baton we have explored new musical horizons and engaged with themes that connect art More information about the 2025-26 season can be found at the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra’s official website Police Investigating Fatal Shooting in Glen Burnie Anne Arundel Community College Recognized as 2025-2026 Military Friendly® and Military Spouse Friendly School Eye On Annapolis is a community based site focusing strictly on Anne Arundel County These staff postings are general news postings made by our team of bloggers throughout the day and are not attributed to any one particular staff person Thank you for stopping by and hopefully for engaging with Eye On Annapolis with your comments and opinions both here and on our social channels There has never been a more critical time for community involvement than today–for any number of reasons Annapolis and Anne Arundel County are our homes and this site is about the quality of life we all share It is written for the local community by the local community Game Recap: Women's Lacrosse | 5/3/2025 5:28:00 PM Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInNAVAL ACADEMY MD (WBNG) -- Binghamton baseball lost the first game a of 2-game series against the Naval Midshipmen 9-7 The Bearcats lead most the day on Saturday before a 5-run 8th inning from Navy pushed the Midshipmen passed Binghamton The two team get back out on the diamond Sunday FORMER BANKER PLANS 2026 PRIMARY CHALLENGE TO MOORE: Maryland Gov. Wes Moore may get an intra-party challenge when he runs for reelection in 2026, with retired banker Ed Hale Sr. close to announcing a campaign Hale said in a brief interview Thursday that he’s “pretty sure” he will run and is in the midst of going through the necessary paperwork he is likely not to make it out of the primary process … and make no mistake he is running for that Democrat 2028 nomination for President VP VANCE TO KEYNOTE NAVAL ACADEMY GRADUATION: Vice President JD Vance will deliver the keynote address at the U.S. Naval Academy’s graduation and commissioning ceremony later this month FORMER AACO OFFICIAL ERICA GRISWOLD’S SHOPLIFTING CONVICTION COULD VIOLATE PROBATION: The former Anne Arundel County register of wills who was booted from office last year for misconduct faces new legal problems following a shoplifting conviction Ellie Wolfe and Cody Boteler/The Baltimore Banner ***Join Maryland Reporter at the Annual Spring Party of the Community Foundation of Howard County on Thursday, May 15, 5-8 p.m. in Columbia for food, drink, socializing and networking. Help raise critical operating funds for the foundation’s mission to connect people, places and organizations to worthy causes across Howard County and beyond. Click here for more information and tickets.*** Department of Government Efficiency’s dismantling of AmeriCorps 3 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT HO CO. SCHOOLS FUNDING GAP: Howard County’s school system is getting only about a third of the new money it asked for from the county under the current budget proposal SIX FLAGS TO CLOSE AMUSEMENT AND WATER PARK IN NOVEMBER: The Six Flags corporation announced Thursday that it will be closing the amusement and water park in Maryland this fall Six Flags America and Hurricane Harbor in Bowie will close Sunday ‘PURPLEST’ PRECINCT SPLIT OVER TRUMP: While most Marylanders live in either solidly Democratic or Republican areas, Arbutus is different. As much as anywhere in Maryland it is a battleground in which blue and red worlds collide —sometimes warily — and voters’ allegiances couldn’t be any more evenly split EASTON TO HOST LOCAL AND STATE LEADERS AT OCTOBER’S MAIN STREET CONFERENCE: Downtown Easton will welcome hundreds of local and state leaders this October for the state’s second ever Maryland Main Street Conference © Copyright 2012 - 2023 | citybiz | All Rights Reserved The views expressed here are the author's own We are a Soto Zen practice group in the White Plum Tradition we gather together as a community to focus on Zazen (sitting meditation) When: Wednesday Nights from 7:00p - 8:30p.Newcomers are invited to come at 6:55p so we can welcome you Where: Gampopa Buddhist Meditation Center1831 Forest Drive but if you have a preferred meditation cushion you are welcome to bring it just bring your enthusiasm!If you have any questions Friday, 6:00 pmColumbia, MD Naval Academy held their annual matchup on Saturday The competition takes over the front lawn of St which was founded in 1696 in Maryland's capital city bowler hats and sporting large "Beat Navy" or "Beat the Johnnies" pins people were twirling to the Naval Academy's Trident Brass jazz and swing band John's College Freshman Chorus lined up to sing on the steps of one of the red brick academic buildings the crowds knew the teams would soon be taking the fields The midshipmen exited the building single-file notoriously secretive about their uniforms made their entrance costumed as the tournament's grass croquet courts The yearly competition between the small liberal arts college lauded for its "great books" curriculum and the famed school for naval officer training began in the early 1980s. Several attendees recounted the legend that a discussion between a St John's College student and the Commandant of the Naval Academy led to the latter's challenge that his midshipmen could beat Johnnies at any sport except for the years during the COVID pandemic The tournament consisted of five croquet games The Naptown Brass Band second-lined their way through the venue keeping feet moving and energy levels high as the day progressed The well-coiffed crowd lounged on picnic blankets surrounding the croquet courts This year's tournament came down to the last match Magnus Oberg and teammate Ben Dahlgren against the Navy's Grant Bartuska and Andrew Wilkinson cheering intensely for their team with each thwack of the croquet mallet Navy players and fans rushed the field in a frenzy of white-uniformed jubilation taking turns drinking from it in a victory celebration As the emotions of the games calmed and the crowds thinned, a group of Johnnies formed a circle on the lawn to sing Palestrina's "Sicut Cervus." St John's student Lainey Rendelman explained that the song was from Psalm 42 and translated the words as it became our unofficial school anthem," she added Reflecting on how unique the Annapolis Cup is in the world of croquet Johnnie croquet alum Elizabeth Meade said the tournament is "not like playing croquet anywhere else in the world." One reason is that "The lawn giveth and the lawn taketh away." Tyrone Turner is a visual storyteller and editor with WAMU in Washington, D.C. Follow him on Instagram at @tyronefoto Thanks for visiting there are no recent results for popular articles there are no recent results for popular images there are no recent results for popular videos there are no recent results for popular commented articles Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Thanks for visiting Thanks for visiting Thanks for visiting Thanks for visiting « All Events The parade will begin at the intersection of Amos Garrett Boulevard and West Street Participants will proceed clockwise around Church Circle (opposite the usual traffic flow) followed by a left turn onto Calvert Street The parade will conclude at People’s Park (Calvert at Clay Street) where the festival will be held from 1 to 4 p.m Join the Greater Severna Park and Arnold Chamber of Commerce for an unforgettable multi-chamber mixer experience with DodgeArrows where archery meets dodgeball in the most exciting way This thrilling game uses SOFT-TIPPED arrows making it safe and fun for players ages 8+ teens and adults.Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro you’ll have a blast learning how to shoot and playing in action-packed games with the community offering all the excitement of paintball without the painful welts Bring plenty of business cards to exchange with fellow business professionals Sunday, 3:00 pmStevensville, MD Taste delicious blue catfish dishes from premiere restaurants in the DMV at the Catfish Cookoff Ticket proceeds benefit the Museum’s environmental education programs The Chesapeake Catfish Cook-off isn’t just an event—it’s a movement Invasive catfish threaten the Chesapeake Bay we’re tackling the problem head-on while serving up an unforgettable experience Don’t miss Steady in the Storm: Finding Calm in the Chaos Challenging times can knock us off-balance If you’re currently facing difficult circumstances or a season of uncertainty… or simply feel stuck We invite you to our community circle where it’s safe to share your story With life coach Debbie McTammany guiding our conversations and therapists offering clinical expertise you will find your way back to solid ground Steady in the Storm: Finding Calm in the Chaos will take place at the Betty Center our resident yoga teacher and amazing henna and mandala artist This twist on our Kids Art School will focus on art with a zen-like practice Kids will explore the art of henna and mandala art and pattern will guide the students to learn more about these ancient art forms and help them create their own unique designs using a variety of mediums throughout the semester Register here! Zen Art School will take place at ArtFarm Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center (LHAAMC) in Annapolis has received its 13th consecutive ‘A’ grade from The Leapfrog Group for hospital safety making it the only hospital in the […] Broadneck High School senior Juda Goldstein and Chesapeake Science Point Public Charter School senior Jordan Bull have been named recipients of the 2025 Crosby Marketing & Media Studies Scholarship so the title is a little dramatic (and abbreviated) Susan Moynihan — 100 Things to Do in Annapolis and […] Third Eye Comics will host its annual Free Comic Book Day event on Saturday Six Flags Entertainment Corporation has announced it will permanently close Six Flags America and Hurricane Harbor in November 2025 The highly anticipated Paca Girlfriends’ Party will return to the William Paca House and Garden on June 11 marking its 17th anniversary as a signature fundraising event for Historic […] Bands in the Sand is THE party of the year and the beach will be rocking and rolling again on June 14th we are back to the cute little white puppies again have once again demonstrated their commitment to giving back through the 2024 Share the Love Event Sailors from across the Mid-Atlantic gathered at City Dock from April 25–27 to mark the official start of the 2025 sailing season at the Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show Maryland Hall will host two major musical acts in 2025 Sweat & Tears set to perform on Friday and The Bacon Brothers scheduled […] Vintage Vibe Finds will host a Vintage Market in Annapolis on Sunday The event will take place in the parking lot […] Get ready for a fabulous evening with Homestead Gardens’ Annual Spring Girls Night Out Get out of the house and leave the lacrosse and baseball practices behind will host a special Kentucky Derby-themed event to support Thoroughbred Placement Resources (TPR) of Upper Marlboro Experience the electrifying fusion of Nashville’s soul all under one roof in Annapolis at Rams Head On Stage held April 11-13 at Safe Harbor Narrows Point and first-time visitors to its new waterfront venue Pocket Yacht Company has announced the appointment of Seth Fike as its new Director of Sales Fike brings extensive leadership and marine industry experience to the role in collaboration with the American Lung Association and the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI) announces the launch of its Advanced Lung Care Program I am talking about the 1000+ men and women who make up the Anne Arundel County Fire Department Thanks to the incredible generosity of businesses and individuals from the four counties it serves Hospice of the Chesapeake’s new fundraiser raised $360,000 to support the patients […] the premier leadership training and networking institute in Anne Arundel County has announced their 2025 New Leader Honorees.  This year’s honorees are a mix of citizens […] Christine Wilson has been appointed Executive Director of the Hospice of the Chesapeake Foundation who retired as Chief Advancement Officer on April 15 after 14 years with […] He is a 4-month-old Golden Retriever puppy who was so happy to […] a pirate-themed boat charter for children in Annapolis will reopen for spring break on April 19th — its first spring season launch since 2017 Megan decided to put four wheels under her practice and bring […] embark on an unforgettable journey with Watermark In addition to regularly scheduled cruises and walking tours Watermark has curated an exciting lineup of special event cruises in Annapolis and Baltimore SCORE Southern Maryland is spotlighting the contributions of its volunteer mentors during National Volunteer Month emphasizing their role in supporting small business development and economic growth throughout the region Big changes are on the horizon for the Bay Bridge Boat Show Veteran HR Executive to Lead Team Member Development and Organizational Culture at Premier Entertainment Destination Live Casino & Hotel Maryland has announced the appointment of Gretchen Holzhauser as its new […] This 3 day camp affords young actors the chance to wear many theatrical hats: playwright Students jump into the world of storytelling as they develop an original play They work to create dynamic characters with clear objectives Students work together to create sets and characterizations that support their imagination as their words become reality Invite your family and friends to the final sharing of your creation Taste delicious catfish dishes from local restaurants judged by photographer Jay Fleming and Chef John Shields and a lecture from a fisheries scientist on invasive species Have you ever thought about making your own yarn Learn the basics of spinning wool into yarn using a drop spindle in this introductory class Instructor Beth Hansen will teach the basics of spinning wool into yarn in this class The Garden Club of Old Annapolis Towne is inviting residents and business owners in the Historic District and parts of Murray Hill to join in the 70th annual May Day celebration by displaying colorful baskets of flowers in front of their houses or business merchants can use containers that are relevant to their business Baskets need to be displayed by 10:00 AM when members of the Garden Club will begin walking around town to judge the arrangements Winners (both residential and business) will be awarded blue ribbons and invited to a tea held at local home downtown on May 6th Children are encouraged to arrange their own baskets and receive a participation ribbon I was in the room when two guys from Connecticut first uttered a name now synonymous with greed environmental activism and NIMBYs on the march Ships sailing up the Chesapeake Bay would pull into the South River and stop for fresh water on the trip into Baltimore Marshall Breines and Jim Eagan came to the newspaper where I worked and rolled out plans for a new community built on the appeal of Annapolis as a place to grow old The Baltimore Banner thanks its 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Become one. Some see the 15 years of hearings and the millions spent on legal fees and construction delays that followed as a cautionary tale of how things should not work “I do think that the powers that be at the city have come to realize that,” said Chill Hotchkiss now called The Village at Providence Point “It’s too easy for someone who wants to continue to fight.” As this saga playing out on the city’s southern edge nears its end maybe the fight over the last private forest in Maryland’s state capital is something different Perhaps it’s about finding a balance in the give and take of a city’s evolution the Maryland Court of Appeals issued an exhaustive 67-page decision that should clear the way for construction to begin this fall at Forest Drive and Spa Road Judge Rosalyn Tang said city planners correctly approved a slimmed-down project in 2022 and a Circuit Court judge rightly upheld it in 2024 The judge found that some of the arguments to block it are “misguided.” waved off the idea that there’s nothing left to fight I drove into the lush tangle where The Village at Providence Point seems certain to rise over the next three years It’s land once farmed and then left to go feral Owner Janet Richardson’s plan 15 years ago was to sell her 176 acres on Crab Creek for a continuing care community of 350 apartments and duplexes 130 town houses and a 75-room nursing home It would be run by National Lutheran Communities & Services profiting from an adjacent shopping center and hotel They just needed a break from city forest conservation and stormwater runoff rules The forest is a crucial stormwater filter for the South River and the uplift for surrounding shopping centers and office buildings Opponents enlisted Gerald Winegrad, a retired state senator and author of the state’s first forest conservation law. They named their group “Stop Crystal Spring.” “The thing that environmentalists are best about “The best thing they’re good at is blocking stuff Breines and his partners from Connecticut gave up Winegrad complained he never expected to spend so much of his retirement on this National Lutheran and Richardson agreed to a slimmed-down plan 30 cottages and a 48-room nursing home on 52 acres Trees removed would be replaced on 124 acres that Richardson would retain and conserve with stormwater runoff addressed and a bird sanctuary established Winegrad went to his house and asked him to sign on because you — he points at me — are collaborating with the developer and their attorneys The term continuing care went out of fashion although not those locked in with deposits “My husband was not ill for long,” Patricia Shaffer said But he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and was gone three weeks later.” The Supreme Court of Maryland takes about 15% of appeals It started as a desire to squeeze as many millions out of land too rare to let sit but not special enough to preserve It is ending with one group of rich people using the courts to fight another group Rob Savidge walked Richardson’s forest and decided it was worth saving campaigning to change the forest conservation law He passed a one-to-one standard for replacing trees used to approve Providence Point “Some of my colleagues overcompensate,” Savidge said and they’re trying to streamline the process.” They will be about affordable housing and aging commercial buildings surrounded by parking lots it is that Annapolis and communities like it can’t pull up the drawbridge and prevent all development they should bargain for something fair in return “We need to start doing bigger things,” Savidge said Rick Hutzell rick.hutzell@thebaltimorebanner.com Rick Hutzell is the Annapolis columnist for The Baltimore Banner He writes about what's happening today how we got here and where we're going next he led the newspaper to a Pulitzer Prize for coverage of the 2018 mass shooting in its newsroom Welcome to The Banner's subscriber-only commenting community. 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If the problem persists, please contact customer service at 443-843-0043 or customercare@thebaltimorebanner.com a director of business development from Salisbury a construction project manager from Danbury connected on Bumble and then met up for a first date at El Bufalo Tequila Bar & Kitchen in Canton She thought he was handsome and easy going; he says she was beautiful and full of energy the pair designed a “dreamy garden party” decorated in shades of white The ceremony took place on the lawn at Saint Mary’s Parish in Annapolis with a reception that followed at the Historic London Town & Gardens Special design details included the bud vases Lauren’s favorite part—the rattan lantern installation in the reception tent And for dessert: A small strawberry-champagne cake and an assortment of mini key lime pies and strawberry cheesecakes See the details of their celebration below Photographer: Kemp Collective Planning and design: Tira Lynn Events Venue: Historic London Town & Gardens Catering: Zeffert and Gold Florals: Thurman & Fig Cake: Sweet Hearts Patisserie Hair: Paige Clifton Hair Artistry Makeup: Andrea Bounds Beauty Invitations: The Knot Bride’s attire: Essence of Australia from Betsey Robinson’s Bridal Groom and groomsmen’s attire: Jos A Bank Bridesmaids’ Attire: Show Me Your Mumu Music: The Time Police (cocktail hour band); My Deejay Rentals: Pretty Little Wedding Co.; Honeywood Event Rentals; Select Event Group Transportation: Annapolis Bus Company Lighting: Event Dynamics Signage and lettering: Kate Slayton Amy leads Washingtonian Weddings and writes Style Setters for Washingtonian Prior to joining Washingtonian in March 2016 she was the editor of Capitol File magazine in DC and before that PRELIMINARY RESULTS After a successful run in the J/30 class with his rocksteady team on Shamrock Annapolitan skipper Bruce Irvin made the leap two years ago to a bigger more ambitious and much more complex Corby 40 called Time Machine A run at the Bermuda Race next year has always been the goal so the past two years have been all about learning and refining the boat to its full potential Progress is now obvious for Irvin and his crew which won today’s ORC distance race at the Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta in Annapolis and the sun was shining again—all in all a perfect day for the nearly 240 regatta competitors that have been racking up races over the past two days “It felt really good today to see all the hard work that’s been done to the boat over the winter paying off,” Irvin says “We have a completely new rig tune and new sails and the crew has been working hard so we’re thrilled to have a good race today.” With a clean start in the 10-boat ORC fleet Time Machine’s plan was to favor the west side of the bay on the long first upwind leg a strategy that proved to be the right one so we decided that we wanted to kind of favor the right-hand side of the beat going up,” Irvin says “But we ended up going kind of in the middle of the racecourse and carried one big 30-degree lift on starboard all the way toward Thomas Point Light.” “The wind got really shifty at the mouth of the West River,” Irvin says “so we just did our best to play those shifts Once we got to the mark and put the A2 up it was all downhill sailing from there.” James Sagerholm’s legendary J/35 Aunt Jean executed a similar strategy from the start promptly tacking after crossing the line and beelining to the right which ultimately set them up for a second on the day and put them only a point behind Time Machine going into Sunday’s second distance race While the distance racers and Cal 25s (won by Pat Siedel’s Chicken Little) were covering roughly 20 miles of the Chesapeake Bay the remaining fleets got right to business on five race circles with the addition of the Harbor 20 fleet kicking off its Spring Championship As the local fleet continues to grow and attract top sailors says current class leader Margaret Podlich whose team leads the series after five races Podlich says her teammates on Skimmer—Gina Henderson and Sandy Westphal—were the ones keeping the boat fast and out of the fray “The fleet is getting way more competitive every year,” Podlich says “and the last race today was a perfect example of it—there was a pile of boats all overlapped at the finish.” the fleet split to both sides,” Henderson says “and the top 10 came together at the weather mark all at once While Podlich normally sails with two onboard the Harbor 20 with the wind forecast for the weekend they decided to go three-up and with this go-fast combination they had the boat going plenty fast “The key was changing modes constantly,” Henderson says with the goal of using the power in the gusts rather than dumping it.” Sharing the racecourse with the Harbor 20s were the J/24s which got their series underway today as well Pete Kassal’s Spaceman Spiff won two of five races to finish the day with a 3-point lead over Pat Fitzgerald’s Rush Hour J/70s and J/105s—the intensity of the respective fleets certainly went up a notch in the moderate winds and busy racecourse No one got away easy; every point being a battle His team’s 1-2-1 scoreline came with its challenges “We had a good day—we were going pretty good felt fast and made some good calls—but it’s all pretty close and the next two boats are just barely behind us.” John Bell’s Hiwassee is only 3 points back and Lindsay Duda’s Sin Duda won a race to keep themselves well within striking distance of the lead Exile and the J/88s have the fortune of being the first start on the circle which gives them an open course on the first beat but a different strategy was required for the second “The second beat is a bit harder to cross back through the middle,” Graff says “so when we picked a side on the second beat we really had to stick with it Choices are definitely more limited on the second.” Cate Terhune Miller’s Casting Couch kept its consistency alive with three top-five finishes and now sits on a 4-point lead over Paul Green’s Progress which won two races to keep the series plenty tight The two teams have built a comfortable margin over the rest of the fleet with the potential for two more races on Sunday ahead of an approaching cold front Mike Beasley’s Black Sheep found itself at the back of the fleet in the morning’s first race posting an 18th before winning the next and finishing the day with a second in the last race Only 5 points now separate Black Sheep and Warren Flannery’s team on Feisty which should make for an exciting final day for the J/80 sailors Ben duPont’s Warbride maintains its lead in the 22-boat J/105 fleet but only by 4 points over Ray Wulff’s Patriot Wulff’s squad won the day’s first race and followed that with a second in the next but a 14th in the final kept them from snatching Warbride’s lead this series will no doubt come to the final race on Sunday skipper David Starck padded his lead in the Lightning fleet to 8 points with two race wins and a second Barney Harris’ winning streak was finally snapped by Paul Clifford putting Albacore US National Championship title firmly in hand before the final day of racing Annie Sitzman and Molly Bonham won all four of their races as well in the 29er fleet and look to be unbeatable from here Sara Morgan Watters and Katherine Shermock won two races and with a pair of seconds in the Melges 15 fleet and put their lead to 8 points over Tim and Kate Faranetta Lanny Helms’ Alberg 30 Windswept and Barbara Vosbury’s Carnival Lady continued to trade race wins to bring that series to 2 points had a challenging day defending its lead in the small but competitive J/30 fleet “We’re looking forward to tomorrow for sure,” Watson says knowing his rivals on the Valhalla Sailing Project are only a point behind in the standings It’s like any sport—it’s a mental game and you have to just focus on doing well.” Jimmy Praley’s Robot Flamingo added two more wins to its scoreline to build an impressive 19-point lead Michael Baugh’s Persephone put three wins on the board and now leads the J/29 fleet by 9 points and Jeff Hayden’s team on the J/22 Polar Express have 4 points on Brad Julian’s Yard Sail Hawaiian foiling ace Gavin Ball solidified his lead in the Waszp fleet’s US National Championship series with a string of top-two finishes and now sits 8-points ahead of fellow islander Pearl Lattanzi An Annapolis True Crime Mother’s Day Brunch at the Federal House gives moms what they really want this Mother’s Day: murder and a front-row seat for the twisted tales of Annapolis Treat the true crime queen in your life to an adults-only storytelling brunch Sip on mimosas while local storyteller Melissa Huston unpacks Annapolis’ most fascinating real-life crime stories from the last 150 years—unsolved murders Get your tickets here The former president of the community association of Oyster Harbor in Annapolis was sentenced Monday to two years’ probation for pilfering more than $18,000 from the beachfront neighborhood’s bank accounts to pay his home internet and veterinary bills entered an Alford plea to one count of embezzlement he acknowledged that the prosecution had enough evidence to convict him but maintained his innocence McCormack granted Epstein probation before judgment That means that Epstein can have the conviction erased from his record if he successfully completes two years of probation McCormack handed down the sentence after hearing testimony from two factions of the once-close-knit community Some residents said they felt betrayed by Epstein and believed he should face a stiff penalty Others said they would have testified in his defense at trial and believed he had been punished enough by the publicity surrounding his charges Taken together, their statements to McCormack depicted a neighborhood divided by the criminal case one where neighbors no longer speak to each other where nasty emails and mailbox flyers about the case sowed further division “My hope for the community,” McCormack said served as president of the Oyster Harbor Citizens Association Inc neighbors admired his ability to get things done But a 2021 citation and fine from the Maryland Department of the Environment against the community sparked “a lot of controversy in the community,” with some blaming Epstein Deputy State’s Attorney Jessica Daigle said in court Daigle said Epstein stepped down around the time the association’s board commissioned an audit of its two bank accounts That review found “several irregularities,” Daigle said adding that the association subsequently notified Anne Arundel County Police Detectives found what they said was evidence of an array of financial crimes related to Epstein’s use of community association funds for years of home internet bills and three veterinary house calls for his cats and dog Board members interviewed by investigators had “no knowledge” of Epstein’s using community accounts to pay his personal internet and “there was no legitimate reason for the association to be paying for those house call vet bills.” “Epstein’s embezzlement has created quite a rift in this community,” Daigle told McCormack who responded that as much was evident from reactions in the courtroom gallery a community association board member and secretary said Epstein had “violated” trust that he’d earned from neighbors who “gave him more and more leeway” to act in the community’s best interest “It’s hard to overstate the devastating impact the crimes of Eric Epstein over the last seven years had on the community of Oyster Harbor,” Plaxico told McCormack many broken friendships in a place many good people called home,” Plaxico said had devolved into a community “where neighbors who were once great friends don’t speak to each other.” When Plaxico suggested that McCormack require Epstein complete 500 hours of community service in Oyster Harbor people who were there in support of him laughed “This is a neighborhood that has to figure out how to move on … There’s more to life than being upset with neighbors,” McCormack said as another resident recounted the division ruin your relationship with other people.” Defense attorney Robin Henley highlighted Epstein’s volunteer work saying his client went out of his way to mentor youths in STEM through the Anne Arundel County Public Library System While conceding that “things certainly could’ve been done differently,” Henley noted that Epstein had no criminal record and asked that McCormack grant him probation before judgment a resident of Oyster Harbor of more than 25 years said he was “heartbroken” by the charges against Epstein “That’s not the Eric Epstein I know,” Ginsburg said Ginsburg said Epstein helped out youths in the neighborhood sometimes hiring them to do jobs around the community He also credited Epstein with accomplishing much during his tenure as president of the association bringing to the community a basketball hoop a dog-washing station and places for firetrucks to turn around after they encountered problems with narrow streets He said Epstein always managed to balance the budget Ginsburg said Epstein’s marriage suffered because of the criminal charges and his employment was at risk because some of his work requires government clearance News articles and social media posts would loom over Epstein long after others moved on from the criminal case “He really has already been punished,” Ginsburg said a former state senator known for his environmental activism said that he was frustrated that Epstein was only being prosecuted for what Winegard described as a fraction of his misuse of community association finances Winegrad said it would be an “abdication of justice” for Epstein to get probation before judgment saying he believed the man he once considered a friend deserved six months in jail Daigle said the charges her office pursued related to the personal internet bills and veterinary visits were the only ones prosecutors believed they could prove the “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard in criminal cases “has other recourse and is aware they have other recourse.” the Oyster Harbor Citizens Association on Thursday filed a lawsuit against Epstein alleging a conspiracy Epstein was served with the complaint while waiting for his case to be called in court Monday Epstein passed up an opportunity to address McCormack with Henley saying the presence of a civil case factored into the decision to remain silent Both attorney and client declined to comment after court Alex Mann alex.mann@thebaltimorebanner.com Alex Mann covers Anne Arundel County for The Baltimore Banner He was a 2023 finalist for the Livingston Awards in local reporting he wrote for The Capital and for The Carroll County Times and 29er classes of the Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series their take on the first of the regatta and the answer is the same: no wins come easy when competition is good the wind is shifting and the current is running hard And that summed up conditions for the bulk of nearly 240 teams that kicked off the regatta on Friday with a building southerly breeze and a strong running ebbing tide With four race circles hosting multiple classes especially on the southernmost circle with the J/105s J/70s and J/88s—more than 80 boats racing up and down the course last year’s overall winner of the J/70 class and the regatta has proven in the past they know how to manage the traffic and came away with two race wins and a second to set up a 4-point lead on Alec Culter’s team on Hedgehog John Bell’s team on Hiwassee is sitting pretty with two race wins winning with a 2-1-1 but Andy Graff’s exile only 5 points back Equally close in points are the J/105 leaders with Ben DuPont’s Warbride winning the last race to end day 2 points atop Bill Zartlere’s Deja Voodoo a new addition this year in Annapolis with 16 boats perennial champ Dave Stark is in familiar territory at the top of the standings but tied with skipper Abbie Probst with each team having won a race sailing their US National Championship with nineteen teams the Albacore’s guru builder and boat whisperer He’s unbeaten again after four races with skipper Paul Clifford a good 13 points in arrears rival skippers Annie Sitzman and Sophie Niemann traded race wins to end the tied on account of Sitzman winning the fourth race of the day Sara Morgan Waters and Katherine Shermock posted back-to-back race wins in the last two to build a 5-point lead set mid-Bay had plenty of current to contend with but Lanny Helms’ Windswept was the lead team on the Alberg 30s after three races Two wins and second gives Helms and his crew a 1-point lead over Barbara Vosbury’s Carnival Lady and no will doubt continue to spar over the next two days Jeff Hayden’s team on the Polar Express leads the J/22s and Dan Watson’s Avita is top J/30 Jimmy Praley’s Robot Flamingo is undefeated in the 17-boat Viper 640 fleet and Michael Baugh’s J/29 Persephone is tied with Glenn Smyth’s Shadowfax enjoyed excellent conditions closer to shore once the sea breeze filled in The fast charging Hawaiian foilers Gavin Ball and Pearl Lattanzi are firmly in the top two after four races Ball took the first three and Lattanzi the fourth the regatta’s ORC teams will sail their distance race and the Harbor 20 fleet return for its Spring Championship with a talent packed fleet of locals Give Moms what they really want this Mother’s Day: murder Treat the true crime queen in your life to a Storytelling brunch with Annapolis Ghost Tours at the Federal House Sip on Mimosas while local storyteller Melissa Huston unpacks Annapolis’s most fascinating real-life crime stories from the last 150 years—unsolved murders PLUS: A special presentation by forensic psychologist Dr Cerise Vablais: “Women Who Murder” – a chilling deep dive into the psychology 👯‍♀️ Gather your friends and murder-curious brunch buddies for an all-inclusive plated brunch and access to our bottomless mimosa bar 📍 Federal House Bar & Grille 📅 Mother’s Day – Sunday Tickets are $90 and are all-inclusive for plated brunch with fresh fruit & desserts display Melissa Huston has been captivating audiences with the hidden twisted tales of Annapolis for over 15 years With a degree in Theater from the University of Maryland she brings a performer’s flair to every story she tells Melissa has directed and acted in numerous productions throughout the MD/DC area and hosts a podcast Cerise Vablais is a board-certified forensic psychologist specializing in police and public safety psychology Her award-winning research on female psychopathy and extensive work in correctional and crisis settings have made her a trusted expert for courts and law enforcement nationwide One of the city’s quirkiest and most anticipated spring events returns next weekend as the annual MRE .05K Bridge Run takes place Saturday the short-distance run mixes mild competition with maximum creativity It has been dubbed the least strenuous race in the nation Participants will gather outside Long & Foster at 320 6th Street beginning at 10 a.m. to pick up race packets, with walk-up registration open until 11:15 a.m. Advance registration is encouraged and available online through Where in Annapolis and all proceeds benefit local non-profits The race kicks off at the “crack o’ noon,” led by pace vehicle driver Tommy Passemante—better known as Street Bike Tommy—riding a street bike to guide runners across the route The run is expected to wrap by 12:15 p.m at the latest with participants often turning out in themed outfits ranging from inflatable dinosaurs to nautical puns Prizes will be awarded in both athletic and costume categories and Tortoise) and creative themes like “Punniest,” “MRE Spirit Award,” and “Craftiest DIY.” A judging panel featuring local favorites—Monica Alvarado of Bread & Butter Kitchen and Clarice Graves of Moochie Poochie—will determine the winners in each category all are invited to the post-run celebration at O’Learys Seafood Restaurant’s parking lot for trophy presentations and refreshments Organizers encourage participants to embrace the spirit of fun whatever works for you,” the event newsletter reads “We love seeing your creativity on display!” Looking for something fun to do in Annapolis next weekend Teen Hospitalized After Assault in Annapolis Neighborhood MHEC Program Launches to Strengthen Community College Pathways and Boost Statewide Bachelor’s Degree Attainment (WBFF) — An Annapolis man who was prohibited from possessing firerarms was arrested on Monday after a traffic stop led police to find him with a gun police stopped a black Nissan Altima near Ritchie Highway and westbound US 50 police say they located a loaded 9 mm black Smith & Wesson handgun ALSO READ | Crime scene investigation on S. Monroe Street in Baltimore Further investigation revealed that the driver