There’s something special about a regatta weekend—the anticipation, the ritual of rigging the boat, the camaraderie on shore, and the thrill (and occasional chaos) once the sails fill. This year’s I20 Classic Regatta at Pymatuning Lake, PA, June 6-7, delivered all of that and more, giving my wife and me a weekend we won’t forget. Towing our boat Surgin’ there from our spot on the Potomac River went smoothly, and there’s that special feeling you get setting out on a road trip with your own boat in tow
Pymatuning Lake greeted us with enthusiasm—by which I mean wind. A lot of wind. The kind that makes you double-check your rig tenstion, tighten your life jacket and exchange that “Are we doing this?” look with your crew. The first day was a test of balance, teamwork, and humility. Gusts rolled across the lake hard enough to knock two boats over with sudden shifts in direction, but all sailors got back up safely. That’s the beauty of scow sailing: it’s fast, wet, and occasionally challenging, but always exhilarating.
Despite the chaos, the race committee kept everything running smoothly. Courses were clear, starts were crisp, and safety boats were right where they needed to be. Even in heavy air, the event felt organized and supportive. It really was an impressive Race Committee team there at Pymatuning.
Sunday brought a welcome shift. The wind eased into a manageable, tactical breeze—still lively enough to keep things interesting, but calm enough to let us focus more on the race and less on just staying upright. My wife and I really started finding our groove making maneuvers, and proved again that communication and patience are key, both in sailing and in marriage!
By the end of the weekend, five races were in the books, and we were thrilled to finish in second place overall. After the wild ride on day one, a podium finish felt especially satisfying. First place was easily taken by our class Commodore, Joe Ewing, and his crew from Pymatuning. Third place went to The father and son team on Knot Again after initial erroneous scoring awarded it to Lazaretto (apologies to the aggrieved party on Lazaretto).
What made the weekend truly memorable wasn’t just the racing—it was the people. The Lake Pymatuning sailing community put on a fun, welcoming, and impressively organized event. From the volunteers on shore to the sailors swapping stories at the end of the day, the whole regatta had that perfect blend of competition and camaraderie. We camped right there on the grounds and enjoyed great food with great company. We left tired, sun‑soaked, and smiling—exactly how a regatta weekend should end.
