THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 16, 1995 TAG: 9507160183
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BOB HUTCHINSON, OUTDOORS EDITOR
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
Dave Arnold of Hampton has a simple solution for avoiding the organized chaos known as the Cock Island Race, which jams the already-busy Elizabeth River with 300 sailboats.
``Stay out of their way,'' he said. ``At least, that's what I try to do. But it's not easy, with so many sailors who really aren't accustomed to racing.''
Arnold and his boat, Decision, are among the regulars on the lower Chesapeake Bay sailboat racing scene. Like 45 or 50 others, Arnold competes almost every weekend.
But he also knows the Cock Island events. He has been in every one, starting eight years ago.
The regular racing fleet is like a big family, Arnold said, ``where everyone knows everyone else and knows what they're going to do.''
But not so in the Cock Island Race, which is at least as much a social event as a sporting event, attracting scores of sailors who make this their only race of the year.
Here, rather than competing on the broad, open waters of the lower Chesapeake Bay or even Hampton Roads, most sailing is done within the narrow confines of the Elizabeth River.
``It's a great race,'' Arnold said, ``because the sponsors do such a great job of throwing a big party, just for sailors.''
A stage show and street dance kicked things off Friday night, with another show and street dance Saturday night.
Still, Arnold doesn't totally agree with race founder Mo Whitlow of Portsmouth, who years ago called the event ``a casual race for serious sailors and a serious race for casual sailors.''
Once the starting gun fires for the first of 10 classes, Arnold said, he's ``as serious as I can be. I think you'll find it that way with everyone.''
Whitlow, an attorney who helped launch the race, said he has not been surprised with the way it has grown.
``It really filled a void,'' he said. ``We have a great spring and fall series. But there just wasn't much in between.''
``Beyond that, the key has been the tremendous cooperation and hospitality we've gotten from the city, Ports Events and all the sponsors. There's nothing like it on the Chesapeake Bay. We could have 400 boats if we wanted.
``The race isn't really much more than an excuse for a big midsummer party. But the great part is being able to get this many people together with a single purpose - sailing.
``The fellowship is incredible and that's what we were aiming for when we started this with 50 boats. Jim Hawks and John Ellis, this year's co-chairmen, deserve a lot of credit for putting this all together.''
The race is a ``great deal'' for all competitors, said Clyde Winters of Hampton.
``For the $50 entry fee, you get hats and T-shirts and you and your entire crew get to go to great parties,'' he said. ``What more could you expect? The hospitality and fun here is simply unmatched at any other sailboat race on the East Coast.
``It's not the greatest course, since real races are around a triangular course, where you have to use some tactics. Here you just sail down the river, turn around and sail back.''
That doesn't seem to matter to anyone, including Dave Arnold.
``The course isn't important,'' he said. ``What's important is that you sail hard but stay out of the way. And don't miss the parties.'' MEMO: RESULTS/C12
ILLUSTRATION: JOSEPH JOHN KOTLOWSKI
About 300 sailboats pulled away from the Portsmouth Seawall at the
start of the Cock Island Race.
by CNB