THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 10, 1996 TAG: 9610100345
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: EDENTON LENGTH: 42 lines
For the first time since the Triad Sailboat Regatta was held to determine the top sailors on the Albemarle Sound, the Roanoke Island Yacht Club has claimed the bucket-size championship trophy.
The RIYC clinched the 1996 title - after 11 years of frustration - at the last of the season's three races at the Peanut Festival in Edenton Saturday.
The winning team, which sails out of Colington, took first place in all three classes for the summer, and also picked up a pair of third-place finishes. That was enough to beat the Pasquotank River Yacht Club in Elizabeth City and the Edenton Yacht Club. Those sailors had taken every previous title since the regatta was established in 1984.
The 1996 spinnaker crown went to Pete Hunter in NineOneOne. He edged Jim Elliot of Edenton in Neried. There was no third because no other boat had also sailed in races at Elizabeth City and Colington.
Mike Robinson won the Class A seasonal title in Hot Flash. Second went to Arch Farmer of Elizabeth City in Feather. Shawn Murphy of RIYC took third in Seabird.
In Class B, George Kendall sailed Liberty Call to first place for the season. Second was won by Bob Crawford of Elizabeth City in Serenity. Bob Buchanan, who founded the RIYC, finished third in Seaweed. Rookie of the Year was Ronald L. Speer of the RIYC in Wind Gypsy.
In the Peanut Festival finale, the final leg of the Triad, Spinnaker Class winners were Hunter, first; Lloyd Griffin of Elizabeth City in Cash Flow, second, and Elliot, third. Class A winners were Larry Tynch of Edenton, first in Triton; Robinson, second, and Bob Morehard of Elizabeth City in Blythe Spirit, third. In Class B, Gil Burroughs of Edenton in Barbara Jean III was first, Kendall was second and third went to Lee Wallio of Elizabeth City in Zipadeedooda.
Final Albemarle Sound race of the season will be the Kelley's Kup at Colington on Oct. 19-20. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by LISA MURPHY
Shawn Murphy, left, and George Kendall of the Roanoke Island Yacht
Club show off the 1996 trophy. by CNB