MIRC at TPYC August 3, 2022
Story: Bruce Hall Images: Bruce Hall & Michelle Scott
Yesterday, TPYC hosted a MIRC. We had as guests over two dozen kids and instructors from five other clubs: Boothbay Harbor (BHYC), Kennebunk (KBIA), Peaks Island (TEIA), Portland (PYC), and UNH. There were 7 FJs and 7 Optis racing and 2 Turnabouts observing.
MIRCs were designed as a gentle introduction to racing and provide an opportunity for sailors to visit other clubs for sailing in different locations and with different boats. This year we’ve been able to send sailors to MIRCs or similar events at Boothbay Harbor, Peaks Island, and UNH.
During yesterday’s MIRC, TPYC sailors as a group earned second place to Peaks Island. The complete results were
- TEIA (Peaks Island)
- TPYC
- KBIA (Kennebunk Beach)
- UNH
- BHYC (Boothbay Harbor)
- PYC (Portland)
Parents of TPYC kids provided a cook-out lunch for everyone before they went out on the water. Afterwards there were snacks including home-made brownies.
The races were run by Diana Weidenbacker of UNH, one of the founders of the MIRC concept. TPYC Instructors set courses, got boats rigged, and kids in boats. We were able to provide boats for all clubs that wanted to participate. Even a very late entry request was met with a major effort by Grace Skelton and Molly Skelton to prepare an entire additional FJ in less than 24 hours from boats and parts in Bill Skelton’s barn.
All in all, it was a beautiful day of sailing on Taylor Pond for a lot of kids. There was even some swimming in water that was much warmer than the ocean.
BH
