Regatta Raises More Than $200K for Area Hospices

Photo by Amy Russell.  Michael Turner and his crew sail Running on MT past the competition. Running on MT took second place in the Hospice 1 division in the Hospice Class, among nine other boats.

By Amy Russell

The 29th Annual Hospice Cup regatta event hosted this month in Annapolis raised more than $220,000 for six hospices in Maryland and Virginia.

On September 25, 59 boats came out to race in the event, which hosted four fleets: the Red, White, Hospice and Junior.

This year, in addition to sponsorships, funding was raised by the efforts of the boat captains and crews, who competed to raise the most money prior to the event. The award, The Hank Lawton Trophy - named in honor of long time volunteer and board member for the Hospice of the Chesapeake Hank Lawton, who died earlier this year at age 88 - went to Angelo Guarino on Bella Donna, who raised $4,700.

The lack of wind on the warm, sunny morning postponed the racers that were set to start at 11:00am, but with later luck, the racers were able to pull off the event, to the liking of the nearly 150 people watching from the Catherine Marie spectator boat, which served as both an additional fundraiser and a VIP hot spot.

The Red Fleet, made up of bigger racers including a class of J105s, competed in two scored races while the White Feet, smaller racers like the division of Cal25s, and the Hospice Fleet, a special non-spinnaker class designed for sailors more accustomed to cruising, competed in only one.

Both the Hospice Cup - awarded for top performances in three consecutive Hospice Cup regattas and The Sajak Family Foundation Trophy, which is awarded for best performance in cruising one design, went to Cedric Lewis’s Mirage. For best performance in PHRF racing, Brian Jones’ Problem Child took the Hal Kass Memorial Trophy. In the Hospice Class, Joe Lombardo’s Ingenuity won the Martin F. McCarthy Memorial Trophy for their first place finish. Vern Penner’s Graciella took the Lovelace/Sniegon Memorial Trophy, for Best in Hospice Class with Caregiver Aboard. In conjunction, caregiver Cathy Sanders was awarded the Allan C. Westcott Trophy for her role in the race.

Just down the river off the shore of Atria Manresa, the second annual junior regatta took place in conjunction with the event.

In only their second year of participation, the junior fleet managed to bring in more than $13,000 - topping all expectations, as well as funds by some of the adult racing boats.

"This year, we let them loose on fundraising, and they really surprised us,” said Hospice Cup volunteer Dave MacKenzie. “Several of the junior boats were able to raise more funding than some of the adult boats. It’s always great to get the youth involved, but they really did a phenomenal job in raising funds and awareness for the cause.”

In the junior fleet, 16 of the region’s top optimist junior racers ranging in age from 8 to 14 were divided into four racing teams. The racers, each part of the Chesapeake Bay Yacht Racing Association, are chosen based on Association high point scores. Saturday’s event included juniors from all over, including Annapolis Yacht Club, Severn Sailing Association, Fishing Bay Yacht Club and Hampton Yacht Club. One of the junior racers, Kendall Swenson, of Fishing Bay, raised $2,870 herself, making her boat the top junior fleet fundraiser with $7,170.

Swenson made countless personal appeals through email, bringing in 46 donors who contributed donations between $20 and $175.

“The more Kendall learned about Hospice, the more she became passionate about the cause and talked it up with her friends and team members,” said Jacie Swenson, Kendall’s mother. “She was really touched when she learned her efforts would be earmarked for pediatric Hospice.”

The junior fleet’s contribution set an outstanding example and precedent for future Hospice events.

“The juniors did a great job in fundraising,” agreed Karma O’Neill, Executive Director of Hospice Cup, Inc.

In addition to fundraising, MacKenzie said the junior racers add a whole new element to the event.

"The kids had a blast last year and doubled the energy level at the party, dancing and having a great time," said MacKenzie. “They’ve really done a lot for the involvement.”

At the Shore party after both the regular and junior regattas, live music by The Rovers entertained hundreds of racers, sponsors and other guests. Spectators and others involved gathered for the full bar, buffet, live auction, wine raffle and awards and trophies ceremony.