Julie Dunbar remembers 1974 ~ [cid:image001.jpg@01DB9A5E.7EA66900] Bob Cashman reminded me that the Pettipaug BJ Nationals were held in 1974 which saved me some time in looking it up. Bob sailed Blue Jays actively along with many other Junior sailors and still has fond memories to share! In 1974, my husband, Bill and I had recently purchased a Blue Jay for our family. They were actively sailed at our small club, Shrewsbury Sailing and Yacht Club, Oceanport, NJ . When notification of the National Regatta came about, we decided to join a few other members and make the trip up to Essex, CT. to participate, some coming by boat and others by car. At that time, Bill's Aunt June and Uncle Carlton Barlow were living on Book Hill Road so we contacted them in hopes of using their guest house as "home base" for this regatta, which worked out perfectly, so all was set to enjoy a good weekend of Blue Jay sailing. The Club was decked out in the finest of flags, cars were parked here, there and everywhere, Blue Jays and more Blue Jays were being moved about, and the shouts of kids and parents lingered in the air! On the water, boats and more boats! Spectators and sailors both!! It was an exciting time! The races went off without a "hitch" as the Pettipaug group knew just how to organize and run regattas, plus the weather was cooperating. The NJ sailors and others who had come up from Barnegat Bay, NJ had their great learning experience with the CT River current. In fact, the crew in our Blue Jay fell overboard during the race and our daughter, Debbi, leaned over and pulled her back into the boat hanging onto her shirt as the current pushed her by. And, back then, one had to watch out for the barges that were making their way to Hartford. It was at this regatta that Bill was asked and decided to join the Blue Jay Class Association Board along with Dan Van Winkle of Mason's Island, Bill becoming President awhile later. As I was so new to sailing and racing, I did not begin to understand all the preparation, excitement and frustration at that time but truly appreciated the friendliness and dedication everyone was making! It will always remain as a very special event in my mind! [cid:image002.jpg@01DB9A5E.7EA66900] THE 1974 REGATTA WINNERS~ NAMES LISTED IN THE ABOVE ARTICLE! This photograph and the Middletown Press article were donated to by Robin Doyle. Julie Dunbar wrote the wonderful remembrance. Bill became President of Blue Jay International and Julie was Secretary. When they moved to Connecticut, they joined PYC, supported the Women's Sailing Group and are Co-Founders of the Wednesday Night Blue Jay Series! NEXT~ Mary Risseeuw remembers
