Julie Dunbar remembers 1974 ~

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!

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