News & Views for Southern Sailors - Southwinds Magazine

Hampton sailors range in age from the lateteens to the 70s. And there are some areafamilies that have been in the class forthree generations. Seeing a grandfathersailing with a grandchild is not unusual.drops from that point, so does thecompetitiveness.“You might find a sailable boat for$2,000, but if you wanted to race it, youwould have to put at least $3,000 in it,”Taylor estimated.If you check the class website(www.hamptononedesign.com), boatHampton sailors claim that designer Vincent Serio was looking hardat a Star in 1934 when he sat down at his drawing board inHampton, VA. In fact, says Eddie Wolcott of Norfolk, some Hamptonsailors used to wear T-shirts that read: Little Star Racing Team.712 is offered for $9,500, while boat 501 is available for only$2,500.The latest hull number is only 730 and that means theHampton One Design has not expanded its horizons muchbeyond the Chesapeake Bay/Hampton Roads area and certainlyis no threat to high performance international classes.But that is a positive point for HOD owners.“People don’t have to travel far to find competition,”Taylor commented. “Occasionally, someone will buy anolder one for day sailing and haul it off to New York orFlorida, but if they race them in their new home, they competein the Portsmouth Rating division.”“Serio didn’t want a mass-produced boat,” Wolcottexplained. “For one thing, it is a tough boat to build right.“But more recently, when the class association has talkedabout expansion, there is always the problem of effort andmoney. Besides, we are the biggest and most competitiveclass on the bay.”An average regatta may attract 10 to 15 boats, accordingto the class commodore, but the nationals may find as manyas 30 boats on the starting line.“The class has always had a strong following,” Williamssaid. “Originally, the class was all over the bay, but now it ismostly in the lower bay.”The three main fleets are Hampton Yacht Club,Norfolk Yacht and Country Club, and the Potomac RiverSailing Association. But there have been fleets alongMaryland’s eastern shore, such as Cambridge and Oxford,as well as the northeastern corner of North Carolina in theElizabeth City area.As he recounted some of the Hampton’s history,Williams remembered that he used to date a girl namedAnne while they were in high school. She became his wifeand crewed for him many years.“A lot of our dates were on Hamptons,” he said with achuckle. “But we just don’t race as much as we used to.”WINTER SPECIAL!Great Prices on all models• Hobie Cats• Compac*• RS Sailboats*• Hunter Trailer Sailboats• Triak Trimarans• SUP ATX Paddle Boards• Future Beach Kayakswww.tikiwatersports.netHOBIEWAVETwo South Florida Locations:KEY LARGO94381 Overseas Hwy.305.852.9298bob@tikiwatersports.netPORT CHARLOTTE19450 Peachland Blvd.941-735-8363 • 941-979-9728Jeff@MainsailNews.TV**AVAILABLE ONLY AT KEYS LOCATIONNews & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS May 2012 33