SCREWPILE LIGHTHOUSE CHALLENGE 2009. July 2, 2009. Sponsor confusion. In our SpinsSheet ads the "Tiki Bar" listed as a Sponsor is located poolside at the Holiday Inn Solomons. Not to be confused with the one located at the end of the Island. Every seaside town has more than one Tiki Bar, southern Maryland is no different. Between Key Largo and Key West Florida  there are at least 12 by my  last count made several years ago. We apologise for any confusion we may have caused. We are looking forward to welcoming all to our part of the Chesapeake.

SCREWPILE LIGHHOUSE CHALLENGE 2009. July 1, 2009. We are most pleased to welcome aboard two new sponsors to the Screwpile Challenges. Boomerangs Original Ribs since 1993.
Boomerangs has been a favorite of Screwpile Racers for the pass 16 years since they opened for business in 1993 in the same location.They are less than five minutes walking distance from Race Headquarters located at the Holiday Inn Solomons. Boomerangs will be at the SMSA clubhouse Saturday July 18th from 6 to 8PM serving their mouth watering specialties. The club house is located on the island across from the Solomons Gazebo.

Solomons Island Winery also a new sponsor to the Screwpile Lighthouse Challenge 2009 and will be the exclusive wine served at the tent parties this year. Visit their web side on the right of this page and learn more about winery. You may be interested to learn their labels feature sailing vessels so you know where their heart is in Chesapeake Country. 

Solomons Island Winery was founded as a micro-winery by Ken Korando in the fall of the year 2002. We are located on 9.3 acres just north of Solomons Island in southern Calvert County, Maryland along the idyllic shores of Hungerford Creek.

We are growing a small amount of our own grapes, however our wines are currently produced predominantly from fruit produced by other growers. As such we are able to produce a wide variety of wines.

SCREWPILE LIGHTHOUSE CHALLENGE 2009 Stay tuned for more on the Sport Boat Class.
We have 5 boats with paid entries to date that could be in the class. Bow numbers, 22, 23,37, 59, and 64 to date. The requirement is 7. It will be a open class, no restrictions as to size or sail area. Entrants must have a PHRF of the Chesapeake 2009 rating, copy to be included with entry form.  International code pennant number 1 required on the backstay. The owners of the bow numbers listed above should confirm with the chairman via email of their desire to race in this class.

ASPECIAL NOTICE FROM THE SCREWPILE LIGHTHOUSE CHALLENGE, FRIDAY JUNE 26, 2009. THE PLANNED SPORT BOAT CLASS AT SCREWPILE CHALLENGE 2009 WILL NOT TAKE PLACE THIS YEAR. WE REALIZE THAT WE MAY NOT HAVE SET IT UP CORRECTLY BY SPECIFYING BOATS IN THE 6 TO 7 METERS. OUR ADVISE ORIGINALLY FROM SEVERAL OF OUR SENIOR COMMITTEE MEMBERS SUGGESTED THAT WE NOT DESIGN IT FOR A PARTICULAR SIZE BOAT BECAUSE  THE 6 TO 7 METER BOATS ON THE BAY ARE FEW AT THIS TIME. OUR INTENT WAS TO ENCOURAGE BOATS THIS SIZE AND BUILD ON IT WITH THE POSSIBILITY THAT WE COULD HAVE 2 CLASSES OF SPORT BOATS IN 2010. WE ARE NOT GIVING UP ON THE IDEA OF HAVING SPORT BOATS AT THE SCREWPILE CHALLENGES IN THE FUTURE AND WOULD ENCOURAGE THOSE OWNERS TO CONTACT US AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE FOR 2010. LAST YEAR THERE WHERE 6 SPORT BOATS IN THE A2 CLASS  OF 18 MAKING IT A VERY COMPETITIVE CLASS WE HOPE YOU WILL RETURN THIS YEAR . THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING.

SCREWPILE LIGHTHOUSE CHALLENGE 2009. May 29, 2009. The Screwpile Challenge Race Committee will have a One Design start for the Chesapeake Farr 40's. Working with Kevin McNeil to bring the Farr 40s at Screwpile, he expects this first inaugural year to have at lest 7 but more likely 8 or 9 boats on the starting line in July. With addition of the Farr 40s this year's we are offering a start for the Multi Hull's  and Sport Boat 's that range 6 to 7 meters.

2009 is shaping to be the best ever Screwpile and our PRO's and their RC supporting staff's  will be in top form not to memtion all the folks who are working behind the scenes to make your stay in southern Maryland very enjoyable.

"Screwpile Challenges are run by volunteer sailors from many clubs located on the Chesapeake for the racing sailors from everywhere".

SCREWPILE LIGHTHOUSE CHALLENGE 2009. May 27, 2009. The Screwpile Challenge did not qualify for the $787B dollars stimulus package. We want to put our 100 plus vounteers to work bringing you the best yet Screwpile Challenge. We will create our own stimulus package with your help and support.

 Our loyal sponsors / advertisers help make this regatta possible.  Now we are asking you to help us by registering as soon as possible. Clubs like ourselves must pay deposits to many vendors to insure every thing is ready for race day, for example, trophies, entertainment, tent suppliers, beverages, ice fuel, bow numbers, etc. Race Committee boat supplies we have 12 boats to supply, our signal flags alone are over a thousand dollars just this year. Additionally there are cost associated with the printed mailings, web page production, score boards, notices in the CBYRA Green Book, the CCV Race circular, and many more too numerous to mention in this article. "Now you know the rest of the story".

Below is taken from our Notice of Race articles numbers 4 and 6, entry procedures including dates  and the event headquarters location. If you have any questions please contact, chairman@screwpile.net or call 301-862-3100.

Thank you for your time reading this article.

4. ENTRY PROCEDURES: Entries shall be submitted on the Official Screwpile Challenge 2009 Entry Form, attached to this notice of regatta or download from the official web site and be accompanied by a check. Entries must be received by Noon Wednesday, July 1, 2009. Entry fee $180.00 Late fee $75.00 (Applies to all entries received after July 1, and before July 5, 2009). Entries not accepted after July 15^th .Make checks payable to and mail to :SCREWPILE CHALLENGE 2009, PO BOX 66, HOLLYWOOD MD 20636. 

6. EVENT HEADQUARTERS: Event headquarters will be Holiday Inn Solomons at the end of Holiday Drive Solomons Maryland. Post race parties and awards ceremonies will be under a tent located at the Holiday Inn Solomons.  All skippers/boats must check in during registration to receive skipper’s packet, sailing instructions and bow numbers. Registration will be located in the Patuxent Concourse inside the Holiday Inn on Saturday July 18, 2009 between Noon and 5:00PM. A skipper’s meeting will be held under the main tent at 5:15PM hours on Saturday July 18, 2009.

SCREWPILE LIGHHOUSE CHALLENGE, May 1, 2009. New Mount Gay Rum logo. Click onto their new logo on the right side of this page and visit Barbados where the sailors favorite brand of rum has beem distilled since 1703. The famous Red Hats at Screwpile Challenge 2009 will have the yellow island logo making them a collectors item. Our banners and signs at the parties will have the new logo.  Mount Gay Rum, "The Rum That Invented  Rum". www.mountgayrum.com

SCREWPILE LIGHTHOUSE CHALLENGE RACE COMMITTEE. April 21, 2009... Sport Boat clarification. We are inviting Sport Boats that are 6 to 7 meters in length. Some of you throught that we were only hosting boats that were 6 or 7 meters. The reason for this size this first year is we wanted to attract folks who have not participated in the Screwpile Challenges. We think this a extremly good growth area in racing and we have the resources to make it happen without taking anything away from our PHRF, One Design fleets which contribute so much to the Screwpile Challenges and we owe our success to them.

We have also added to our flleets this year for the first time and after asked to do so,  a Multi Hull start, see our Sailing Instructions on this site, just click SI's 

Red Hats, Hot Summer Fun: Screwpile 2009

When the April issue of SpinSheet hits the docks, the countdown to the next Screwpile Lighthouse Challenge (July 19-21) will be at 110 days and ticking on the event website screwpile.com (or screwpile.net). A rum brand that knows its audience well, Mount Gay  has signed up to continue its 14-year sponsorship of the three-day regatta and party hosted by the Southern Maryland SA (SMSA) out of Solomons. As race chair L.G. Raley put it, "Anywhere you see Mount Gay's signature red hats, you’re at one of the best regattas in the country. Screwpile is no exception. We’re very pleased that Mount Gay has continued its loyalty to the event."

Race headquarters will once again be at the Holiday Inn Select, with nightly parties at the tiki bar patio near the pool. A block of rooms has been reserved for Screwpile participants and friends, so book early, as July will come around quickly.

Exciting news for the 2009 event includes the addition of a sport boat class for 6Ms and 7Ms and a multihull class. Registrations are filtering in, as the sailing season launches, and racing sailors have visions of sailing in shorts. A long-time event sponsor, SpinSheet will be there taking photos on the water and shoreside.

 Molly Wimans SpinSheet special to Screwpile Challenge “Latest News” March 31, 2009

SCREWPILE LIGHTHOUSE CHALLENGE RACE COMMITTEE 2009. February 27, 2009. The 2009 Sailing Instructions were  posted on our web page as of 1:30 PM today. There are a few changes due to the new 2009 - 2012 Racing Rules of Sailing. In addition to the new changes  we have have changed our SI no. 7 "CLass Flags". SI no. 9 page 5 we have changed the designation of the courses from "L" "LX" "W" and "WX" to either "4","5" or "6" (number of laps), number 5 is an upwind finish. SI no. 25 (page 8)  "'Movable Ballast" is new  and addresses PHRF canting keels and center boards moved by stored enegry. Under Screwpile 2009 Windard - Leeward Courses (page 8) we have added a Multi Hull class section and on page 9 the courses are illustrated. The "Multi Hulls" have a seperate courses as illustrated although they will be on one of the three courses to be determined. We are looking forward to welcoming all our old friends back and meeting our new friends from the Multi Hull class and soon to be announced our very own version of the 'Sportie Boats".

We will distribute at the registration a hard copy of these Sailing Instructions,and Preliminary Class Splits, Current Charts etc courtesy of or great sponsor for so many years SpinSheet Magazine

SCREWPILE LIGHTHOUSE RACE COMMITTEE 2009. Subject; Class flags for Screwpile 2009. This year we are going to use the standard CBYRA region 3 Class flags. You will need to have the required flag for display on the stern, appropriately five (5) feet up the backstay, per Sailing Instruction number 7.

This will improve identification on the race course and will be familiar to you as you race in differnt locations on the Chesapeake. In the first row you have the PHRF Class , second line the rating and the third line the pennant number. The One Design , first line the OD Class and second line the flag or pennant number. We are still going to provide you with a The Event Flag which will be given to you at registration. This flag shall be flown just below the class flag. 

PHRF and One Design Region 3 Class flags or pennants

PHRF **

    A0               A1                A2                A3                  B                  C/D                 N

Up to 28       29-70            71-94           95-118        119-157             158+              N/S

   -0-                -9-                 -2-               -3-                -6-                   -7-                 -5-

 **  PHRF ratings from PHRF Chesapeake

ONE DESIGN

   J/105                     Beneteau 36.7       J/35                 Multi Hull

     -V-                       2^nd Substitute        -K-                      -W-

SCREWPILE CHALLENGE RACE HEADQUARTERS, November 14, 2008. We will be back at the Holiday Inn Select Solomons Maryland completly remolded in time for the Screwpile Challenge 2009. We have blocked 275 rooms at the Inn for you. You may reserve them now call the Inn direct at 1-800-356-2009, be sure to use this code: SC9 for the special rate. Should they tell you they are sold out ask for Melissa Bless Director of Sales. This sometimes happens on their room accounting as the block of room looks like they are already reserved. They reported today that 22 of the rooms have been reserved,

There will be no increase in the entry fee or party beverages under the tent this year. Nightly live entertainment, daily trophies, pay as you go and for your convenience we are working toward starting the parties earlier, more  information will be provided on this web site as we progress.