Nestled on the gentle shores of Lake Waccamaw—about forty miles west of Wilmington, North Carolina—the Waccamaw Sailing Club offered a perfect blend of comfort, charm, and Southern hospitality. It was the kind of place where time slowed down just enough to savor a cup of coffee on the clubhouse deck or share stories long after sunset.

The annual Indian Summer Regatta kicked off the week with an informal practice day on Friday 3 October, followed by four competitive races on Saturday, and  three on Sunday.  The full Indian Summer recap is available here. But this year, the story didn’t end with Sunday’s final horn. Many sailors decided to stay—stretching the weekend into ten glorious days of sailing, socializing, and good-natured chaos. You see, the Weta North American Championships were coming to Lake Waccamaw the next weekend.

Monday began with the smell of pancakes courtesy of Bill Croughwell. Spirits were high as Bill’s drone took flight for some “wind reconnaissance.” Unfortunately, reconnaissance turned to rescue when the drone got itself tangled in a lakeside tree. A flurry of fishing lines and laughter later, the drone was freed—battered but airborne again. Still determined to “study the wind,” the crew boarded Bill’s pontoon boat for a lake tour, admiring the shifting ripples and chatting.  The lake tour paused at Waccamaw Sailing Club where a quiet discussion on the porch rocking chairs with Alan Taylor and Terry Richardson evolved into just watching the lake. Lunch at a local spot and a quiet nap rounded out the day—except for Bill and Keith McDonald, who went on a mission to the meat market and returned triumphantly with alligator filets for dinner. The evening feast on a rented house’s dock—shared with Steve Cardoze, Jim Serpa, and Chuck Carroll was as good as it sounds.

Rick Upson of Rick’s Small Sailboats arrived at the club grounds later that evening.

Tuesday Bob Curry gave a beach demonstration on how he manages the Weta in light air downwind.  The morning brought a teasing breeze and several false starts before a solid afternoon sail. Jim, Bruce Koch, Steve, Alan, and Chuck put Bob’s lessons to work on the water. That night, the sailors gathered for dinner on the Wilmington riverfront, thanks to local hosts Mark Williams and Alex Leanos. Good food, good friends, and a few tall tales later, the group returned to the lake under a clear Carolina sky to admire the moonrise.

Wednesday dawned still and warm—perfect for deep, meandering conversations. The sailors debated how best to teach children about AI, wandered into discussions about college, movies, and the pace of change, and generally solved half the world’s problems before lunch. Light winds kept most boats ashore, but spirits were high as reinforcements arrived: Baxter Gordon from Virginia Inland Sail Association and Dan Juday from Ten Mile, Tennessee. Despite losing a dolly wheel on the travel in, Bob Hodges from Lake Pontchartrain arrived smiling—ready to defend his North American Championship title.

Thursday brought more Weta sailors including Dale Werkema from Eugene Yacht Club in Oregon along with Rebecca who turned out to be invaluable in Weta launch and recovery throughout the weekend. Kip Keelin and John Cramer from Fort Walton Yacht Club also rolled in. Gareth Ferguson of East Coast Sailboats led an excellent classroom and on water clinic.  Afterwards, the corn hole tournament started to warm up.  Following the skippers meeting in the evening sailors retired ready for racing adventures.

Friday delivered the kind of sailing everyone had been waiting for. The wind filled in beautifully at 15-22 knots, leading to four exhilarating races (though only three counted after some finish-line confusion in race 1). The fleet traded stories of “stuffs” and “blue water” in the cockpit, but no capsizes marred the day. It was Ron Walters’ first Weta regatta.  He did great while gaining familiarity with his new craft.  Waccamaw Sailing Club’s Commodore, Bill Purcell, led a group of club volunteers in cooking and serving Burgers and hot dogs on the clubhouse deck that made for a perfect evening.

Saturday arrived with rain and too much wind, but the sailors simply shifted gears. The corn hole tournament resumed in earnest.  Bob Hodges gave a clinic on how to sail fast. Everyone took detailed notes. A rowdy game of “Dirty Sailor” broke out, and laughter echoed across the club. “Dirty Sailor” was similar to the Christmas gift swapping game “Dirty Santa”.  Commodore Purcell and his team continued the evening festivities with a Low Country Boil that was a feast to remember.  After dinner a storytelling contest judged by actual US Sailing judges launched. The competition was close, but Dale Werkema squeezed out a win with his tales of a 2018 regatta in Mexico. The night ended with a game of Regatta and hopeful talk of Sunday sailing.

Sunday had other plans—more high wind, more rain, no racing—but the awards ceremony was rich with recognition and friendship.

The ceremony kicked off with a lottery drawing of several generous gift certificates from East Coast Sailboats and Rick’s Small Sailboats.

Special honors went to Jim Serpa, the undisputed Corn Hole Champion; Gareth Ferguson, winner of the Ninja Award for his halyard swap while floating in the mooring field during race 2 in front of a large crowd of club members who had gathered on the club’s deck; and Alex Leanos, the spirited Rookie of the Year, whose enthusiasm inspired everyone.  The ceremony also got the West Coast Weta sailor, Dale Werkema, caught up in Turtle Transom Stickers.

Mark Williams, in only his second Weta regatta, claimed 5th Place, showing promise in his new boat. Alan Taylor, ever consistent, took 4th, while Chuck Carroll earned 3rd. The legendary Bob Curry sailed to 2nd, and Bob Hodges successfully defended his title with three dominant bullets. Full results can be downloaded below.

Ten days of sailing, laughter, learning, and friendship had turned into more than just back to back regattas—it was a celebration of community and the joy of being on the water. Sailors packed their boats with tired smiles and full hearts, already talking about next year. There are many who made this weekend happen, but the author would like to especially recognize the tireless two year planning efforts and on site execution by Stephanie Taylor.