Archives & History

Recipients of the CBTF Award
(Colossal Blunder Too Good To Forget, or more affectionately known as
the "Broken Sprocket Award")

2007  Jon Redifer:  During the last race of the season Sea Deuce took an early lead, but was eventually passed.  The winds and seas were building and after rounding the last mark of the race, firmly ensconced in second place, Jon decided to fly the spinnaker.  The aftermath of the sail set had the spinnaker in the water, the starboard sprocket broken and the boat decided to withdraw.  Had she stayed with the regular sail set she would easily have taken second as she had no opportunity to catch the leader even above hull speed.  Kudos for aggressiveness!

2006  Kristin White:  While getting ready to start a twilight race, Ca Ira wandered into the start of the Cal-25s, just before the Triton's started.  She was on the line, on port, and nowhere to go while the Cal fleet bore down on her.  It reminded everyone witnessing the event of a bowling ball parting a stack of Cal-25 bowling pins!  High fives all around for the Strike!

2000  Chuck Thienel:  While working shotgun on the Miles River Back RC Boat (Sandpiper), a crewman aboard the third place finishing boat Luff Affair moaned that it had been so long since he had heard a gun.  Sympathetically, Chuck stuffed a round and fired it over his shoulder.  Only thing was that he forgot he was sitting under the sunshade.  Holy Sunshade, Bat Man!

1997  Jim Schwartz:  Taking the (facetious) advice of the newsletter, Jim decided to visit Herring Island shortly before the start of a race.  He found it, all right, only a few feet below the surface, just beyond the day mark.  He was still there then the fleet began the second lap, albeit joined by a “Tow Boat US” craft.  He was finally pulled off by lightening ship; removing weight from his wallet.

1993  Leb Brown:  During Race Four of the Triton Nationals at West River, Leb, sailing Overdraft, tried to cut the windward mark too close.  The tide carried him on the mark and along with some other damage the starboard sprocket was broken.  Leb produced a replacement the next morning, and Overdraft continued in the series.  In the last race of the series, Leb sailed Fairley in “great Triton weather” until her mast broke and he had to retire.  Thus, the award goes to the skipper who has actually broken a Triton sprocket.

1991  Herb Taylor:  Grasping for Race Committee immortality, Herb set a starting line with the pin end favored by 90 degrees and aligned with the course to the first mark.  The Triton Fleet divided, charging the line from both directions, spinnakers flying.  With no rule in the book anticipating this innovation, Herb’s creative genius added an exciting new dimension to the art of starting.

1989  Chris Gordon:  If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.  Chris ran aground leaving the Bersons on the way to the starting line Sunday morning – in the same spot that he ran aground the night before, going TO the Bersons.

1988  Dave Hoyt:  Second by about a half mile at the end of the first lap of a two lap race, Dave saw the first place boat drop sail and withdraw.  Being such a good sport, and not wanting to win purely on perseverance, he dropped his sails, started his engine, and pulled up to the committee boat and withdrew.  I guess you would have looked at Dave funny, too; the course had been shortened to one lap and the first place boat had finished.

1978  Hugh Kabler:  Trying to find the most advantageous course to the mark, Hugh passed just inside of Thomas Point Light.  We figure he saved about a boat length.  Unfortunately, it was a mark of the course!

1986  Jack Hayes:  No reason was given, but Hugh assured the Fleet that there were many good ones!

1984  Hugh Kabler:   Anxious to claim first place in the race, he dropped sail at the wrong finish line.  Oxford Ho!

1983  Russ Hale:  How high is the mast?  Or, how low is the Bay Bridge?  Final score:  Bridge 1, Rumor 0.

1982  Jack Hayes:  Not once, but twice ran aground (arocks, technically) at the Choptank River Light, the first time when he was in first place by a comfortable margin.  It ain’t over till it’s over!

1981  Hugh Kabler:  California, here we come!  A premature entry for the Triton Nationals gained him a dubious notoriety.

1980  Stovy Brown:  Unaccustomed to following, he was led past the wrong mark.  Later, he dropped the first anchor for the raft up, the customary sign of victory.  Who, me?

1979  Jack Nedringhaus:  Revised the race instructions and attempted to notify the Tritons in attendance five minutes before the Corsica River race.  He was partially successful.  The Fleet was divided, but unconquered.