Note: As Racing Commodore for the Alberg 30 Association this year, I write a monthly column. I'll be posting it on LinGin's blog throughout the year for those of you that don't receive the Alberg's "Mainsheet" newsletter.

--Tim

As published in the Feburary 2007 Mainsheet.

“Anyone want a peanut butter on a cracker?” Grandpa asked. This would be a normal question on the boat if it weren’t for the conditions.

My grandfather, Bruce Rankin, graduated from the Naval Academy in 1945 and shipped off to World War II to serve in a submarine. He was either building, fixing, on or under a boat pretty much his whole life. My brothers and cousin grew up spending our summers racing all over the Bay on LinGin, his Alberg 30. We all considered him an old salt. Sometimes that saltiness was more apparent than others.

We had prepared for the St. Mary’s Governors Cup Race and had made it out to R2 at the mouth of the Severn when a sudden storm had come upon us. There were a couple hundred boats waiting to start and the sky had gone from foreboding to lightning filled. We were dealing with four foot seas and 35+ kts of breeze.

As the crew put on our foul weather gear and dealt with the horizontal rain, Grandpa announced he was going below to take a nap. He stripped down to his shorts and t-shirt, lay down and went to sleep! Not to mention that if any of us had even gone below for a second we would have been immediately seasick. I struggled to stay away from other boats and to not worry about the lightning strikes that were occurring all around. The rain felt like someone was shooting thousands of B-Bs at you and stung even through the foul weather gear.

After his nap Grandpa asked us about the crackers. Needless to say we declined. The storm settled down soon after that, but I’ll never forget how calm and at home Grandpa was on the water.

I’m excited to serve the Alberg 30 Association through the Racing Commodore position this year. As you can see from the story above, racing Alberg 30s is synonymous with family, adventure, childhood memories, and fun for me.

I want to encourage all of our Alberg owners to get this great boat out there on the starting line for a couple races this year. Every race has its story, its own adventure—why not experience it? Racing Albergs will enrich your life and your relationships. I has for me.

My kids are racing with me on LinGin now. She’ll be 40 years old this year and the kids are the fourth generation of our family to race her. Could your family have a legacy like that? It sure could, and I hope we’ll do it together! Please come say “hello” at the annual dinner this year. I look forward to seeing everyone there.

--Tim Williams