Annapolis Yacht

THERE'S A VIDEO I'd like to make someday of Annapolis Harbor on a Wednesday evening this time of year.I'll set the camera on a tripod at the end of a dock in Eastport and start it going just as the sailboats are heading out for the Annapolis Yacht Club races. I'll leave it running at fullest wide-angle, with no pans or zooms, until all the boats come flashing by for the finish line.If you're among those who think that watching a sailboat race is as exciting as watching paint dry on a barn door, or worse yet, golf on TV, you should stand on the Eastport bridge and see the end of that race every Wednesday evening.

Thomas H. Closs, an accomplished Annapolis yachtsman who raced sailboats on the Chesapeake Bay and along the East Coast for more than 70 years, died Wednesday of lung failure at Spa Creek Eldercare in Annapolis. He was 87.A longtime Annapolis resident, Mr. Closs also owned Closs Volkswagen, a successful car dealership on Belair Road in the Putty Hill section of Baltimore County that he operated from 1970 until he retired in 1977.Since 1937, Mr. Closs owned a string of offshore cruising and racing yachts -- all named FUN after the boat his father built for him in 1922 -- that he sailed from Canada to the Caribbean Islands and in the Great Lakes.

Thea Almen, 88, reader, theatergoer, secretary, teacherThea Almen, a homemaker who was an avid reader and theatergoer, died of pneumonia Wednesday at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center. She was 88.She had spent most of her adult life in Annapolis, where she was a member of the Annapolis Yacht Club, but in recent years lived in Delray Beach, Fla.The former Thea Nelson was born in the Bronx and attended the New York City Teachers Training School.She was a secretary for the Interborough Mutual Insurance Co. and later taught grade school in the New York City school system.

Frank Thorp III, a former Annapolis civic leader and businessman whose World War II combat experiences included the D-Day invasion of Normandy, died Monday from complications of Alzheimer's disease at a nursing home in Peoria, Ill. He was 79.For nearly two decades, until selling the business in 1973, he was owner and president of Thorp Chevrolet in Annapolis. Active in Republican politics, he ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 1973.Mr. Thorp was born at Fort Knox, Ky., and raised at several military installations where his father, an Army colonel, was assigned.

ANNAPOLIS - By Annapolis standards, the Chance Boatyard is not much of a historic site.The group of buildings at 222 Severn Ave. is divided into a shopping center, offices, a rusty old boat shed and a waterfront restaurant. It hasn't operated as a boatyard in nearly 25 years.But to Eastport residents who still remember the luxury yachts that were built there and the double shifts that worked during World War II to churn out boats for the war effort, the boatyard "illustrated the complete flavor" of Annapolis' rough-neck neighbor across Spa Creek.

In the end, the power of youth overcame wit, agility and sheer trickery to win the anything-goes second Build-a-Boat Challenge in Annapolis yesterday.Removing Eastport Yacht Club from its throne of victory, the inexperienced Bay Ridge Nursery crew in its light-green Mulchin Mohicans creation took home the coveted title of Fastest Boat at Sea Trial.This meant neither of the city's two esteemed yachting establishments -- the Eastport and Annapolis yacht clubs -- could defeat a team sponsored by a decidedly earthbound business.

In the second Build-A-Boat Challenge in Annapolis yesterday, contestants came bearing handsaws to cut wood, extension cords to power the saws, clamps to hold the wood together, tape measures to make sure all the pieces fit and brownies to bribe the judges.Their task: To construct in four hours a seaworthy vessel -- no nails or screws allowed -- that will, after launching in Spa Creek, win an hourlong race that will determine which of Annapolis' two yacht clubs can build a better boat.Sweating profusely, 18 teams struggled to make seaworthy vessels out of three sheets of 1/4 -inch Luan plywood, four pieces of 10-foot-long pine boards and two pieces of 8-foot-long pine boards.

In the end, the power of youth overcame wit, agility and sheer trickery to win the anything-goes second annual Build-a-Boat Challenge in Annapolis yesterday.Removing Eastport Yacht Club (EYC) from its throne of victory, the inexperienced Bay Ridge Nursery crew in the light-green Mulchin Mohicans creation took home the coveted title of "Fastest Boat at Sea Trial."This meant neither of the city's two esteemed yachting establishments -- the Eastport and Annapolis yacht clubs -- could defeat a team sponsored by a decidedly earthbound business.

HOSPICE OF THE Chesapeake has an exciting offer for Baltimore Orioles fans: a chance to win two club seat tickets for opening day April 1 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.The tickets are being raffled at $5 a chance. The drawing is March 25. Call 987-2003. Proceeds will help pay for hospice programs.One of those is a retreat for children and teen-agers ages 6 to 18 who have relatives or friends with a life-threatening illness, scheduled from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 13 at the Annapolis Swim Center on Riva Road.

It was a festive occasion at the Gibson Island Club on Jan. 28, when a range of 1994 trophies and awards were presented to sailors by officials of the Chesapeake Bay Yacht Racing Association.First was the presentation of the three divisional awards for best overall. These scores are calculated in much the same way as High Point standings, except that worst-race throw-outs are not included, and each candidate must be the winner of his own class in that year's High Point competition.This year's winner of the Labrot Trophy for overall Handicap Division champion was Hampton Yacht Club's Bill Peach, from Newport News, Va. Peach campaigned Revenge to victory in PHRF A-Region IV South.

Naked man charged in Annapolis yacht break-in A naked man was arrested and charged with burglary and theft after he was suspected of breaking into a yacht early Friday and stealing alcohol, Annapolis police said. Employees on a boat docked at the Annapolis Yacht Basin in the first block of Compromise St. were awakened about 2 a.m. by sounds of an intruder, police said. The boat's engineer awoke to see a man clothed in a black V-neck T-shirt and dark jeans in his bedroom and chased him off the yacht.

Man's body found floating near Annapolis Yacht Club An autopsy was to be performed today on the body of an unidentified man found floating yesterday in the Annapolis harbor, said an Annapolis police spokeswoman. Shortly before 11 a.m., police received a call that the fully clothed body of a man was floating near the Annapolis Yacht Club, said police spokeswoman Jane Schlegel. An initial report did not indicate any signs of foul play, police said. The body was taken to the state medical examiner's office in Baltimore.

Louis Nicholas "Buster" Phipps Jr., an Annapolis businessman who was once the state's director of Chesapeake Bay Affairs, died of complications from Alzheimer's disease Sunday at La Casa Assisted Living. He was 78. Born on Prince George Street in Annapolis, the son of a state senator and Anne Arundel County political leader who had been mayor of the state capital, Mr. Phipps served in the Army at the end of World War II. He graduated from the University of Maryland in 1950, where he was an All-American lacrosse player, and played football under coach Paul Bryant.

SUMMERTIME in Annapolis is a happening time for all manner of maritime activities. Of course you have your leisure yachting, fishing trips and boat races, but this weekend, something different will be going down. On Saturday, the Annapolis Yacht Club will hold its 10th annual Build-A-Boat Contest at the AYC annex at 1 Compromise St. Participating teams will build their boats on the shores of Spa Creek by the Eastport drawbridge, then test their seaworthiness before racing one another Sunday.

Some see it as a good way to break up the work week. Others see a great way for experts to mix with the scores of recreational sailors who serve as crew members. And for nearly everyone, it's a terrific social event. Even before spring turns into summer, the Annapolis Yacht Club's Wednesday-night races have begun. It's a competition regulars hate to miss because of the unusual camaraderie. The clear light of sunset plays on the water as a parade of sails goes out to the sound of shotguns across the water.

Every Wednesday evening before the summer sun sets over Annapolis, the Severn River becomes a nautical small town. Old friends gather and raise crisp white sails over boats called Maggie, Trophy Wife and Hard Headed Woman. The sailors exchange pleasantries, then prepare to race. The Annapolis Yacht Club's Wednesday night racing series lets sailors pit their wits against the elements on a zig-zag course beginning at the Severn and stretching into the Chesapeake Bay. The races are a midweek mental-health break -- a place where sailboat enthusiasts can bring their children, their parents or a new romantic interest and not take the competition too seriously.

R. Edwin Disharoon Sr., a retired bank president and former chairman of the old Baltimore & Annapolis Railroad -- as well as an avid yachtsman -- died April 12 of a heart attack at his home at Heron Point in Chestertown. He was 93 and previously had lived in Annapolis for 67 years. Born in Nanticoke, Mr. Disharoon attended the University of Maryland and then went to work for Roberts Construction Co., building Ritchie Highway in the 1930s. By then in his 30s, Mr. Disharoon joined the military at the outset of World War II and served with the Army Corps of Engineers, heading the map room in planning the Normandy invasion, said his son, Robert E. Disharoon Jr. of Annapolis.

Art Libby recalls the wintry day a fellow sailboat racer went overboard into frigid Annapolis harbor. Libby's companion was jibing -- turning away from the wind -- which caused the mainsail to shift sides abruptly, and the man didn't let go of the line attached to the sail. "He held on, and before I knew it, his upper body was over the side," said Libby, a veteran winter sailer. Libby's fellow sailer racer was rescued, cold and wet, but unharmed. It was all in a day's outing for the hardy folks who each year take part in the annual Annapolis frostbite racing series, held by Annapolis Yacht Club and Severn Sailing Association.

Aarsand, Knut Jardar KNUT JARDAR AARSAND of Ruby Hall, Arnold, MD on October 19, 2002. Beloved husband of Elaine Clark Aarsand and father of Kurt Aarsand of Owings Mills, MD and Krista Aarsand Bedford, Glyndon, MD; brother of The Reverend Torben G. Aarsand, Hagerstown, MD and the late Ann Margaret Maxwell. Also survived by two grandchildren. Services will be held at St. Martins Evangelical Lutheran Church, Spa Rd. Annapolis, MD on Tuesday, October 22, 2002 at 1:30 P.M. A Memorial celebration will be given at The Annapolis Yacht Club on November 10, 2002 from 1:00 to 4:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers, his family has requested that donations be made to the Annapolis Yacht Club Foundation and the Anne Arundel County SPCA in memory of Knut J. Aarsand.

Ann Dunnington Rich, 91, homemaker, secretary Ann D. Rich, a homemaker and former secretary, died of heart failure Oct. 4 at Sur la Branche, her Annapolis home. She was 91. Born Ann Dunnington Hill in Baltimore and raised on Oakdale Road in Roland Park, she graduated from Bryn Mawr School in 1929 and made her debut at the Bachelors Cotillon. During the 1930s, she worked as a secretary at Gilman School and Allied Aviation in Brooklyn Park. She joined the Red Cross during World War II and served in the Philippines, Okinawa and Brazil, where she arranged dances and variety shows.