Sailboat Racing

Elmer R. ZeichnerDefense engineerElmer Robert Zeichner, a retired Defense Department engineer and combat veteran of World War II, died Tuesday at Sinai Hospital of complications from diabetes. He was 69 and had been a Columbia resident since 1971.Mr. Zeichner was an industrial engineer for the Defense Department in Washington for about 20 years before retiring in 1985. From 1968 to 1971, he worked for the department in Germany.The Baltimore native served in the Army during World War II and was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge.

Melissa Currier had a problem. Put in charge of organizing what turned out to be the only women's big-boat sailing race in the United States, she had to find women to invite to the competition. "All of the contact information for all of the boats that are registered listed men," she said. "Typically, they own the boats." Of the nearly 800 names listed in the Chesapeake Bay Yacht Racing Association's green book, she found about 20 women's names. So, on a Tuesday night, Currier got together with her sailing girlfriends and flipped through pages of men's names.

Female sailors from around the world will be in Annapolis this week to compete for the BoatU.S. Santa Maria Cup, one of the most highly regarded women's match racing events. Former Olympians and Olympic hopefuls will be on the 10 teams, which include five from the U.S., two from Italy and one each from Australia, Canada and France. Each skipper invited to participate selects a crew of three. "We pick the best of the best to come to our event. It's very prestigious to be picked," said Jeff Borland of the Eastport Yacht Club and co-chairman of the event.

Richard Jackson Chambliss Jr., a fire buff and Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. engineer who devised strategies to combat storm-related service disruptions, died Saturday of pancreatic cancer at his Roland Park home. He was 55. Mr. Chambliss, electric system operations and planning manager for BGE, joined the utility in 1969. Earlier, he had worked summers there as an office boy. He was named manager in 1987 and was instrumental in the planning and construction of BGE's electrical operations building in Woodlawn.

The participants in this year's Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race were asked to dump a few swigs of rum overboard as they crossed the start line. It was a toast of sorts to Capt. Lane Briggs, the salty dog who started the race 15 years ago and died of complications from lung cancer at Leigh Memorial Hospital in Norfolk, Va., on Sept. 19 at age 73. This year's race "went amazingly well," said Mike Bagley, the skipper of Imagine!, the winning vessel. The annual race is for schooners only, and starts with a parade of sail from Baltimore to the start line in Annapolis.

In The Region SuperFresh unveils points program to benefit local schools SuperFresh said yesterday that it will donate $1 million to local schools under a new program where the grocery chain's customers can earn points when they buy groceries. The program was unveiled at the company's Hampden store by SuperFresh executives, Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley and Baltimore City Schools CEO Bonnie Copeland. Under the SuperFresh School Partnership, customers will earn one point for every dollar they spend at a SuperFresh.

NOOD Regatta Sunday , May 5: The largest sailboat racing tour in the country, the Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Regatta series, concludes its weekend stay at the Annapolis Yacht Club. Sailors will compete on the Chesapeake Bay from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. There is no charge for viewing. More information: 410-263-9279, or sailingworld.com/nood-regattas. Surfing regionals Thursday through next Sunday, May 9-12: The Eastern Surfing Association's 2013 Mid-Atlantic Regional Surfing Championships will be held in Ocean City off the beach near 48th Street.

Skelley Sails started as an innocent family diversion.Ralph and Sally Skelley would pack a picnic and take their three young children sailing on the Chesapeake Bay. It was good fun, especially for Mr. Skelley, who grew up in Western Maryland dreaming of sailing the high seas.Sailing gradually got into the Skelley blood, and eventually the family bought a boat and was sailing nearly every weekend.Family members plunged into the competitive world of sailboat racing. Then, 18 years ago, they decided sailing wasn't enough -- they wanted to design, produce and sell sails throughout the country.

There are no boundaries when it comes to sailing," says Mike Garfinkel, co-founder of CRAB, Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating, a 10-year-old group that offers sailing opportunities to people with - and without -mobility problems. Garfinkel says that everyone can enjoy sailing and, he adds, "There is no excuse not to." The sailing scene in the Annapolis area offers nearly unlimited opportunities to get on the water. From 6-year-olds in 12-foot dinghies to America's Cup competitors, Annapolis is a sailors' town.