Mudheads performed well last weekend at the 2010 Sailing World Marblehead NOOD. Local Mudhead boat 3 Grins won the extremely competitive 19 boat Viper 640 class with crew of Moise Solomon and Sarah Enright (Dave Nickerson’s sister) on all three days, Chris Field (on Friday), Dave Nickerson (on Saturday), and Lee Chrisman (on Sunday). The first place finish improved on Dave’s and Moise’s 2009 third place finish.
The Viper640 is a growing national class with large participation at many popular events and a sizable Western Long Island Sound fleet. Locally, 3 Vipers are currently sailing Mudhead Wednesday nights: Dave’s and Moise’s 3 Grins, Andy Stoddard’s and Mat Jadamec’s Smiling Bob, and Art Shaw’s RedLine.
The 3rd Annual Mudhead Benefit Cup for Hospice SECT lived up to its fast growing Mega Party reputation last Saturday. 57 racing boats, over 550 partiers and an estimated $45,000 raised highlighted a day of racing and a night of dancing. The racing on Fishers Island Sound drew boats from 21 to 42 feet, in 10 classes and included three racing circles under sunny skies and southwesterly breezes.
Under the Sperry Tent at Mystic Shipyard, the Rock n’ Soul Revue filled the night with great tunes, 20 Mystic area restaurants and 25 gallons of rum combined to fill the bellies of sailors and non sailors alike. 30 skippers went home with racing trophies, a dozen more with raffle prizes and Crystal Slipper’s Mike Cavanaugh stole a 60 foot slip at Seaport Marine in the live auction.
The event was a memorable one and Hospice SECT was the big winner. The shiny Mudhead Benefit Cup made it’s first appearance, and while the title of Top Fundraiser has been the exclusive success of Team Patriot for two years, for 2010 a new name will join them. The Bergendahl family is this year’s top fundraisers. Money is still being collected, matching funds are coming from local corporations and anyone can still donate on line at firstgiving.com. Pick a boat and give!
Groton - Spencer Jennings Leech Jr., 72, died on July 3, 2010, at his home in Groton.
Born April 5, 1938, in Greenwich, Conn., Spencer attended Tabor Academy in Marion, Mass., and graduated from The Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md. An avid sailor, he was a member of the Cruising Club of America, Ram Island Yacht Club, Storm Trysail Club and the Mystic River Mudheads. Spencer's love of both cruising and racing took him all over the world.
He is survived by his loving wife, Lynn (Howe) Leech, one sister, Barbara Jacquette of Sheffield, Mass.; two brothers, Stephen Leech of Orient, N.C. and David Leech of Seward, Alaska; one son, Spencer Leech, III, of Annapolis; daughter, Elizabeth Leech of Seward, and daughter, Susanne Leech Drake and her husband, Jed Drake, of Simsbury, Conn.; two stepdaughters and their husbands, Kate Longbotham Fox and Matthew Fox of Beverly, Mass. and Carolyn Longbotham Russell and Christopher Russell of Greenwich, Conn.; and five grandchildren, Nichole Drake, George and Nicholas Fox, and Parker and Lane Russell, whom he adored.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, July 19, at the Noank Baptist Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in the name of Spencer J. Leech, Jr. to the Schooner BRILLIANT at Mystic Seaport or the COPD Foundation.
Groton - Spencer Jennings Leech Jr., 72, died on July 3, 2010, at his home in Groton.