NOOD racing in Naptown

OK, say it out loud (without looking at the picture) and admit you thought the same thing I did.  Annapolis has some peculiar customs (burning socks, beer can races, etc.) so it isn't a leap to think someone might organize a bay in the buff challenge before jellyfish discourage such exposure. 

But such is not the case.  NOOD is an acronym for National Off-shore One Design, and Annapolis is the third of nine stops in the seasonal regatta that culminates in a championship in Tortolla.

The NOODs (stop snickering) have been coming to Annapolis since 1999.  More than 1,000 sailors and 200 boats in 16 classes competed this past weekend for a chance to qualify for the finals in November.

Most sailboat races are handicapped, where vessels of different designs compete against each other and the winner is determined by calculations of time, rating and course distance.  A spectator has no idea who really wins the popular Wednesday night races because of all the factors in play.  (Doesn't make it any less fun to watch, though.)

In the NOOD regattas, sailboats compete against identical boats as defined by their class association. In theory, since the boats are equal, it is the skill of the captain and crew that determines who wins the regatta.  That's what makes the NOOD series stand out, from Newport to Chicago to St. Petersburg to San Diego.  It's all about the skill of the team.

Created by Sailing World in 1988, the NOOD regattas attract close to 2,000 boats and more than 30,000 competitors annually. Each event in the series features three days of sailboat racing for one-design models from 20 to 70 feet in length.

NOOD attracts not only the best sailors in each host region but also sailing's top stars - including America's Cup and Olympic champions. Many competitive sailors rate the NOOD as the top national event in each region of the country.

Despite the fact that locals won 13 of the 16 classes last weekend, it wasn't for lack of outside participation.  (Actually, it's because so many top ranking sailors call the Chesapeake home.)  This early season tournament brought a lot of competitors and spectators to Maryland.  It's a boon for the hospitality industry because it lasts over a long weekend and involves a lot of celebrating with folks like Captain Morgan.

This is just the beginning of the competitive sailing season in Maryland.  But a victory in the NOODs is good for bragging rights all year.