After 32 years as a Chesapeake Bay favorite, the Screwpile Lighthouse Challenge regatta will, sadly, no longer be an option on racers’ event calendars, making last year’s Mount Gay “Screwpile 2024” red hat a collector’s item.
Screwpile’s Organizing Authority, Southern Maryland Sailing Association, made the tough decision on January 14th, citing the nation-wide downward trend in regatta participation. Our numbers were not getting better, and the decision was made to discontinue rather than downsize.
LG Raley is commended and should receive great credit for the terrific job he did as Screwpile Chairman for its first 27 years. We also express gratitude and appreciation for the hundreds of SMSA volunteers and the many generous sponsors who made Screwpile possible for thirty-two years. Lastly, many thanks to the thousands of Chesapeake racers who came to Solomons to race and helped make Screwpile such a fun and memorable regatta.
