Vicki Palmer, Windward Leg Editor

windwardlegeditor@gmail.com

Milwaukee Yacht Club, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

August 16-18, 2024

 by Gail Turluck

The Sunfish Class finally has had a major championship in Wisconsin! Thanks to Milwaukee Yacht Club, the 2024 US Masters Championship found a great home for a fun regatta.

Lake Michigan threw all kinds of challenges at the Race Committee and the sailors; yet a wonderful championship was sailed to a clear conclusion.  Sailors started arriving on Wednesday and Thursday to set up, go sailing and learn the area and waters.  The paved boat park had a double-wide launch ramp with plenty of room for all. The yacht club has a beautiful view of the harbor and the lake. With storms threatening, a practice race was held on Friday which had a general recall and then a good start. The storms came in a couple hours after the boats returned safely.

 Saturday started with a Continental Breakfast and the competitor’s meeting led by Regatta Chair Ed Purcell and PRO Russ Sobatta. Winds were NNW, 8-15, puffy and shifty, providing opportunities to gain. It was partly cloudy in the morning and temperatures were 73 degrees rising up to 80, waves were 1-2 feet.

Starts were challenging on Lake Michigan with a south to north current taking boats across the starting line; one start was recalled as the whole fleet was early!  All courses were windward-leeward. The U Flag was deployed to aid with keeping sailors on the pre-start side of the starting line before :00. The first two races were about 55 minutes, then there was a lunch break on the water.

Race three was about 45 minutes and clouds were thickening. The fourth race was shortened at the second windward mark as the light showers during the race preceded a bigger squall approaching. Boats were back to the dock by the time the squall hit. A keg awaited the sailors while they secured their boats for overnight before getting into dry clothes. A delicious rib dinner with fresh salad, corn on the cob, corn bread and dessert was enjoyed by all.

At Sunday’s competitor’s meeting during Continental Breakfast, discussion of conditions, with winds N 20-28 knots, waves 4 feet plus on the open waters of Lake Michigan, compared to inside the breakwaters of Milwaukee Harbor, winds N 18-25 mph, with chop (and one bout of huge wakes from a big group of large power yachts), air temperature 70-74 degrees, it was decided to sail inside.  Race five was about 40 minutes. Race six was 45 minutes. Race seven had an added windward leg so the finish was closer to the club and nearly an hour! Reading the wind lines going downwind in the harbor was critically important—many places were gained and lost.  Jeff Goff couldn’t resist sailing out the breakwater cut and checking out conditions on the main lake body after the last race on Sunday. Fresh pizza was devoured by the worn-out sailors while drying out and packing up.

While there were no Exalted Masters (80+), the Great Grand Masters (70-79) top three were Ronald McHenry, Leland Brode and Michael Garrett. In the Grand Masters (60-69) the top three were Richard Chapman, Hank Saurage and Hal Gilreath. In the Masters (50-59) the top three were Chris Carroll, Doug Kaukeinen and Paul-Jon Patin. Apprentice Masters (40-49) had its top two, Jeff Goff and Deirdre Santos-Kaukeinen.  The overall top three were Chris Carroll, Doug Kaukeinen and Richard Chapman.  

The Class is grateful for the committee members—Signal Boat: Russ Sobotta, PRO/NRO, Rich Reichelsdorfer, NRO, John Palizza, RRO, Julie Drosted, Dwayne Reinhardt, Susan McGuan; Mark Set: Dwayne Reinhardt, MBO with helpers Noah and Keith; Gate/Pin Boat: Mark Keist, MBO, Scott Evans, Ashley Henderson; Safety Boats: Susie Reick, Cheri Redner Kent Jones, and Alison Kent Guillaud, Jury: Dr. Fred Horwitz, NJ/Chief Judge, Steve Dolan, Club Judge, Ed Purcell, Club Judge and Dockmaster Dan Coulliard.

Thank you for the photos Harry Manko.

August 18, 2024

By Mike Stratton

Ohio’s Hueston Sailing Association held its third Sunfish regatta of the summer, AuGusto!, and saw seventeen competitors make it to the race course.

Coming to the winner’s circle for the first time this year in a Sunfish event was cool queen of the I ‘Fish fleet, Laura Peters. While her main challengers struggled for consistency, she calmly faced the wind’s uncertainty with her usual aplomb by winning one race and never placing worse than fourth in any of the others. Her total margin of victory was a whopping seven points ahead of the second-place trophy winner.

The only other boat enjoying such an even performance was yet another female, junior Lauren Anderson, who had three fives and a six to take sixth place overall, missing a tie for fifth with two others by one point. One of three juniors taking part, Lauren took home the Top Junior trophy.

The racing and rigging was accompanied by rain on at least three occasions, but the heaviest weather occurred between races two and three when a ten minute weather hissy fit swept through with gusts well over 20 mph accompanied by waves and heavy cold rain. And then the sun came back.

The other three bullets were taken by Peters’ main competition, Bill Molleran and Brian Callahan, with guest Dwight Robertson from Columbus taking race two. However, all three men suffered through some tough going in their other efforts. Molleran had a six and a seven in the first two races before making his comeback in the final two races. Callahan bookended his day with an eight and a seven to drag down his bullet in race three where he left everyone behind.

Robertson, who sails at Hoover in an Interlake, started slowly but put the fear in the fleet when he sped to a first place finish in race two. He was asked post-race at the awards dinner about how many were in the Sunfish fleet at his home club. “I’m the only one,” he responded. Robertson hopes to establish a fleet there soon.

Peters walloped the nearest threats but the next six finishers were only separated by five points, largely due to a shifty course playing havoc with decision making. In fact, there were a lot of close finishes where only a few inches decided someone’s final standing. 

Results:

1. Laura Peters 1 2 4 3   10

2. Bill Molleran 6 7 3 1   17

3. Mike Stratton 7 3 2 5  17

4. Dwight Robertson 9 1 8 2   20

5. Brian Callahan 8 4 1 7    20

6. Lauren Anderson (junior) 5 5 5 6   21

7. Charlie DeArmon 3 9 6 4   22

8. Bob Fletcher 4 8 12 11  35

9. Dom Everaet 2 6 DSQ 10   36

10. Kevin DeArmon 10 11 7 12   40

11. Jerry Brewster 11 13 9 8    41

12. Stephen Cook 14 12 11 9   46

13. Landon Robertson (junior) 12 10 10 14  46

14. Brett Hart 15 14 13 13    55

15. Michel Bourgeois 13 15 14 15   57

16. Jackie Guntle 16 16 16 16    64

17. Noah Everaet (junior) 17 17 15 17   66

Gull Lake Sailing Club, Richland, Michigan

August 10-11, 2024
 
 by Gail Turluck

The fun-loving sailors of Gull Lake welcomed their guests at this regatta’s launch site-Michigan State University’s Kellogg Biological Station on the east shore of Gull Lake.   Boats were unloaded, rigs set up, and then the “hawk” came in!  Huge onshore breeze of 20-30 mph precluded launching and racing. An early postponement until 2:00 pm on Saturday was made in hopes of the wind easing off, but it did not.

Gail Turluck then led a single halyard Jens Rig clinic and reviewed outhaul and Cunningham set up and use. By then it was time to go for refreshments and dinner at NEDS on Gull Lake.   Next on the schedule was a party at the Turluck residence featuring the Booze Dragons Band!  

Sunday dawned early with all sailors hopeful and eager to get on the water. The wind was light!  The forecast called for a stiff breeze again, so boats were rigged promptly and left shore in building winds to get the series going. The racing was very tight, with multiple leaders in each race and position changes on the last leg in all races, too.  The wind was WNW 8-13, shifty and puffy, giving opportunity to play shifts and find pressure to improve position or endure a poor choice and fall back.  

Four races were held on Sunday. It was mostly cloudy with temperatures in the upper 60s. A bonus of the cool conditions, clouds and breeze is it kept many powerboats, wake boats and jet skis home!  Our crack Race Committee, Rick Kohl and Greg Muliett, set the race course and reeled off four races before the 1:00 pm cutoff. Finishes were so close it was unclear at the boat park who the winner was.  

After scores were compiled it was easy to understand the wonder—the top four boats were separated by three points!  Tight racing, fair racing, led to local Larry Carter claiming the 2024 title!

2024 ISCA World Championship is less than 6 weeks away! Rush Creek Yacht Club is ready to put on a big Texas event with great events on shore and exceptional sailing on the water! 

Pre-regatta stats: 

100 Sailors -14 countries

19 ladies representing 6 countries

7 Juniors, 7 Youth representing 7 countries

33 sailors under the age of 30

Average age of the sailors 41

ISCA/USSCA Class Administrator

8070 Willow Tree Way, Alpharetta, GA 30005

www.sunfishclass.org    sunfishoff@gmail.com  404-451-7743