Saturday, March 15, 2014

J/145 Honored in Great Lakes ORR Season Series

J/145 Vortices sailing Chicago-Mackinac Race (Chicago, IL)- The Offshore Racing Rule (ORR) announced winners of the 4th annual Great Lakes Championship Series.  Winners of this series received silver award places and custom “brag flags” (the kind that you see Chicago-Mackinac race winners hoist on their headstays before/after the race at the docks.

According to ORR spokesperson Frank Kern (and owner of the J/120 CARINTHIA), 2013 is the first year in which all current ORR certificate holders qualified.  “In 2012, we had 48 entries versus 93 for 2013,” stated Kern. “Again, the winners showed how diverse the rule is for a variety of yachts.  And once again, we believe that the skill of the skippers and crew is what brings these boats to the winners list.”

Kern expects an even larger fleet of competitors with the Chicago Race to Mackinac following the Bayview Mackinac Race in 2014. He predicts many of the competitors from the eastern Great Lakes will participate in both events.

Chris Saxton from Detroit, MI placed second with his J/145 VORTICES!  Chris commented, “Thank you for the recognition.  We love sailing the Great Lakes and we love ORR for a rating system that allows a fair and impartial system for yachts of all sizes to compete.”

This was the fourth consecutive offering of the ORR Great Lakes Championship Series and entries continue to rise each season. To qualify for the series, racers needed a valid 2013 ORR certificate and must have raced in two of the following races, with one of the two being a Mackinac Race:  Queen’s Cup, Bayview Mackinac Race, Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac, Verve Cup (point to point race) or Bayview Long Distance.   For more information about the Chicago-Mackinac Race and the ORR Rule