One-Design J/105, J/109, J/111 Fleets Sailing!(Chicago, IL)- Sailing from June 7th to 9th will be what many consider to be the celebration that ushers in the summer sailing season off the Chicago waterfront, the Sperry Topsider Chicago NOOD Regatta hosted by Chicago Yacht Club. It's one of the biggest regattas in the Sailing World NOOD circuit and 153 boats are participating with 33 J teams sailing (about 22% of the fleet and the dominant offshore brand at the regatta).
There will be three J one-design fleets participating, including J/105s, J/109s and J/111s. In addition, there are J's sailing in the PHRF Racing and ORR Offshore racing and cruising fleets.
With
seven entries, the J/111s will be sailing in the first part of their
Great Lakes Circuit that culminates in the J/111 North Americans sailed
at Chicago YC in August. That circuit includes Chicago NOOD,
Chicago-Mackinac Race, Verve Cup Offshore and the J/111 NA's. The
racing will be close as nearly all the teams will have two years of
racing under their belts. And, other than the fact that KASHMIR has won
the Chicago-Mac Race the last two years running in the class, all the
"round-the-cans" events have produced excellent sailing and different
teams hopping onto the podium each time. With good crews on all boats,
it's next to impossible to handicap these horses at the local betting
parlor on the south side. Nevertheless, six of the players are familiar
competitors (Paul Stahlberg's MENTAL, Steve Dabrowski's NIGHTHAWK, the
trio of Miz/Dreher/Hatfield on IMPULSE that won Chicago NOOD last year,
Rich Witzel's ROWDY, the trio of Brummel/Henderson/Mayer on KASHMIR and
Len Siegal's LUCKY DUBIE). With closed-course racing, all will win,
place or show in many races during the regatta. Newcomer to the
gangsters in Chicago will be William Smith's WOOTON from Bay Harbor YC. For the J/105s, this year again sees the return of good teams, but the keynote will be whether yet another team finds their form early and dominates the regatta as has happened for the past two years. Last year's winner STRIKING (Mike Tuman) will be sailing to defend their title. Chasing them again will be Tom & Gyt Petkus on VYTIS, second in last year's event and also Clark Pellett's SEALARK, third last year.
In the J/109s, several top teams are in attendance, including top Chicago Mackinac and J/109 North American contenders. Sure to be a factor will be Jack Toliver's VANDA III with Don Meyer's CERTAINLY and Kevin Saedi's MOMENTUS giving them a run-for-the-roses!
In the handicap racing world, there have been a few new fleets added this year. Starting with PHRF 1, we'll see Mitch Padnos's J/122 SUFFICIENT REASON near the top of the pack and two sistership J/130s, Bob Mcmanus's EDGE and Jim Gignac's SALSA will be right in there with them (hopefully all on the podium!). In PHRF 2 are two J/35s, Larry Taunt's BAD DOG and Larry Schell's famous, championship winning TOUCH OF GREY. Sailing PHRF 3 are the J/27 TRUE NORTH (Dan Arntzen) and the J/30 PLANXTY (Kate & Dennis Bartley).
While the rest of the NOOD sailors are banging their heads around the cans, the Offshore contingent will enjoy a nice "tour de Chicago" going around longer distances and government markers in ORR and PHRF classes. In the ORR Race class is the J/105 OCH! (Brendon Doherty) and the J/124 STILL MESSIN' (Adam Esselman). In ORR Cruise is the J/100 BARRACUDA sailed by David Hughes. Fair winds and good luck to all, a simply smashing social event for three straight days, sponsored by Mt Gay Rum amongst other notable sponsors! For more Sperry Topsider Chicago NOOD Regatta sailing information
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