(Cleveland, OH)- Cleveland Race Week concluded its 10-day event with 69
boats competing in the PHRF Offshore Series, hosted by Edgewater Yacht
Club in Cleveland, OH. The Race Week is the largest sailing regatta on
Lake Erie and one of the most prominent on the Great Lakes. The annual
event, now in its 34th year provided 10 days of racing, live music,
parties and special events for over 1,500 national and international
men, women and junior sailors.The “Big Boat” portion of the regatta (June 19-22) began Thursday night with beautiful breeze on Lake Erie, and continued Friday night with lighter air. Friday featured a finish line at the William G. Mather steamship in the heart of downtown Cleveland’s harbor. Both Saturday and Sunday’s races took place under sunny skies and winds that started on the low end each day but built in the afternoon.
In the PHRF A Division, the two J/111’s (Ryan Ruhlman’s SPACEMAN SPIFF and Don Hudak’s new CAPERS), finished 3rd and 4th, respectively. In PHRF B Division, Seth Young’s J/39 BLACK SEAL took top honors with Tim Yanda’s J/120 VIVA LA VIDA in 5th.
In the PHRF C Level 72 Division, Paul Matthews’s J/35 WHITEHAWK took 3rd. And, in PHRF D Jay Hawkins new J/88 TY-LEE took class honors with Mark Saffell’s J/36 PAINKILLER in 3rd, and Peter Kuhn’s J/33 WINDLASSIE in 4th.
In the J/105 one-design class it was Jim Sminchak’s IT in first, followed by Bob Mock’s UNBRIDLED in second and Jim Uhlir’s TRIO in third.
In the PHRF G class, the J/29s sailed well with Cindy Einhouse’s OVATION taking third and Aarne Lillo’s AQUARIUS in fourth.
Then, in PHRF H class, it was the two J/30s (Rich Galaska’s BREEZIN and Dale & Maggie Gormley’s SAND DOLLAR) taking 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
The JAM Women’s “double-handed” offshore sailing divisions saw tremendous growth in participation. The rules are simply that at least one crew member is a woman. The fact that 12 of the 29 teams are J/Teams (41.0% of the women’s fleet) is not surprising. Fun, easy to sail boats are essential to women having fun sailing boats whether it’s cruising, day-sailing or racing. There are three divisions based on level of experience. The JAM-A fleet saw the J/34 BONAFIDE (Dave Krotseng) win class. For more Cleveland Race Week Offshore sailing information
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