(Chicago, IL)- Chicago Yacht Club will be hosting the 22nd annual Verve
Cup Offshore Regatta over the August 8th to 10th weekend. The event
features a three-day offshore regatta, as well as a one day Distance
Race. As one of the largest course-racing regattas in North America,
Verve Cup has developed as a world-class event, attracting national and
international sailing competitors. This three-day event attracts over
175 yachts to the beautiful Chicago lakefront. During the regatta,
Chicago YC will welcome over 2,500 racers, spouses and guests at their
Monroe harbor clubhouse. These participants are treated to three days of
top quality racing, followed by food, entertainment and camaraderie
that are second to none.The Midwest J/teams range from one-design classes (J/105, J/109, J/111) to offshore ORR handicap classes. The eleven boat J/105 class features most all of the top Chicago area teams, including Gyt & Tom Petkus’s VYTIS, Steve Knoop’s BELLA, Clark Pellet’s SEALARK, Mike Sheppard’s FLYING PING, Mike Ludtke’s SMOKIN J, Jon Weglarz’s THE ASYLUM and Sandy Curtiss’s ROCKING HORSE.
The J/109s have a somewhat lean fleet this year, perhaps a long-earned hangover from a great showing in the Chicago-Mackinac race for their fleet. Nevertheless, Kevin Saedi’s MOMENTUS, David Gustman’s NORTHSTAR, Peter Priede’s FULL TILT, Don Meyer’s CERTAINLY and Doug & Betsy Evans’ TIME OUT will figure out in short order who’s at the top of that “pecking order”.
The J/111s may be still settling some unfinished business from both the Chicago-Mackinac race and the recent J/111 North Americans in Harbor Springs, Michigan. Most of the top boats will be there and many are hoping that the beloved Len Siegal and his LUCKY DUBIE gang are back at it with top hound-dog Lenny at the helm! Recognizing that virtually every single team has had a podium finish of some kind in the last year or so, it’s a bit of “fools gold” to bet on any winning horse amongst this group. Having said that, the principal Chicago players are WOOTON (Bill Smith), KASHMIR (Brummel/ Henderson/ Mayer), IMPULSE (Miz/ Dreher/ Hatfield), ROWDY (Rich Witzel), NIGHTHAWK (Dabrowski/ Edman). Newcomer Dan Kitchens on SKULL CRACKER and the lone visitor, the Chesapeake champion team led by Marty Roesch on VELOCITY, will certainly be determined to show the local veterans that they know how to get around the race-track as well as anyone!
The offshore world has a range of J/Teams competing. In the ORR Distance Race 1 group we find Frank Giampoli’s J/120 JAHAZI racing against everything from a 36 ft Beneteau cruiser to a Farr 39 footer and a turbo’d Mumm 36! Should be an interesting outcome!
In the ORR Distance Race 2 group is perhaps an even more diverse group of boats. This fleet includes the J/88 RAMBLER skippered by Benjamin Wilson, the J/100 BARRACUDA sailed by David Hughes, and the J/105 GLOBAL NOMADS led by Michael Hettel. Finally, in ORR 3 Class, the J/35s are at it again and hope to attain primal supremacy over fellow 35 footers. Leading the charge will be Larry Schell’s TOUCH OF GREY from Chicago and the Bayers /Welch/ Busker gang aboard FALCON from Detroit. For more Verve Cup Offshore sailing information
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