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     1999 SOUTH HAVEN INVITATIONAL Rating: N/A |
1999 SOUTH HAVEN INVITATIONAL (reported by Chris Sundberg) On Saturday, June 5, the 9.1 Meter fleet started the 1999 Great Lakes racing season with clear skies and a warm southerly breeze off South Haven Michigan. Although only six boats made the start, ten owners were present. Gary Hendrickson, the new owner of Nomad, jumped on Odyssey to help Lewis Buell and Loren Thompson raced Sunday with Dick Daniels aboard Entropy. Class webmaster Russ Fender assisted the Race Committee and Commodore Scott Corder stopped by on his way to Chicago. In the first race, Spectra showed how fast they would be all weekend leading at the leeward mark. A stuck spinnaker halyard gave the others hopes of passing them and stealing victory. The crew battled to get the kite down, Greg kept the boat going the right way and Spectra was back in front at the end of the race. This would be the only opportunity Spectra gave its competitors as they sailed a perfect series the rest of the regatta. As the day continued, light breezes that seemed to stay above the water made it hard to find the pressure. While Spectra seemed to be consistently in the evasive breeze, the rest of the fleet enjoyed some close racing. On Sunday the fleet awoke to a stiff breeze that had crews on the rail at the top end of their #1’s. Again close racing and tight mark roundings. Slingshot showed great speed in the higher winds, finishing second in the first race. Three boats were called over early in the last race and two went back. While Entropy kept going and had a great duel with Stimulator, Slingshot sailed through the fleet from a restart to finish second behind Spectra in the final race. After five races, only 2 total points separated Entropy, Odyssey and Slingshot in third, fourth and fifth overall! RESULTS 1. Spectra 1-1-1-1-1 =5 2. Stimulator 2-3-3-3-3 =14 3. Entropy 4-2-2-4-8 =20 4. Odyssey 3-4-5-5-4 =21 5. Slingshot 6-6-6-2-2 =22 6. Tenacity 5-5-4-6-5 =25 2000 SOUTH HAVEN INVITATIONAL DATES June 3-4, 2000 | ||
| 1999 NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP AT CHICAGO NOOD Rating: N/A |
1999 NORTH AMERICAN ONE DESIGN CHAMPIONSHIP AT THE CHICAGO NOOD The 1999 North American One Design Championship found a few veterans absent and some new faces on the awards platform. Gary Hendrickson of Racine WI was present as the new owner of the former Uff Da (which nearly won this event in 1998). Conversely, several seasoned veterans were NOT present this year due to a variety of scheduling or family conflicts. Perennial season front-runner Don Rychlinski and the crew of Kato announced their plans to be absent early on. Perhaps even more significant was the absence of three time NOOD winner, three time Great Lakes Champion and two-time defending NA Champion Chris Sundberg and his crew aboard Stimulator. Also absent was Scooter, a former Series contender and the runner up in Chicago in 1996. Skipper Scott Corder and his wife had a very good excuse as they welcomed the birth of TWINS the day before racing began! Also missing at the line was South haven sailor Lewis Buell and Odyssey. The boats to watch this year included two-time Great Lakes Champion Greg Young aboard Spectra. Always the bridesmaid, never the bride in Chicago, they had never won the NOOD, yet never placed less than third in five years attending this event.. Eric Oesterle’s Slingshot and George Darrell’s Paradox are both veteran One Design competitors and local Chicago sailors. Eric and his crew showed considerable improvement last year while George has placed well in previous NOODs and won this event in 1995. Dick Daniels and Entropy were also in the "hunt", having prevented Scooter from three-peating a Seasonal fourth in 1998. Dick showed tremendous light air speed in 1998. The "boats to watch" proved to be the leaders as Spectra, Slingshot and Entropy all posted victories. Paradox and Dick English’s Tenacity also posted top three finishes. At the end of the regatta, Spectra continued its domination from the week before. Slingshot was safely behind in second. Entropy, in spite of inconsistent finishes, managed to edge Paradox’’s somewhat more consistent scores for third overall. Tenacity was only one point back in fifth. Gary Hendrickson’s Nomad showed well in his first Class regatta, placing sixth overall. Due to light breezes, only four races were completed, instead of the usual five. As in past years, Class Association trophies were awarded at this event. The top four overall finishers received beautiful glass trophies. It should be noted that we have been assured by several of the "absentees" that this year’s slight drop in attendance is only a temporary condition. 2000 should be fun! RESULTS 1. Spectra -1 -2 -2 -1 =4 2. Slingshot -3 -3 -1 -3 =10 3. Entropy -7 -1 -3 -4 =15 4. Paradox -4 -5 -6 -2 =17 5. Tenacity -2 -6 -4 -6 =18 6. Nomad -6 -4 -5 -5 =20 7. Optimist -5 -7 -8 -8 =28 8. Kahuna -8 -8 -7 -7 =30 2000 CHICAGO NOOD DATES: June 16-18, 2000 | ||
| 1999 MILWAUKEE GRAND PRIX Rating: N/A |
After a two year hiatus, Fred Horowitz and Pinochhio returned to the Great Lakes S2 9.1 Meter one-design scene in grand style. Fred was responsible for commisioning the original G&S30 that became the prototype for the S2 9.1 Meter. Fred has always been a Class supporter and regular member. At the 1999 Milwaukee Grand Prix, he reminded the Class that he probably still knows the boat (and Milwaukee) better than the rest of us (even with a short rig!). To 9.1 owners, Pinochhio’s shape is very familiar but its immaculate woodgrain laminate hull gives it a beautifully unique appearance. Although the crew of Spectra hoped to repeat their sweep of this event two years ago, Fred clearly dominated this event placing no worse than third in the four races completed of five planned at this mini-NOOD style regatta sponsored by Sailing Magazine. Veteran Class member George Darrell and Paradox came to this event fresh off a victory in the Hook Race (see ShortTacks) and continued sailing well with excellent finishes. Kato returned to the circuit at this event, although Don Rychlinski and his crew failed to dominate as they have in past Class events in Milwaukee. While the Grand Prix marked the return of Pinochhio, it also marked the unusual absence of another Class veteran. Dick English, the original owner of hull#58 Tenacity, had not missed a Class event in many years. Fortunately, the Class is pleased to report that Dick’s son has recovered very well from a critical health condition that kept Dick from competing. After placing well in the previous two 1999 Class events, Entropy allowed Eric Oesterle and Mike Greenwald of Slingshot to close the gap in the season championship race. As always, nearly everyone showed winning ability as five boats posted top three finishes. RESULTS 1. Pinochhio -1 -3 -2 -2 =8 2. Paradox -2 -4 -1 -3 =10 3. Spectra -5 -1 -5 -1 =12 4. Slingshot -6 -2 -4 -4 =16 5. Kato -3 -6 -3 -5 =17 6. Entropy -4 -5 -7 -6 =22 7. Kahuna -7 -7 -8 -7 =29 8. Nomad -8 -8 -6 -8 =30 2000 MILWAUKEE GRAND PRIX DATES Aug 5-6, 2000 | ||
| 1999 MUSKEGON GOVERNORS CUP Rating: N/A |
As in every other previous year, the Great Lakes Championship overall final standings came down to Labor Day and the final regatta on the calendar. While Spectra had virtually "locked" first, Slingshot and Entropy were neck-and-neck for second place heading into Muskegon for the last five races of the series. It would be a long trip home for both, but a good showing would make the ride a little sweeter. Coming out on top of this rivalry would be further complicated by the return of veteran Class Champion Chris Sundberg whose boat Stimulator had not raced since the first event of the year. Local Muskegon sailor and past season contender Scott Corder would also be back at the line with Scooter for the first time all year. The stage was set for another great season finale. Unfortunately, the fleet would only be given three races to "play" due to extremely light conditions. In the end, Dick Daniels and Entropy proved best in the fluctuating breeze and strong current. Slingshot’s inconsistency would cost them second for the season by one point. Spectra and Stimulator showed their usual speed taking 2nd and 3rd at the event. Odyssey placed consistently and Race Organizer Scott Corder was very happy to simply be back on the water and done with his last year running the regatta. RESULTS 1. Entropy -1 -2 -2 =5 2. Spectra -2 -3 -1 =6 3. Stimulator -3 -4 -6 =10 4. Slingshot -5 -1 -5 =11 5. Odyssey -4 -5 -6 =15 6. Scooter -7 -6 -4 =18 7. Tenacity -6 -7 -7 =20 2000 MUSKEGON GOVERNORS CUP DATES September 2-3, 2000 | ||
| 1999 HOOK RACE, Lake Michigan Rating: N/A |
Racine WI- Extremely variable winds plagued racers in the long distance 1999 Hook Race from Racine to Door County WI on Lake Michigan. Of the three Class members who started the race, George Darrell’s Paradox held on for a Class victory followed by Gary Hendrickson’s Nomad in 4th. Kahuna’s Loren Thompson finally dropped out after 24 hours of frustrating conditions. Former Class member Rick Ericskon placed 2nd in his Class aboard his new Beneteau 40. | ||
| News From CHARLEVOIX, MI Sep 1999 Rating: N/A |
Charlevoix, MI - Tom & Linda Orlow sailed their 9.1 Slapshot to third in class at the 1999 Red Fox Regatta. This very popular regatta is held annually every Labor Day weekend on the waters of Lake Charlevoix and northern Lake Michigan. |
