Recap – Windjammers 2021
Well, we are pretty sure there was some conspiracy that ended us in fourth place. As newcomers to this CRAW family (Windjammers was our second event) my wife Debbie and I had heard that fourth place had to write a event recap, but we did not think we were in any danger of falling into that responsibility. Surprise. So here is our recap.
First we have to say that we have felt so welcomed by CRAW. Wisconsin has some nice people, but CRAW seems to attract the best. Someone is always offering to help us or lend us gear. The racing is intense (which we love) but no-one is fussing and everyone seems to be smiling on and off the water.
Windjammers Sailing Club seemed to fit perfectly for a CRAW event. As we looked for it driving in, we spotted masts over the corn fields, no signs, no other buildings, just a laid-back club in a great location on Green Bay.
The regatta started out Saturday with an awful weather forecast, front with 70% chance of rain and gusty winds. Sixteen boats shoved off the beach with fairly blustery conditions but no rain. Out on the course we sailed around to get acquainted with the permanent marks the club has and tried to get oriented to the possible courses. Windjammers race committee did a great job and got us five races in on Saturday. The winds started around 15 knots out of the south-west and lessened during the day. Some wind shifts to the right could be levered for gains, but we also saw gains in wind alleys down the middle of the course.
Saturday evening we had a potluck dinner in the club house with stories from the day as well as some tales of carnage from the past. My wife Debbie listened to stories of capsizes, broken legs and split lips. Having done my best to shelter her from such tales, she no longer wanted “more wind tomorrow”.
Sunday had been forecasted to be sunny and less wind, but the morning brought clouds and white caps blowing from the north-east. The race course lined up with the same permanent marks as the day before, just 180 degrees reversed from Saturday. Again, the wind lessened during the racing and we got two races in with lumpy seas and cooler temps.
Back on the beach everyone helped get loaded up and eat the leftovers in the clubhouse.
Congrats to Kurt and Bryan on their win, Chris and Gary for second and Guy and Clay for third. The other results should be available later.
Finally, good luck to Chris, Gary and Matt as they head to California for the F-18 Nationals next week as we head to Madison for the next CRAW race this weekend.
Robert Onsgard
