Recap – Mrs. Hippie 2023

Lovin’ Me Some Lake City

Hey Mayor Mark.  What up, Lake City?  It you didn’t catch us having a ball on beautiful Lake Pepin last weekend, here’s what went down.  The Catamaran Racing Association of Wisconsin (CRAW—though a bit of a misnomer, as we have members from Minnesota and Illinois, as well) congregated for the second year in a row in your most welcoming city, launching out of Ohuta Beach, for our 2-day “Mrs. Hippie” Regatta. (Can you guess why we call it that?) Great to see much of the construction completed down by the park.  We’ll look forward to seeing the new pavilion in operation next year! 

We were surprised to see the water level as low as it was following your flooding problems this spring.  Clearly the community pulled together to get things back in shape.  Nice work! We did a thorough trash pick-up around the park, to leave it better than we found it.  We figure it’s the least we can do to thank your community for your generosity.   

Saturday was a beautiful day, but with not much wind.  That allowed for a casual pace on boat assembly and attention to repairs we intended to get to last season, but just never seemed to get around to it.  By mid-afternoon, the breeze started to fill in, so we shoved off hoping to get in a couple races.  Pretty quickly our hope turned to confusion as the wind swirled in multiple directions immediately after the first race start.  On both legs of our windward-leeward course, upwind and downwind settings could be observed on the same leg.  Robert and Debbie Onsgard had the most success figuring out that puzzle, notching a victory of the day’s only race on their new-to-them Nacra Evolution F18.

The Lake City Yacht Club and Commodore Barb Forthun were our most gracious hosts for the weekend.  The LCYC Team were seasoned pros with race management.  (Many thanks to Race Director, Ken Ewald; Ed Towey, Committee Boat Captain; Marie Hogan, Committee Boat/LCYC Communications; Chase Boat Drivers and Crew, Allen Rech, Dave Dennison, Dave Brustad and Jim Andringa.   On Saturday night, we were treated to a delicious BBQ feed at the LCYC club house, organized by Tom “TJ” Jones and catered by Tom and Marie Severson of Rebel Fire Que’N Company.  With much help from many LCYC members.  Such wonderful, welcoming, friendly people! As a storm threatened to roll in over the bluffs, we enjoyed sitting on the deck watching the wildlife soaring above, effortlessly riding the currents.  If only we could get our sail shapes to match their perfection! (Also, thanks to Jeff Brand of the City Marina and John Yorde of the City PD for their assistance and oversight). 

Enthusiastic shoutout from CRAW to Beth Skatrud, who serves as the S4L (Sail for Leukemia) Chair and the LCYC that hosts the annual event.  CRAW was proud to support and kickstart this year’s event with a donation of $1,280, contributed by the association and individual members.

Mother Nature must have been saving up Saturday’s wind, to unleash on Sunday.  The strong breeze convinced several boats to pack it up for the weekend.  Those that ventured out were treated to some exciting racing.  With the breeze once again coming from over the bluffs, blasts were powerful and plentiful.  They could help or hurt, depending on your tack, or your decision to flop or hold.  By the last race of the day only four of twelve boats remained on the racetrack.  Team B. Hearn/Patten and Team Korte/Eigenberger did the best job handling the conditions and making the right decisions, finishing 1 and 2 respectively for the regatta.  (Several locals asked about the boat that de-masted last year.  The answer? “They’re doing great, in fact, they just won the regatta!) The “Killer Queen” award for the weekend goes to Debbie Onsgard for braving some gnarly conditions.  Team Onsgard is making the new boat go! At least when the pointy side is up.  And now they know they can right the new girl.  Shoutout to our youth movement.  The Reese boys (just 14 and 16) on “Reese’s Pieces” are a rising threat at every regatta.  Lastly, I’m blessed to be able to race with my son Frankie, who is now 25, strong as an ox, quick as a cat and fearless as an F1 driver.  So, it warmed by heart to see Finn Eigenberger trapped out on a Nacra 5.2 with his birthday boy dad.  Right there…that’s what it’s all about.  So cool to see so many parent/child teams racing over the years in CRAW!

Final shoutouts—Dave Reese, who somehow convinced the local brass that we’re not just a bunch of yahoos (big task!), so we could come and play.  And to the crew at Heidi’s Huggamug Café, where we enjoyed delicious breakfasts.    

Hope to see you again this winter, Lake City, when the water turns to ice and we come back with our boats that have skates.  Until then…fair winds!

Daniel Hearn