Green Bay Recap 2009

The weather gods whipped up yet another test of equipment strength and endurance at this year’s Windjammers regatta in Suamico. After a day of drills and a Friday evening pizza party hosted by Guy and Debbie Selsmeyer the fun really started late at night when we were treated to some really spectacular light shows courtesy of a passing band of thunder storms.

Yet hope springs eternal and a sunny if unusually cool morning on Saturday along with a forecast predicting winds of 10-15 kts saw an optimistic fleet 15 strong take to the near idyllic waters of Green Bay for what was to be the first of 5 races. Optimism however did not survive the first race.

Wind originally forecast not to exceed 16kts quickly topped 20 with gusts to 30 creating a corresponding level of carnage. Most notable was Billy Gs attempt to power down his A cat by folding the mast in half while simultaneously catapulting his boat ‘arse over tea kettle” on a particularly virulent gust. Similar acts of heroism were committed by the two F-18s ahead of me who managed not only simultaneous gibes, but simultaneous face plants as well. With more boats upside down than still sailing, the race committee wisely upped anchor to join the rescue efforts and abandoned the first race and the survivors returned to harbour to lick their wounds.

With almost half the fleet decommissioned racing was not resumed until mid-afternoon when the tempest had settled down a bit and the mornings carnage had been mostly repaired. We finished out the day with 3 races in mixed conditions with Kurt Korte on top in his Nacra 20 with a pair of bullets and a 3rd hotly pursued by Chris Blake in his Nacra 20.

Sunday saw the fleet sail in the typical puffy, shifty conditions that characterize lake Michigan in the summer thereby keeping the drama and wreckage to a minimum. Chris Blake continued his consistent performance to take home the coveted “Pink Flamingo” trophy holding off a late charge by Daniel Hearn in his A cat and JJ Johnson in his F-18.

A big thank you to the members of Windjammers and especially the Selsmeyers who not only hosted a bang up regatta, but managed a real feast for the Saturday night dinner. To quote the governator “I’ll be back”.

Daniel Feldman