Archive Section

For Immediate Release
Chicago (Ill.) June 16, 2002

Some 1,700 sailors competing at the Sailing World Chicago NOOD--a three-day sailing regatta presented by Mount Gay Rum that concluded today at the Chicago Yacht Club--were dealt a difficult hand: this event drew the toughest sailing competition in the region, yet wind conditions were erratic at best. Competitors saw 50-degree wind shifts, rain, no-wind conditions, hail, and squalls that packed 28-knot blows. Local sailors know unpredictable weather on Lake Michigan is a factor in the game of sailboat racing. But sailors facing a tight points situation entering the final day of racing knew that even if conditions were volatile on Sunday, their strategy in the last race needed to be foolproof.

Sun and shifty breeze on Saturday were an improvement on Friday's hail and rain for the 275 boats at the 2002 Chicago Sailing World NOOD Regatta sailing on Lake Michigan against the backdrop of the city's skyline. The three courses hosted boats ranging from the J-24s and Melges 24s to the Great Lakes 70s.

Each area had different conditions. On Circle A, located four miles east of the Chicago Harbor Light, light breezes in the first race dropped to no breeze between races which grew to a 28-knot squall that knocked down much of the fleet in the second race with a 90-degree shift. "We got the knock down, held on, got the kite down, and carried on," said Brian Powers, of Muskegon, Mich., sailing on the Mumm 30 USA 40. "It was one of those where you're really happy when your crew knows what they're doing." The mini squall came through as the Santa Cruz 70s were rounding their windward mark set further out than the other six classes on the circle. But the 10 Mumm 30s and many other classes were on their first downwind leg. Spinnakers fell in, hulls rose out of the water, crews held on.

The NOOD (National Offshore One-Design) regattas are a nine-event racing circuit owned and organized by Sailing World magazine of Newport (R.I.). The Chicago NOOD was presented by Mount Gay Rum and hosted by the Chicago Yacht Club. Support sponsors of the event included: Frederiksen, Hall Spars & Rigging, Marlow Ropes, North Sails, Raymarine, Ronstan, Samuel Adams and The Boston Beer Company, and Sunsail.

Final Results

Place ID # Skipper Boat Name Total Race1 Race2 Race3 Race4
1
 320 Dan Cheresh USA320
8
1
1
3
3PRO
2
 28 Wynsma/Petty ASYLUM
8
3
2
1
2
3
 41 Thom Papanek FUZZY LOGIC
12
4
5
2
1
4
 55 John Podmajersky ILLUSION
18
5
3
5
5
5
 64 Charlie Wurtzebach CONTENDER
19
2
9
4
4
6
 40 VanZee/Gray/Schaefer USA40
26
8
4
6
8
7
 3 Bob Tollefson WINDANCER
29
6
6
8
9
8
 26 Paul Mitchell MULLIGATAWNY
29
7
8
7
7
9
 23 Ernie Bautista HOPS
31
9
7
9
6

For complete, please see the Sailing World NOOD web site.