Saturday at the Nite Nationals was a perfect combination of steady wind, sunshine, and fast racing. Congratulations to Chad Rechcygl who won the Gold fleet in a rather dramatic way and to Dick Grota, a literal Grand Master, for his Silver fleet win. It was an early-to-sleep Friday night in order to make Sunday’s first race scheduled for 8 AM. Despite my own groaning at having to get seriously moving before sunrise, it was the right call. Getting on the lake at 7 AM ensured that trailers were able to easily leave the landing before the ice softened too much, unlike last year’s Nite Nationals on Kegonsa where a bridge over troubled landing waters had to be deployed.
Lively winds and rutted ice put tremendous loads on the boats. Other than rigs coming down and a few mast failures, the competitors used good judgement and kept the racing safe. In race eight,Chad Rechcygl, who was leading the Gold fleet in points at the time, had something happen at the worst possible time, his hull broke. As the Silver fleet raced for the last time of the day, Chad faced the prospect of not being able to complete the regatta. However, Nite Class rules allow for equipment substitution. When Toledo Ice Yacht Club’s Alex Chabalowski finished Silver fleet race nine sailing in Nite Commodore John Hayashi’s canary yellow boat, Chad jumped in the boat for the last Gold fleet race, finished fourth, and won the regatta. During prize-giving, Chad credited the help he received from Tom Hyslop for his victory and what it meant to be able to sail with Pewaukee Nite guys Tom Sweitzer and Mark Prange. Another Pewaukee sailor, Dick Grota, made it look easy in both light and heavy air with his Silver fleet win. Also of note was the top female sailor, TIYC’s Anita Bersie Chabalowski, who placed third in the Silver fleet. I don’t think she ever stopped smiling all weekend.
The 4LIYC was represented with Daniel Hearn, Brad Wagner, Lars Barber, and Don Sanford. Daniel finished 3rd in the Gold fleet sailing Joe Norton’s boat. Brad Wagner, who is new to racing this season, won race four on Friday, placed fifth in the Silver fleet, and walked away with the top rookie award. Lars Barber’s mast was one of the casualties of the regatta but he was already making plans to check on the Sitka supply at McCormick Lumber this week for the next one. A big 4LIYC congratulations to Don Sanford who won two races in the Silver fleet and placed second overall.
Thanks to all the competitors, the Nite Class, the Green Lake Ice Yacht Club, John Hayashi, Joe Norton for everything, and to Todd Morgan who helped scout ice and gave a film crew a ride out to the course in his beautiful B Skeeter. A special thank you to Mary Jane Schalk who tabulated and published all the live results from the offshore office!
Don Sanford at the one block where it’s always busy with spectators and paparazzi.
Todd Morgan’s B Skeeter and Tom Sweitzer’s Nite ready for action. Photo: Jim Gluek
Mark Prange 550 and Mike Peters 544 battling it out. Photo: John Hayashi
Live Results
Quick breakfast post from Aunt Judys Cafe in Princeton. Early start today at 8 am.
Winds look decent today. Keep up to date with live scoring emanating from the offshore office at Skeeter Haven courtesy of Mary Jane Schalk.
4LIYC burgee.
Joe Norton talks wooden boats. Great end of the day tour.
There will be no Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club racing for the weekend of March 7- 8, 2020. Lake Mendota is in bad shape. Landings at Captain Bills and County Park are deteriorating rapidly and there are working cracks opened up to 6 inches. The forecast isn’t favorable either with warm temperatures and winds.
I am heading up to Green Lake this morning for the NIte Nationals to help with RC and will have reports from there. 4LIYC members Don Sanford, Lars Barber, and Daniel Hearn are those that I know of competing at Nite Nationals.
UPDATE March 17, 2020: The 4LIYC has suspended plans for our spring banquet at this time.
Please join us for the annual Four Lakes Ice Yacht Spring Banquet. Date: Saturday, April 18, 2020 Time: Social Hour 5:30 to 6 PM Dinner 6:30 – 7:30 PM Awards 8 PM Location: Captain Bill’s Restaurant 2701 Century Harbor Road, Middleton, WI Map
Cost: $36 per adult (includes gratuity; excludes beer, wine, mixed drinks, coffee, soda, milk) Please print and complete the reservation form, enclose a check payable to the 4LIYC, and mail to Jori Lenon.
Two regattas have been called on for the coming weekend, the Nite Nationals and the Canadian DN Championships.
NITE NATIONALS March 6 – 8, 2020 Full Information
Location: Dodge Memorial County Park Green Lake, WI TRAILERS ONLY Map
CANADIAN DN CHAMPIONSHIPS| Via Peter Van Rossum:
Attention DN sailors:
This Saturday, March 7th we intend on hosting the 2020 Canadian Championships on the Bay of Quinte.
We are also looking for volunteers in helping with this regatta. I will make sure you have front row sight of the mark roundings and starts. If you are interested in helping out, it would be very much appreciated. Please call or send me an email if you can help. Phone number and email are below.
Please make sure your insurance is up to date and you are covered for ice boat racing. Sending a copy of your proof of insurance to my email address is helpful if you intend on racing.
If the ice holds out for Sunday, we will do another unsanctioned regatta where we record our own finishes…I will hold the score sheet in case one would like up grade your score for a better finish. Bribes accepted. (Not applicable for the Canadian Champs)
The ISA and Northwest Championship Regattas have been postponed to March 13th, 14th and 15th 2020. Sites under consideration are still either snow covered or too thin to be viable. It is expected that more locations will become available as we melt down this week.
Steve Schalk
ISA & NIYA Secretary/Treasurer
The Wisconsin Stern Steering Association regatta has been postponed to March 14 and March 15. The Northwest Regatta is scheduled for the same weekend and will take precedence. The next update will be Sunday, March 8. Check back here at that time. Still too much snow though it is melting.
