One Design Weekend launches 34th Cleveland Race Week

Eighty-eight one-design boats invaded Cleveland Race Week at Edgewater Yacht Club in Cleveland, Ohio from June 13-15. Eight fleets competed, including 25 J/70s duking out the Great Lakes Championship and 18 Tartan 10s seeking the title of Lake Erie Champion.

Both the J/70s and Tartan 10s began their series on Friday, which featured Northwest breezes in the teens and typical Lake Erie waves. Winds started strong again on Saturday morning when all fleets got in on the action, but died off throughout the day. Sunday dawned with light breeze but increased, making for a beautiful day of racing in Cleveland. The Race Committee ran three separate circles and was able to complete up to 11 races on certain courses.

Fleet winners:
Tartan 10: Team Iball, Scott Irwin, North Cape Yacht Club (17 points, 11 races)
J/22: Mo’ Money, Vic Snyder/Kevin Doyle, Youngstown Yacht Club (17 points, 6 races)
J/24: Black & Tan, Steve Hronek, EYC (9 points, 6 races)
J/70: Team Bayview, Paul Hulsey, Bayview Yacht Club (49 points, 10 races)
J/105: it, Jim Sminchak/Doug Moose, LYC (9 points, 6 races)
Dragon: The Schmucks, Mike Mahar, Edgewater Yacht Club (17 points, 6 races)
Ensign: Jager, Jim Collins, ECA (16 points, 6 races)
Jet 14: Na Pame, Dave Michos, EYC (12 points, 8 races)

Results – Event website

Background:
Cleveland Race Week is the largest sailing regatta on Lake Erie and one of the most prominent on the Great Lakes. The annual event, now in its 34th year, will be held June 13-22, providing 10 days of racing, live music, parties and special events for over 1,500 national and international men, women and junior sailors.

The 10-day regatta continues its legacy by incorporating two separate series. A One Design Weekend, June 13-15, followed by four days of Offshore Division Racing, June 19-22. In addition to the two series, there will be a Women’s Race and Men’s Doublehanded Race the evening of June 17, as well as Junior Race Day on June 18.

Report by Julie and Chris Howell