Chicago hosts NOOD circuit

Chicago, IL (June 12, 2015) – Despite wet and wild conditions, the largest national sailboat racing circuit in the United States, the Helly Hansen National Offshore One Design Regatta series, kicked off its fourth stop of the season in Chicago with roughly 1,000 sailors competing on the Lake Michigan.

Vying for individual class trophies, 135 boats are ultimately competing for the regatta’s overall prize—a trip to the British Virgin Islands in the Helly Hansen NOOD Regatta Championship, hosted by Sunsail.

Ten one-design classes raced on Friday, with competitors enjoying a full day’s races in three different division courses [one-design means the boats are identical]. Overcast skies accompanied the inaugural race day with winds topping out at 14 knots, making for a competitive regatta from the beginning.

In the largest class, the Tartan 10’s, is now lead by Meat, from the local Chicago Corinthian Yacht Club. Skidmarks follows in second, and Erica in third.

Chicago Corinthian Yacht Club member Martin Johnsson and his crew aboard the J/70 Aquaholiks won all four of their races today. Going into the second day of racing tomorrow, Johnsson will be the one to beat in the 13-boat class. John Heaton’s Empeiria is in second place, and John Arendshorst’s 20/20 is close behind in third.

Peter Priede’s J/109 Full Tilt lived up to their name by putting in an excellent day of racing that won them three first place finishes in their class. The small, but competitive, fleet of five boats were the first boats to start racing today and were able to finish three races before returning to the Chicago Yacht Club for a fun after-party before continuing racing tomorrow.

The overall winner of the Chicago NOOD will join Grant Dumas of St. Petersburg, Fla., and his crew of the Tripp 38 Warrior and John Laun’s caper crew of San Diego, Calif., along with Rolex Yachtsman of the Year, Terry Hutchinson, winner of the Annapolis NOOD and other victors in the British Virgin Islands to compete in the Helly Hansen NOOD Regatta Championship hosted by Sunsail. Each overall winning team will be outfitted with new sailing gear, compliments of Helly Hansen.

Event details – Results

Report by Robyn Sheckler.