Not So Windy at NOOD Chicago

Chicago, IL (June 18, 2016) – Light winds of less than five knots caused delays on Saturday for the Helly Hansen NOOD Regatta’s third day of racing. However, racing eventually resumed for most classes — and the highlight of today’s sailing, the North Sails Rally Race and Local Boat of the Day, were all awarded to Chicago-area sailors.

The J/109 fleet completed one race after patiently waiting for wind. Peter Priede’s Full Tilt managed to hold its overall lead, despite finishing third today. Having won the J/109 class last year, Priede and his crew are working hard to defend the title.

When the day’s only race got underway for the regatta’s PHRF 2 class, George Petkovic’s McPhearson 36, Cayuse, finished second overall. Of his competition, Petkovic said, “It’s a good section, with a good mix of boats, and we are extremely well matched in terms of boat speed.”

Wind never materialized on the J/111 and J/70 courses, so the classes were forced to abandon racing for the day. However, for the J/111 fleet, which is hosting their North American Championship alongside the NOOD, race officials conducted a ceremonial start for the J/111 Wotoon, who’s 65-year-old skipper William Smith passed away overnight.

To recognize exceptional individual performances, Helly Hansen NOOD Regatta sponsor North Sails presented awards for the North Sails Rally Race — a one-day, pursuit-style race around the bay — in four different divisions, as well as Local Boat of the Day.

For the North Sails Rally Race, the ORR 1 Division winner was Nelson/Marek 46 Skye, owned by Jeff and Jane Hoswell from La Grange, Illinois. The ORR 2 Division winner was Beneteau First 36.7 Tried & True, skippered by Robert K. Foley from Glencoe, Illinois. The PHRF 1 Division winner was the J/130 Salsa, whose skipper is Jim Gignac, also from La Grange. (There was no winner awarded for the PHRF 2 Division, as competitors were unable to finish the race within the allotted time.)

“We had a terrible start,” says Gignac, “but everyone went to the shore and our plan all along was to stay out in the lake where there was more wind. After each mark we kept going back out into the lake and there were times when we were as fast as bigger boats because we were in more wind. The crew work was perfect, too.”

The Local Boat of the Day award was given to Chicago local Kevin Foote’s Dufour 36P Scarlet Begonias, for perseverance in less than ideal sailing conditions.

Tomorrow will round out the last day of regatta racing – and with the forecast showing 10 to 12 knots, it should produce some great competition. Final awards in all classes will be presented.

The overall winner, chosen based on the strongest finish in the most competitive class, will receive an invitation to compete against winners from the other four series stops at the Helly Hansen NOOD Regatta Championship, hosted by Sunsail, in the British Virgin Islands Oct. 22-28.

Event details – Scoreboard – Photos

Source: NOOD Chicago