Fresh energy at Chicago NOOD

More than 150 sailboats are set to compete in the Chicago stop of the nation’s largest and longest-running regatta series, the Helly Hansen NOOD Regatta on June 11-13.

Ranging from turbocharged Great Lakes 52s to the Chicago staple Tartan 10s, the boats are divided across 12 fleets to compete in the three-day event, plus cruising and racing sailboats join in on day two for the Cruising World Rally Distance Race. The Chicago NOOD marks the first major racing event of the summer and the first large-scale regatta on Lake Michigan since 2019.

J boats represent five of the fleets, with the J/70s, J/88s, J/105s, J/109 and J/111s; the Beneteau 36.7 and 40.7s, in addition to ORC and PHRF handicapped classes round out the fleet. Racing will be held on four racing circles set east of the Chicago skyline.

According to Bob Hughes, owner and helmsman of the GL52 Heartbreaker, the Chicago NOOD is the opening event for the Great Lakes 52 Series and have seven teams confirmed, a testament to the concerted effort and collaboration of the core Midwest 52 owners who began their own series in 2020 and enticed boats from the East and West coasts to relocate to Lake Michigan.

Once again the largest fleet in the regatta, the Tartan 10s, have 21 boats registered, all are Chicago-based teams with the exception of entries from Racine, WI and Munster, IN.

Blane Boynton, the T-10 Fleet Captain and owner of Minister, credits the pandemic for re-catalyzing current and former T-10 sailors. “I’d say five new boats joined the fleet this year,” says Boynton. “You’ll see familiar boats, but under new names and ownership. I’m thrilled to see the turnover; it’s a great mix of younger owners joining the stalwarts, plus crew members that have split from other boats and decided to run their own programs.

“It’s going to be great to have so many T-10s on the starting line this weekend, and of course the return of the parties. It’s going to be a great weekend.”

The regatta marks the return of post-race social events, with the NOOD regatta series utilizing a hybrid model to allow competitors to receive all relevant race information without participating in person while at the same time providing shore side activities for all interested guests.

At the conclusion of the regatta, one class-winning team will be awarded with a complimentary bare boat charter and entry to compete in the Helly Hansen NOOD Caribbean Championship in October in the British Virgin Islands.

Racing will be held June 11-13.

Series information – Chicago details – Entry list – Facebook

Considered North America’s largest sailing regatta series, the 2021 National Offshore One Design (NOOD) schedule will host five national events and one international championship in the Caribbean.

2021 Schedule
February 12-14 – St. Petersburg, FL (Revised: April 2-4)
March 19-21 – San Diego, CA
April 30-May 2 – Annapolis, MD
June 11-13 – Chicago, IL
July 22-25 – Marblehead, MA
TBD – Caribbean

Source: NOOD