127 Boats Competing in Verve Cup

Chicago, IL (August 9, 2014) – Sailing conditions were ideal for the second day of the 22nd annual Verve Cup Regatta at the Chicago Yacht Club. With partly cloudy skies, temperatures in the mid-70s and winds out of the E/NE at 10-15 knots, many sailors commented that this was some of the best racing in Chicago.

“It was one of those days where Mother Nature provided us a good breeze,” said Verve Cup Chairman Martin Sandoval, who is competing in the Verve on Karma. “Even though the Race committee did longer races, we were still able to get three races in Circle A and four races in Circle B.”

The Verve Cup features a three-day offshore course race from Friday through Sunday as well as today’s distance race. Twenty-four boats competed in an approximately 30-mile race to Gross Point to win the Eight Mile Buoy Trophy. The weather was in their favor as well.

“Once the distance racers got to the turning point, it was basically a spinnaker race all the way to the lake front,” Sandoval continued. “Everyone was just having a good time and taking in the lake front.”

Jahazi , skippered by Frank Giampoli, is first in the ORR Distance Race 1 Section. Mo Haward, who crews on Jahazi, commented, “It was typical Chicago chop today with winds out of the E/NE. Those of us who sailed with the sailing changes did well.”

Fog, skippered by Charlie Wurtzebach and Mike Bird of the Chicago Yacht Club, is currently first in the Beneteau 36.7 Section.

“There’s still a lot of racing at this point. It’s been very close racing,” Wurtzebach said. “The conditions have been absolutely fantastic on Lake Michigan, with a good breeze and modest waves — the best sailing that Chicago has to offer.”

This year’s regatta includes 12 racing sections as well as the Beneteau 40.7 North American Championship and the Tartan Ten North American Championship. Overall prizes to the top finishers in each section, as well as the 2014 Verve Cup Trophy to one offshore boat, will be awarded tomorrow.

Of the 127 total boats, 35 T10s are competing for the title of North American T10 Champion at CYC’s Belmont Station. At the end of the third day of sailing for the T10s, Convergence, skippered by Donald Wilson of the Chicago Match Race Center, is in first place with 21 points. Proper Villain, skippered by Nick Ward and Greg Kinney of the Port Huron Yacht Club, is in second with 30 points. Honey Badger, owned by Thomas Kane of the Chicago Corinthian Yacht Club, rounds out the top three with 44 points.

Racing for the final day of the Verve Cup Offshore and the T10 North American Championship begin Sunday.

Results