Well a large number of the Midwest 505ers were there. Hoover had 100% participation. Basically all 505s in the Midwest that have traveled in the last year made it to Sandusky. The wind and temperatures were more like summer than fall, but the RC got in three races Saturday and two Sunday as planned.
It should have been declared a four-way tie since the first four boats were 13, 14, 14, and 15 for total scores. In just one of many instances, any one in the front group could have won. For example, just before Ki crossed the finish in the third race he jibed and a spin sheet went under the boat and he lost a place. If that had not happened, and Ki had not lost that one boat, it would have been a four-way tie for first. Similarly the middle of the fleet finished with 29, 30, 31. I have never seen such close racing for a whole weekend. Everyone was trying to catch the boat which was just ahead but also looking back to make sure they didn’t lose the one just behind.
We would also like to thank our guest rock star, Ali Meller for coming to the regatta. He was an immense help getting everyone tuned up. Other than the North American Championship in Detroit [in 1993], that is the first time in more than 25 years that anyone from out of the region has come to the Midwest. {We count Ontario boats as defacto Midwest boats. They regularly come to Windsor and Sandusky}. The North American Championships in Waukegan was about 25 years ago and a qualifier for Worlds and we even had west coast boats come.
As Stephen’s email of last Thursday indicated, there is a regatta in Chicago this coming weekend, and then most of the fleet has decided to go to Bloomington in three weeks. Hope to see you all at least one more time before winter starts.
Sincerely,
Graham Alexander
Columbus, Ohio
Sail fast but sail smart.
US7685 and US4593