2021 ILYA Optimist Championship - hosted by Lake Beulah Yacht Club
Right on the heels of a successful ILYA X Boat Championship at PYC, the ILYA youth fleet moved down the road a bit to Lake Beulah for the Opti Champs. In a new twist, the 61 strong RWB fleets scheduled two races late afternoon on Sunday, and it was fortuitous as it turned out, because the wind disappeared after that.Home lake sailors Alex Mueller (Race 1 winner) and Christian Connor (Race 2 winner) came out strong; however, consistency won out at the top of the leaderboard. Nathan Finkelstein (3 - 5) and Grace Renz (4 - 4) from Chicago Yacht Club tied for 1st with Nathan winning the tie-breaker.
Nathan Finkelstein won the Barkow Trophy as the overall Champion and the Red Fleet Harken Trophy presented by Heather Harken - Evans.
Grace Renz received the Allen Trophy as the Top Girl Skipper from Bob Allen and Lindsay Allen for the second consecutive year.
Mia Brandt, the third place finisher from Lake Beulah captured the Blue Fleet Harken Trophy.
Stuart Niedziela from Pewaukee Yacht Club came in 12th overall and went home with the White Fleet Harken Trophy.
Meanwhile the Green fleeters were able to squeeze in four races on Tuesday Morning and the competition was tight!
5 points separated the top five sailors with Levi Braeger from Cedar Lake Yacht Club coming out on top.
Kudos to the PRO team lead by David Porter who tried their best to get in some RWB races on Tuesday morning, however the wind would not cooperate with a solid direction or velocity.
The lack of wind, did not mean that there was a lack of fun, however. The sailors were surprised by a visit from 2020-21 US Olympic Team member Steph Roble who had just landed hours earlier from Japan and Annie Haeger 2016 Olympic Team member. There was plenty of volleyball played, and musical chairs lead by DJ Cullen Barr. A good time was had by all, and Vice Commodore Todd Haines invited everyone to join us in 2022 at CLear Lake Yacht Club in Iowa. See you there.
Click here to view the photo album of the awards.
ILYA No-Tears Regatta - hosted by Cedar Lake Yacht Club
One week earlier the young Optimist sailors traveled to Cedar Lake Yacht Club for the No-Tears regatta. 29 Seniors and 18 Juniors participated. Led by Candace Porter the Opti sailors got in a full day of racing with Luke Nowak and Crosby Brickler from Lake Beulah taking the honors in their individual fleets.
Thanks to Katrina Janz for taking some great shots here:
2021 E & MC Invites - hosted by Mendota Yacht Club and Okauchee Yacht Club
It was good to be a Vincent this past weekend at Mendota and Okauchee for the 2021 ILYA E & MC Invitationals.
The 2021 ILYA E Invitational Regatta was hosted by Mendota Yacht Club, where Vincent Porter with crew Coye Harrett, Clifford Porter and Monroe Melges on the I-2 Wide Open sailed a first-rate series, capturing two race wins and besting a stacked fleet of 41 E-Scow competitors. These included E-Class luminaries such as his uncle Brian Porter - a six-time ILYA E Scow Champion, Tom Burton - a three-time ILYA E Scow Champion, Sam Rogers - an ILYA E Scow Champion, and Eddie Cox - the defending ILYA Invitational champion. Two-time ILYA E Scow Champion Andy Burdick placed second overall.
Vincent was awarded the Hannaford Trophy, which Monroe Melges is holding in the picture above. This is an ILYA perpetual trophy awarded each year to the E-Invitational champion. The trophy was given to the Inland in 1982 by the friends and family of Jule M. Hannaford III, in his memory. He was a four time E Inland Champion, who served as ILYA commodore in 1953-4, and is a member of the ILYA hall of fame. He was from White Bear Lake.
Meanwhile, at Okauchee Lake Yacht Club, Vince Driessen sailed an equally consistent series of six races including two race wins to capture the ILYA MC Inviational Regatta, triumphing over a fleet of 31 others, including 2nd place competitor Past-Commodore David Porter who was feeling pretty good at the helm of his new Melges MC Scow.
On Friday at both Mendota and Okauchee, the wind never built to a sustainable velocity to get a race off, and PROs Mark Deguire and Mark Prange held off launching at their respective locations. At Mendota the fleet was able to enjoy the wide variety of entertainment that a great college town like Madison has to offer. The MC sailors had an opportunity to join in with the Okauchee membership Friday night to enjoy a beautiful evening and some camaraderie.
On Saturday it was off to the races. In Madison, the breeze was a solid and consistent 10-12 which afforded the PRO and the fleet to get 3 solid races off with a break after two for a quick lunch on the water. Vincent came out strong with a 1-2, with Eddie Cox hot on his heels with a 2-3. Home lake sailor Patrick Heaney, sailing H-13 - Wild Turkey took Race 2 and Sam Rogers sailing - M-42 - Madame captured the Race 3. As racing wrapped up, Vincent and Eddie were separated by 3 points and led the pack into the Saturday evening party at the beautiful Beach Park in Maple Bluff.
The story of the day, however, wasn't the usual suspects fighting it out at the top. It was I-9 Rooster helmed by Grady Strothman (12) with crew John Lynch (12), Owen Kohut (13) Bo Strothman (11) Will Huerth and Henry Rolander. As father, 2015 ILYA E-Scow Champion Peter Strothman was sidelined; Grady and Company picked up the slack and sailed their way straight into 4th place overall. They. Were. Stoked.
At Okauchee, MC Fleet Rep Ryan Grosch leapt out to an early lead with a 3-3-1-1 and looked unbeatable. Eventual Champion Vince Driessen was second after four races, eight points back. However, Ryan had to miss Sunday's racing due to his sisters nuptials (CONGRATULATIONS!), which left the door open for the rest of the fleet to capitalize.
Back in Mad-Town, Sunday found the breeze a strong 15-17 and building. The RC was planning for two races but wanted to see how things progressed. The first windward mark around the offset found three boats over with 5 more to follow throughout the race. The leaders persevered (Including the youngsters) as Vincent and crew methodically climbed through the fleet and ended up with the victory. At that point, the RC measuring the velocity found a solid 20-22 and gusts over the class limit and called it for the day.
The fleet dispersed for take-out and convened at Governor Nelson Park for the trophy presentation. The Sugar family, Darby, Tim, Annie and Hugh, did a spectacular job hosting - a big round of applause for them and the Mendota Yacht Club! Their hospitality was top-notch.
At Okauchee, Vince took command with a 2-1-1 and sailed to victory. After pullout, trophies were handed out at OLYC. Shout out to Craig Thompson who chaired his first ever regatta and he sailed as well.
Master - Dan Fink
Grand Master - Vince Driessen
Mega Master - Stefan Schmidt
CLICK HERE FOR FULL E FLEET RESULTS
CLICK HERE FOR FULL MC FLEET RESULTS