Andrew Wien, Tyler Lorenzi, Joseph Teno, and Steve Blackman flew out to Portland Oregon, rented a car, and drove to Cascade Locks (at The Gorge) to sail in the Windsurfing Haven of the USA. The A boat was Wien/Lorenzi and the B boat was Teno/Blackman Team members from throughout the NWICSA were awaiting our arrival as we drove into the campground. They were all very welcoming and happy we came from afar to their regatta.
The area was beautiful. Mountains in the background and trees everywhere – nothing we find in Chicago. The sailing, however, was not the best. With a current of probably 5 knots in the same direction as the 5-10 knot wind, it made sailing upwind nearly impossible. Racing went back and forth between postponed and not the first day, finishing with only 4 races sailed per division. During those races, we saw multiple 180 degree wind shifts and anything from 0 to 20 knots of breeze. Sunday, the A division raced one race before the day was ended due to not enough wind to fight the current. With only 4 races per division, we finished 5th overall – 6th in A and 5th in B. There were 15 boats in the fleet, and none of us had sailed FJ’s in a very long time. Judging by the names of sailors at their Coed qualifier regatta, we raced against some of the division’s top boats. We hope to go back next spring, and with more races to prove ourselves, win!
Joseph Teno
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