MCSA Sloop Qualifiers - Detroit YC - Sept. 19-20

Tod Reynolds (driving), Geoff Pedrick (middle), and Joe Teno (front) went to Detroit Yacht Club to try and qualify for Sloop Nationals this year. On Saturday, the wind was as shifty as ever. 3 knot current running with the wind made upwind beats near impossible at times. We were constantly ready to toss the anchor (though we never had to) if we ever got moving backward. Every race was a new story, starting out with looking far upwind for more pressure and picking what we thought the best side of the course was – which was often opposite the previous race. Racing was close throughout the day, with Toledo far in first but everyone else constantly swapping second through fifth places. NU ended the day with a great race and our only 1st. The wind completely died for those who went the wrong way, and those boats barely beat the hour race time limit.

Sunday was a bit windier and more constant. Unfortunately we were surprised with the only once-around of the regatta first thing that morning, and finished badly because of it. The rest of the races were very close, with second place still within reach. Knowing who we had to beat going into the last race, we did all we could to put boats between us. In the end, we decided to split off the group and try our luck at going opposite the rest of the pack. It did not play out, and Northwestern ended up 5th in the regatta. Though we were all disappointed, the regatta was still a great experience and we saw some of the most competitive racing around in the MCSA.

-Joe Teno

Harken Clinic - Northwestern - Sept. 26-27

On the weekend of September 26, 2009 the Northwestern Sailing Team hosted the Harken Clinic. Twenty-four sailors from across the midwest attended the team-racing clinic in glorious Evanston. University of Wisconsin, University of Michigan, and Northwestern each had one full team of three boats, while Miami of Ohio, Michigan State, and Toledo each had one boat to round out the twelve-boat fleet.

The clinic started on Saturday morning with a chalk talk led by locals Joey Harris and Andy Graff. The breeze was very light, ranging from less than five knots up to about eight in scattered puffs. Saturday was great practice for light-air boat handling and working out strategic kinks after the off season. Frustrating winds made mark-roundings an unwieldy challenge, and mark traps were long and rough. From there sailors worked through boat handling and team racing drills, familiarizing themselves with the other boats. Bryan Stenson provided delicious cold cuts and cheese for lunch.

On Sunday Andy was replaced by Jacob Karlin, another Chicago local, and sailors cycled through team races. The breeze was much heavier, hovering steadily around 20 knots and building through the afternoon, foreshadowing the gale force winds on Monday. Wisconsin solidly dominated the conditions, while Northwestern and Michigan went back and forth. The day finished in the early afternoon with two fleet races and a numerically sailed line that was epic. Overall it was a great weekend of solid sailing and learning, and it was nice to start off the school year hanging out with twelve great boats.

Nina Lincoff

Streufert Team Race - Minnesota - September 26-27

After the first week of classes, the Northwestern Sailing Team was ready to get away for a weekend of sailing. Six of us, Justin Cohler, Joe Teno, Sarah Hughes, Kim Wieczner, Mallory Usen, and Carolyn Fallert, made the long journey to Minnesota for the Streufert Team Race in Wayzata, MN. Saturday the sun was shining, but the wind was hardly blowing, so the regatta was postponed until the afternoon. Luckily, the wind filled in, and we were able to start the first race at 1:15. We got off to a good start taking a first win against Iowa, and after four races, we had won three. We went into our last race of the day against the home team, Minnesota, and although it was close, we lost in on the downwind. We waited for protests to be settled after realizing that we were stuck in a three way tie for second place. We did not make it into the qualifying round, but Sunday was beautiful with a lot more wind, and we got in another great day of sailing. We won some, we lost some, but overall it was a great way to start off the school year, and everyone came home smiling.

Kim Wieczner