Sailing

2005 Schedule and Results

Race Log

Windancer Practice

The new boat made it to Muskegon for the regular Memorial Day weekend tune up sessions.  There was much sail testing and boat learning to do.  The boat came to us very well set up and we were able to focus on learning how to use the set up to best advantage.  There is clearly a lot to learn, but the process will definitely be fun!!!

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South Haven

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Chicago NOOD

The Chicago NOODs were the first opportunity to take the new boat up against the other GL 70s.  The boat has good speed, but with the rating at the top of the class, we have to be on our game all the time and minimize mistakes.  There clearly is still some learning to do.  Friday was a tough first day with winds in the 15-20 knot range.  Saturday and Sunday, the winds diminished and we improved.  In the end, we finished 7th in the class on corrected time, but the potential of the boat is clear.

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Tripp Memorial

Winds were all over. We started off with winds on the nose and then clocking around until it was chute time. Then to the 3 and winds blowing around 14 or so. Lightning was seen over Milwaukee and as we approached with winds out of the south Carl noticed a dark cloud coming our way from the north. We tacked as it got to us and we had gusts of about 35 for a few minutes. Then things went light for the last 5 miles.

After our finish, while docking we got hit with another big blast of rain and wind, we abandoned our docking and headed out for more room. Then the winds shut down slowly for the rest of the fleet.

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Queens Cup

The 2005 Queens Cup was a uncharacteristic upwind race.  It was a long night on the rail for the crew with the 3 GL70s (Nitemare, Pororoca and Windancer) staying in close contact for most of the night.  As dawn broke Windancer trailed Nitmare by less than a half mile as we approached the line.  We closed on Nitemare in the light beating, but could not make the pass.  In the end Windancer was second to finish behind Nitemare.  Some 50 footers in the class more oriented to upwind work finished close behind to take the time prize.

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Chicago Mackinac

The new Windancer was 3rd to finish in the 2005 Chicago Mackinac.  The GL70 fleet was well represented at the front of the Mackinac this year with Peter Thornton's Holua finishing first and Terry Kohler's Evolution finishing 4th.  The three GL70 led much of the racing trading positions regularly in a close battle all the way up the lake.

The race started with very light up wind work and shifted to more typical downwind work overnight.  At dawn, Windancer crew found themselves out in front of Holua and Evolution.  The three boats traded positions through the day as they moved up the lake.  The racing was very close all the way to the finish with the three boats never more than 1/2 mile apart.

Final GL70 IMS scoring places Windancer 3rd in the class behind Holua and Mirage.

Click here for the Chicago Yacht Club - Race To Mackinac web site

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Port Huron Mackinac

Eleven GL70s participated in the 2005 Bayview Mackinac.  The race started with an upwind fetch to the NGS Bouy of Southhampton.  Windancer stayed close to the rhumb line in order to sail the shortest distance to the mark.  As the fleet approached the mark, a header gave the boats on a more westerly track a better angle to the mark.  After rounding the bouy, it was a reach back to the Michigan shore.  An approaching front boosted wind speeds to as high as 28 knots and Windancer reached speeds over 16 knots blast reaching in the conditions.  As the class approached Spectacle Reef, the passing front brought light and variable wind conditions.  Some of the class found good angles along the lower peninsula shore and finished a couple of hours ahead of Windancer and the rest of the class.

Click here for the Bayview Mackinac web site

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Bay Harbor

It was 2 great days of racing for the GL70s at the annual Bay Harbor Regatta.  As usual, the competition proved very tough.  Windancer and her crew battled every race and came away with an 8th place finish for the event.

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Clipper Cup

Windancer took 1st place in the Clipper Cup.

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Verve Cup

In 3 tough days of racing for the Chicago Yacht Club's Verve Cup, Windancer posted a 5th place finish for the series.  This finish also cemented Windancer's 5th place finish for the 2005 GL70 Season Championship.  While it has been a real learning year, the new boat definitely has a lot of potential and the crew is looking forward to improving results in the 2006 season.

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Governor's Cup

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Anchorage Cup

Anchorage Cup Web Site

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http://jayvw.mysite4now.net/windancerfp/racing.htm
Updated: 08/23/2005
Questions: WebMaster