Eight Races in the Whispering Winds of Wilmette:

written by Jon Bailey  on  August 6  of  2022 and read by 252

USA 832 Ashley, Hays and Arielle enjoying the lead

On the North Side of Chicago and just 100 miles from the Milwaukee Yacht Club, 2023 World's Host, Wilmette Harbor is a picture-perfect sailing venue on the “Fresh Coast”. Being late summer the winds trend lighter and the shallower waters of southern Lake Michigan warm quickly. Much to the delight of middle and foredeck crewman over the side, this sometimes has the downside of preventing strong thermal breezes from developing. This Race Weekend threatened even worse, with the Thursday forecast predicting no wind for the weekend, so the competitors knew any wind would be cherished.
 
Wilmette Race weekend is a celebration of tradition and history and light air.  J-24's, Dolphins, Arrows, Flying Scotts, J-70'a and Cruising fleets share the racing area consisting of fixed marks and sometimes fickle winds.  Water taxis buzz around the scenic harbor sailors to their moorings or from their moorings to the free beer trailer, that beacon which forms the epicenter of activity where old friendships are renewed, tactics discussed, rules debated, feats of cunning and strength retold and accomplishments on the racecourse that often extend into the realm of hyperbole.  And as dictated by tradition, the Sailors all gather in the cobbled brick dry sail lot, among the boats on their trailers, under the hoist and in the shadow of the Baha'i Temple where we all take a break after day 2 of racing, this time to celebrate the 100th year of Sheridan Shore Yacht Club. The Soling crews reveled along with the club members to live Jazz dressed for the Roaring Twenties drinks hand. But, not too late into the night because after two days and six races the competitors knew the results weren't yet guaranteed and Sunday's two races would be hard fought. A decisive victory would be handed to no competitor early, there were eight races in the regatta and each was an opportunity and challenge.
 
Leaving the harbor for Race 1 the winds were out of the North, the lake was almost glass but with identifiable shots of breeze, and notable holes. The local course has fixed marks and North meant “C” for the first start. The conditions lent themselves perfectly to USA824, Dave Crysdale, who was able to demonstrate his flat-water boat speed that couldn't be touched. Even a significant shift to the right and a Charlie flag wouldn't slow the Race 1 victory for the 2022 McNulty Cup winner.
 
Race 2 started in the shift with the course moving from mark from C to D, or 0 degrees to 45 degrees to the compass inclined. However, being a fixed course, the windward mark wasn't a true upwind. A fact team USA834 (Paul McGuan) took advantage of, securing the rhumb line early and finding the breeze faster on both of down winds, securing the first.
 
Race 3 began in the fading breeze and shifted more to the right to E, or East. The race committee was undeterred and stuck to the schedule for the third start of the day. After a few mis-starts from finishing boats coming upwind through the Soling start, another race weekend charm. By the time the race got off the wind had faded and the East-West current became apparent. Several boats were unable to make the pin end in at the start and had to fight being swept ashore, albeit slowly, on the way upwind. This would be the strategic key to the race, as starboard tack boats were moving across the course port tack boats were slowly moving up. Eventually the wind gave its best breeze from the upwind right and team USA834 (McGuan) was in the best position to execute taking the first.
 
Friday evening was spent being hosted by the Elliot's. With a fire, some brisket, and the slight breeze carrying the sounds of cicadas through the yard it was hard to admit the night should ever come to an end.
 
Race 4 began after an onshore delay with a surprising amount of breeze on the water. The Dolphin Class had chosen not to wait and began their own fun race before the Solings even arrived, upsetting the delicate balance that is the Wilmette Race Weekend starting order. The wind settled into enough of an easterly ensuring it would be mark E for the day. But it was the jockeying at the line that would be the story, with USA832 returning to the line and CAN225 not, despite the opposite being the ones who were OCS. Out of the jostling team USA822 (Dave Slaght) found the breeze on the left side of the course where other competitors expected more of the predicted rightward shift. Conviction won the day and the left paid off securing USA822 (Slaght) the first.
 
Race 5 saw CAN225 (Peter Hall) back true to form. With uncatchable speed the team drove up the course with purpose, giving little opportunity for challenge. 
 
Race 6 rewarded USA832 (Ashley Henderson) for the team's strategy to find their side of the course and the pressure others were missing. To do so the team executed on a plan to start second line and avoid the shouting and pile ups at the boat, an enthusiasm that didn't go unremarked by the Race Committee. After the chaos, with more than one boat being called over, team USA832's decision proved critical as it left them to own their preferred side of the course. Rounding all marks first, they fought off all comers and secured first place.
 
At the end of two days and six races, five boats found themselves with bullets. The point spread gave no breathing room in how it would all end. With the Milwaukee Team of USA834 (McGuan) just ahead of the local Wilmette team USA768 (Elliot) and USA832 (Henderson) not far behind. A healthy competition between the fleets always underlies these regattas, but it's especially sharp when all three teams are staying at the same house.
 
Race 7 began with the leaders keeping an eye on each other, but the story was CAN225 (Peter Hall) who once again leapfrogged the pack to an uncontested first place. Team USA834 (McGuan) and USA768 (Elliot) traded barbs with the result coming down to the last three boat length circle around the finish pin end. With USA834 (McGuan) taking 2nd place the results started coming into focus.
 
Race 8's start was exciting as chaotic, the start was timed just such that a finishing cruising boat, a large one at that, assert its rights to complete its finish at the boat end while at the same time a Dolphin asserted its rights to round its leeward mark, or the Soling pin end. As the Solings sorted out of the chaos it was once again CAN225 (Peter Hall) finding the breeze to secure a first. The remaining competition was left focusing on their own race within the race to secure final standings and middle crew everywhere rejoicing they could droop hike entire upwind legs.
 
The final result was team USA834 of Paul McGuan, Jon Bailey, and Mark Keast earning the victory, and the next five boats finishing within 6 points of each other, but it was USA768 Tom Elliot and Jon Bayldon taking second just keeping off team CAN225, Peter Hall, Scott McNeil, and Gord Devries. Proving that in the Soling every point of every race counts. During the award ceremony Paul McGuan was given the boat of the regatta award, as out of the six classes participating in Race Weekend no other class was able to demonstrate the same level of competition. 
 

Complete Results

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The Solings out of the Harbor of Wilmette

USA 834 Paul McGuan enjoying sailing out of Wimette

USA 834 - The winners