Three Crib Fiasco - Unconventional sailing with conventional results

by Alison Vallas on 23 Sep 2014 The 3 Crib Fiasco is a sailing event on Chicago's Lakefront that looks to incorporate community, collaboration, camaraderie and most of all FUN! The inaugural '3CF' was held on Saturday September 20th, 2014. Presented by Skyway Yacht Works and Sponsored by Karma Yacht Sales, the 3CF promises to be the event at the Season's end that will make you wish the season was longer. A 13.5 mile pursuit style fun race with a great après' event tied into it, The Three Crib Fiasco will be memorable for all that participate.

Chicago, Il – The First Annual Three Crib Fiasco wrapped up this past Saturday having accomplished its anticipated goal- providing a fun time for all. The first year sailing event successfully engaged in bringing twenty-two new boats full of willing participants out on the water for an afternoon of ‘cruising around’ Chicago’s lakefront landmarks- the water cribs located just off the Windy City’s lakefront. As of the close of registration on the Friday before the race- forty-eight boats had registered for the ‘Fiasco’, with almost half having had no prior exposure to sailboat racing.

'The Three Crib Fiasco was a screaming success in my book' said race chair Steve Kindra owner of Skyway Yacht Works on Chicago’s East side. 'We never thought we would get almost fifty boats registered in the first year, much less expose 22 boat owners to sailboat racing'.

Kindra patterned the concept of the Three Crib Fiasco after the Bay Area’s Three Bridge Fiasco with the singular goal of providing a platform to expose new sailors to the activity of racing their boats in a casual setting. He then partnered with local Beneteau Dealer Karma Yacht Sales (KYS) who brought their event marketing-promotion experience and background in organizing sailing events. KYS owners Jack Buoscio and Lou Sandoval hosted the inaugural Lake Michigan Beneteau Cup which brought seventeen Beneteau owners from their cruising and racing fleets to the event to compete for the overall title of Beneteau Cup champion.

'There are so many sailors who haven’t discovered the joy of sailing their boat around with a purpose' said KYS Co-Owner Jack Buoscio. 'So often, many boats only day sail or don’t leave the harbor- the Fiasco gave them a reason to get out and sail' Added KYS’ Lou Sandoval.

Despite a blustery forecast which included overcast skies and Southwesterly gusts to 24 knots, nothing could deter the participants as thirty-four boats showed up to compete in the thirteen and one-half mile pursuit-style dash around the water cribs. Rounding off the list of Three Crib Fiasco winners: in third place was Charlie Wurtzebach and Mike Bird’s First 36.7 'FOG'; Second place was Jarrett Altmin’s First 36.7 'Soulshine' and overall winner William Smith and his J-111 'Wooton'.

The race had a philanthropic approach to it as the participants raised money to support the Chicago Area Council’s Sea Scout programs. Various Sea Scout ships participated in the event from competing in the race to serving as the race committee boat. Participants raised over $2,000 which will go towards the Sea Scout programs.

The Beneteau Cup of Lake Michigan crowned its own series of winners at the Fiasco. In the Cruising Division: Third Place went to John Argento’s 'Mia Princepessa' A Beneteau 473; Second place was Paul Thompson’s Oceanis 381 'Mis en Place' and winning the Beneteau Cup Cruising division was Tom Oleszczuk’s 'Knotty Kitty' a brand new Oceanis 41.

In the Racing Division: Third place went to 'Karma' a First 36.7 owned by Jack Buoscio, Lou and Martin Sandoval; Second Place went to Charlie Wurtzebach and Mike Bird’s First 36.7 'FOG' and winning the inaugural Beneteau Cup for the Racing Division was Jarrett Altmin’s First 36.7 'Soulshine'.

2014 3 Crib Fiasco Results for Media Print

Place, Yacht Name, Type, Owner/Skipper, Hometown, Results, Total Points PHRF (PHRF - 48 Boats) 1. Wooton, J 111, William Smith , Chicago, IL, USA - 3 ; 3 2. Soulshine, Beneteau First 36.7, Jarrett Altmin , Chicago, IL, USA - 4 ; 4 3. FOG, Beneteau First 36.7, Charlie Wurtzebach/Mike Bird , Chicago, IL, USA - 5 ; 5 4. Silver Surfer, T-10, Andrew Nicoletti , Chicago, IL, USA - 6 ; 6 5. Mutiny, T-10, John Schellenbach , Chicago, IL, USA - 7 ; 7 6. Knotty Kitty, Beneteau Oceanis 41, Tom Oleszczuk , Chicago, IL, USA - 8 ; 8 7. Karma, Beneteau First 36.7, Sandoval/Buoscio Karma Sailing Group , Chicago, IL, USA - 9 ; 9 8. Talisman, T-10, Stan Mehaffey , Chicago, IL, USA - 10 ; 10 9. Mise En Place, Beneteau 381, Paul Thompson , Chicago, IL, USA - 11 ; 11 10. Striking, J 105, Vanessa Gates , Chicago, IL, USA - 12 ; 12 11. Jug Band, Jeanneau 45.2, Harry Simmon , Bourbonnais, IL, USA - 13 ; 13 12. Chief, Beneteau First 10R, Mike Wolf , Evanston, IL, USA - 14 ; 14 13. Scarlet Begonias, Dufour 36P, Kevin Foote , Chicago, IL, USA - 15 ; 15 14. Phantom, J 105, Peter Schwarzbach , Chicago, IL, USA - 16 ; 16 15. Sail Monkey, Beneteau First 36.7, William McGuinn , Chicago, IL, USA - 17 ; 17 16. Nautilus, Tripp 47, David G. Brown , Chcago, IL, USA - 18 ; 18 17. Slot Machine, J 88, Boyd Jarrell Sr , Flossmoor, IL, USA - 19 ; 19 18. Mia Princepessa, Beneteau 473, Peter Nielsen , Chicago, IL, USA - 20 ; 20 19. Big Meanie, Beneteau First 42, Adam Freedman , Chicago, IL, USA - 21 ; 21 20. Gwhiz, Beneteau First 10R, Geoffrey Davis , Chicago, IL, USA - 22 ; 22 21. Defiance, J/V 66, Dale Smirl , Oak Park, IL, USA - 23 ; 23 22. Wahoo, J 29, Garrett Falls , Midland, MI, USA - 24 ; 24 23. Geronimo, Irwin, Richard Gravengood , Chicago, IL, USA - 25 ; 25 24. Privateer, T-10, S Timothy Franceschini , Chicago, IL, USA - 26 ; 26 25. Sea Dancer, C&C 33 Mark II, Karl Olson , Chicago, IL, USA - 27 ; 27 26. Cloudsplitter, Islander 36, Pete McLiverty , Chicago, IL, USA - 28 ; 28 27. Sahalie, Beneteau Oceanis 41, Michael Caveney , Chicago, IL, USA - 29 ; 29 28. Albion, Hunter 310, Burke Bowden , New Lenox, USA - 30 ; 30 29. Bretwalda, J 35, Chicago Area Sea Scouts Ship 5886 , Chicago, IL, USA - 31 ; 31 30. Cigare Volant, 31, Bill Easom , Chicago, IL, USA - 32 ; 32 31. Terminal Velocity, LS 10, Simon Beemsterboer , Mokena, IL, USA - 33 ; 33 32. Gonzo, J 105, Kenneth Ganch , Wheaton, IL, USA - 33 ; 33 33. Sankaty, Mariner36, Bruce Krizmanic , Aurora, IL, USA - 33 ; 33 34. Cheap Thrill, T-10, Nancy & Tim Snyder , Chicago, IL, USA - 34 ; 34 35. Gypsea, Morgan 33, Jeff McElroy , Plainfield, IL, USA - 49 ; 49 36. Enchantee, Beneteau Oceanis 37, Igor Fedulov , Chicago, IL, USA - 49 ; 49