Please select your home edition
Edition
Allen Dynamic 40 Leaderboard

Helly Hansen NOOD Regatta Chicago - Day 1: Racing cancelled due to fog

by Tony Veneziano 7 Jun 2019 22:31 PDT 7-9 June 2019
Racers return to shore - The fourth event of the The Helly Hansen NOOD REGATTA SERIES hosted by Chicago Yacht Club June 7 - 9th, held on Lake Michigan. Friday, race day 1 under postponement due to very low visibility with the dense fog © Paul Todd / www.outsideimages.com

When the race committee postponed the first day of racing at the 2019 Helly Hansen NOOD Regatta Chicago, Nick Norris' crew was left with one choice: eat or sleep.

"We left the dock at about 8:30 so we could get an hour of practice in before racing," says Norris (Chicago, IL). As 120 boats made their way to three separate race courses two miles east of Navy Pier, a thin layer of fog hung over Lake Michigan. As boats neared their starting areas, visibility dropped to 50 feet. With uncooperative weather conditions, the Chicago Yacht Club race committee postponed racing at 11:00 AM.

"We all have different nuances when it comes to delays," Norris explains. "Some of us like to sleep, others like to stay active. I like to stay active and keep my mind in the game."

Norris has been helming the Beneteau 36.7 Split Decision for eight years, though the core crew has been sailing together for more than 30 years. "It's a really tight-knit group," says Norris. "The team is competitive so we're looking forward to getting in some racing tomorrow."

"It was one of the most unusual days of sailing I've ever had," says David Gustman (Wilmette, IL). "And I've been sailing for 50 years." Gustman sails his boat, Northstar, in the 10-boat J/109 fleet out of Chicago Yacht Club. "The key to keeping the crew focused in a situation like that is to only let them drink one beer an hour until they've cancelled racing," says Gustman. "We like to put music on to keep everyone pumped up. After that, there's not much you can do but wait."

And there was plenty of waiting Friday morning. Even with the wind averaging 8 knots, the fog lingered and the forecast was not promising. After an hour and a half delay, the race committee sent the competitors ashore at 12:30 PM.

"This kind of fog can happen in the Spring when the wind comes in from the north," says Ron Kallen (Highland Park, IL) "The lake is so cold that it's hard for the sun to burn the fog away. The water is still quite cold for this time of year, which doesn't help matters."

Kallen sails his boat M*A*S*H* in the 23-boat Tartan 10 fleet. Like other owners, keeping the crew focused is a challenge when races get delayed. "Once the race starts, it's all about concentration. There's no chatting about the movie you saw last night or anything like that. It's all about what is just in front of you."

For Michael Dannecker (Chicago, IL) in the PHRF 1 fleet, getting used to a new boat and a new style of racing is the primary goal of his Chicago NOOD Regatta. "We do a lot of one-design racing in Etchells," says Dannecker, "so getting used to the handicap system in the PHRF fleet has been a challenge for us. You need to focus on your own boatspeed more than anything else."

Dannecker and crew are gearing up for the Chicago Yacht Club's Race to Mackinac in July, using the NOOD as a training event. "We love doing the NOOD every year. The regatta is super well-run. Other than the weird weather today, we've never had a bad experience at this event."

With racing continuing throughout the weekend, Saturday will be an action-packed day for racers in all fleets. The North Sails Rally Race is set to start at 10:30 AM, with a mixed group of racer-cruisers setting out on Lake Michigan for a single race around navigational buoys.

For comprehensive results, visit yachtscoring.com

Related Articles

Sailing World Regatta Series: Chicago Overall
Gnarly conditions on Lake Michigan make it unsafe for racing on the final day Inside Chicago Harbor, the northerly wind blowing through the protected mooring field was deceiving. Conditions appeared benign enough to send the sailors out for the final day. Posted on 12 Jun 2023
Sailing World Regatta Series: Chicago Saturday
Distance racers battle the wind and the clock For Daniel Koules' team on the Beneteau First 40 Badge, that was the difference between finishing and not finishing after navigating a patience-testing 30-mile distance race on the second day of the Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series Posted on 11 Jun 2023
Sailing World Regatta Series: Chicago Friday recap
With winds on the tamer side, conditions were ideal for teams to reacclimate While Daniel Floberg was at work on a glorious summer Friday in Chicago, he turned the family J/88 Misty to his friend Will, who started in high gear on opening day of the Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series Posted on 10 Jun 2023
Sailing World Regatta Series: Chicago preview
The annual Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series kicks off the action When the calendar in Chicago finally rolls over to June, the entire city, from the Lake Shore to the West Side comes alive with an unmistakable urgency and hustle: like, hey man, summer's too short, so let's get to it, and make the most of it. Posted on 8 Jun 2023
HH Sailing World Regatta Series Annapolis overall
One point. That was the winning difference for Bruce Irving's teammates on his J/30 Shamrock One point. That was the winning difference for Bruce Irving's teammates on his J/30 Shamrock, champions of the J/30 East Coast Championship at the Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series in Annapolis. Posted on 8 May 2023
HH Sailing World Regatta Series Annapolis Day 2
Scoreboard shuffle The second day of a three-day regatta is referred to as "moving day," where competitors weigh greater risk and reward to advance up the leaderboard, and as a result, there's often quite a bit of shuffling in the standings. Posted on 7 May 2023
Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series preview
Ready, set Annapolis The first weekend of May is reserved for the big start of the Annapolis sailing season, so here comes the 2023 Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series. Posted on 3 May 2023
Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series overall
J/24 Wharf Rat team exceed their expectations Christian Seidel and his teammates on the J/24 Wharf Rat, had no expectations of winning their division at the Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series in San Diego. Posted on 20 Mar 2023
Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series day 2
A day of dominance The question of the morning around the San Diego Yacht Club as racers waited out an hour postponement for the morning fog to burn away was, "Who here can actually beat Chick Pyle?" Posted on 19 Mar 2023
Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series day 1
Smooth start to sailing in San Diego The Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series San Diego got under way on Friday with the fleets of San Diego's South Bay circles enjoying a slowly building west breeze that allowed four races to be completed in most classes. Posted on 18 Mar 2023
Rooster 2025Henri-Lloyd Dynamic RangeZhik 2024 December