Shamrock wins J/111 Great Lakes Championships, J/70s enjoy gorgeous Ugotta Regatta
by J/Boats 6 Aug 2024 03:56 NZST
26-28 July 2024
Shamrock crowned J/111 Great Lakes Championships © Little Traverse Yacht Club
Imagine a "tongue-shaped" bay of the deep blue waters of northern Lake Michigan. Its bright white sandy bottom reflects the sun so strongly, that you can see down through the aquamarine-colored waters at least 40 feet deep! Amazing? Yes!
It's hard to comprehend Bahamas-like crystal clear waters north of two of the largest industrial cities in North America- Chicago and Detroit. Nevertheless, this natural geological phenomenon all over the so-called "Upper Peninsula" of Michigan has hundreds of lakes, hundreds of golf courses, and dozens of very picturesque harbors on both the Lake Michigan and Lake Huron shorelines.
Such natural beauty also makes for a true "bucket list" regatta off the shores of Harbor Springs, MI. For decades, the Little Traverse YC has hosted their Ugotta Regatta out of the Irish Boat Shop facilities and their quaint little white colonial house and broad porch across the road.
The regatta features both one-design racing for J/70s and J/111s, as well as ORC and PHRF handicap racing fleets.
J/111 Great Lakes Championship
This year's event was featured as co-host of the J/111 Great Lakes Championship. After an abbreviated three-day series (Sunday's racing was canceled due to no wind), it was Jeff Davis's SHAMROCK team from Cleveland, OH that won the regatta with a 1-4-1 tally of 6 pts. Taking the silver medal was George Golder's local team on TERRIER, posting a 2-2-5 scoreline for 9 pts. It should be noted that Golder's TERRIER team also won the J/111 Division in this year's Chicago-Mackinac Race! Then, rounding out the podium was "local hero" Scott Sellers on his famous NO SUPRISE with a 5-1-6 for 12 pts.
J/70 Class
The eighteen-boat fleet was treated to what many may consider "schooling" in how to sail a J/70 fast, smart, and stay out of trouble! In the end, winning quite handily was Bruno Pasquinelli's STAMPEDE from Fort Worth Boat Club in Fort Worth, Texas. His team posted a blistering 3-1-1-1 record for 6 pts total! Taking second was Dave Dennison's PIRANHA with a 1-7-2-3 tally for 13 pts; also, good enough to win the Corinthians Division. Rounding out the podium in third was Chris Kostanecki's JENNIFER from San Francisco, CA with 17 pts.
More information here