As reported by Todd Rogers (2011 Vice Commodore, Grand River Sailing Club, Fairport Harbor, Ohio)
The event we held on the 2011 Sailstice Weekend was initially envisioned as just a way to get the sailing fleets from a couple of local clubs together. However, it turned out to be much more than that.
I am a member of the Grand River Sailing Club, located on Lake Erie in Northeast Ohio. GRSC suffered a severe flood several years ago, lost many boats, and is currently in the process of rebuilding its membership base. The current membership is not only comprised of many senior club members and competitive racers; but also many newer sailors, both young and old, cruisers and racers alike. Many of the newer boats in our fleet are smaller, older, and/or (like mine) less than expensively equipped, (i.e. often just plain slow). One of the objectives in proposing this weekend event was to get our newer members accustomed to traveling to outside regattas, and to give them a chance to possibly compete with more similarly rated and/or closely matched boats.
The host club, Chagrin Lagoons Yacht Club has a similarly diverse, small sailing fleet; and graciously accepted our request to host a low-key, invitational race. The Chagrin River is only nine miles from the Grand River, and although starting with light-air conditions, the distance made for a perfect down-wind feeder-race the morning of June 18th.
Several boats from other local clubs then joined us and the fleet at CLYC for a pot-luck luncheon and then a singular, six-mile afternoon race. We ended up with fifteen boats participating, and the conditions at race time were extraordinary: 80°F, sunny skies, and a steady 10-15 knot northeasterly breeze. It made for great sailing.
What was unexpected to me was the high level of close competition. As a racer for nearly 30 years, I found it tactically demanding, exciting, and enjoyable.
The race was followed by a simple but well received awards ceremony, and then a planned Father's day cook-out and party; with live music and dancing on the shore. As I stared at some boats who were still out cruising or that had anchored just off the shore to watch the sunset - and then back at all of the smiling faces at the gathering - all I could think was that we may have set the bar too high for our newer club racers - because this had turned out to be one of the simplest yet greatest regattas I had ever been to.
An overnight stay, shore side breakfast, and then a pursuit race back home into a building northeasterly made for the perfect ending to an outstanding weekend.
I cannot adequately express my appreciation to the members and gracious hosts at CLYC. Next year it is GRSC's turn!