Date: January 4-5 2025
Location: Houghton Lake Michigan
We broke the slump! This January was first time since 2021 we completed the Central Regional Championships. After much discussion between regional commodores and the board, the decision was made to postpone the westerns 1 week and give the Central region the chance to complete the regatta. The scouting crew of Dick Wollam, Jim Grogan, Bruce Williams and Don Niles checked out Houghton Lake after nature’s Zamboni came through. They found 4.5 inches of black ice under 1/2 inch of snow, and wasted no time making ramp and launch preparations to ensure everyone could get on the ice safely, and we could get a 4 wheeler on. Thanks to that crew for all their hard work, these regattas don’t just appear, its sailors like these guys that make it happen year after year, please thank them when you see them.
The Crew:
As previously mentioned these events do not run themselves. We had an excellent regatta crew who I would work with again no question. PRO Dave Ryan and Assistant Paul Hickman have been helping and learning from Pat Heppert for the last few years, combined with their soft water knowledge and skills allowed them to tackle their first iceboat regatta with confidence. They took the bull by the horns and ran a great event despite challenging conditions, stubborn starting lines and race Marks that were determined to submit to gravity. The scoring team was stellar: Nina Fleming, Susan
Scoring Team – From left, Nina Fleming, Loretta Rehe, Peter Johanson, Susan Mosbacher, Beth Kjoller
Mosbacher, Beth Kjoller, and coming out of a brief respite, Loretta Rehe (who is often behind the scenes providing me with advice and knowledge). All were excited to be there, unfazed by the weather, smiled the whole time, and did an amazing job. I have no idea what I would have done without them. Off site, but working just as had…. And constantly was Ann Foeller helping with registration posting race start positions and tabulating results. Deb Whitehorse was a rock as always posting the SIs, NORs, setting up online registration, providing Zen advice and calming down anxious regatta chairperson. Also behind the scenes and are given the award for last minute savior was Erica and Kent Baker. They took my last minute frantic call for a 4 wheeler, did not question just had it ready when I arrived. Without that, there is no way we would have gotten this pulled off. Everyone did such a great job, and we had a really fun time doing it. I’m humbled by the efforts of our dedicated volunteers, Thank you to all!!
The Racing:
Saturday morning welcomed us with snow, cold and a lot of wind. The wind was a steady 15-18 gusting over 20 (some predictions called for gusts to 30, I don’t think we saw that, but close). PRO Dave Ryan had the course set by the 9:00 , with plenty of room for a 1.2 mile course with a few ice shanties popping up. A handful of sailors went out and the reports were mixed about if conditions were safe to race. We postponed for an hour. This gave me a chance to rig my boat and sail myself. As predicted the wind had picked up and the gusts… well they had quite a punch. I caught one puff that took me from the windward mark straight downwind ¾ of the leg. I got my boat under control, turned upwind, said a small prayer and trimmed in…… We called off racing for the day shortly after. Saturday night (after naps and hot tubs) the majority of the sailors and crew ended up at Limberlost fine Food and Spirits. Fun was had, food was ate and drinks were drunk!
Sunday morning presented us with more favorable conditions. Commodore David Frost (Frosty) and myself got out sailing at first light to check the ice conditions and most importantly the drifts, we were both in enthusiastic agreement that racing was a go! Dave Ryan and Paul Hickman had the course set by the 9:00 skippers meeting and we got underway a little after 10:00. We had wind about 12-15, gusts were probably 18-20. Snowdrifts were challenging, but sailable. We started with a .9 mile course which we eventually shortened slightly. 3 races were completed for each fleet, and the regatta was in the books!
Racing was fun and very tight, FO-1 and snow plates seemed to be the ticket, but equipment varied widely. Robin Lagraviere sailed an excellent regatta with a 2,1,1 to secure the win and bring the championship trophy across the border to Canada, I believe for the first time? You historians can correct me if I’m wrong. In the Silver fleet, Junior sailor, Milo Fleming, all the way from Maine, sailed just as consistent with a 2,1,2 to claim the silver fleet title. The remainder of the results are posted on-line.
The weekend ended up a big success, Dave Ryan killed it as PRO for his first time ever and the scoring team was top notch, and I could not have pulled this off without their hard work. I was very relieved to have completed my first regatta and can now direct my attention to the upcoming Worlds and North Americans. In the end there were smiles all around and we all left with familiar buzz that can only come from flying into the windward mark with your hair on fire!
See you in February!
Pete- US 5633
