Runner Tracks

2020 Central Region Championship Called ON for Houghton Lake

by Deb Whitehorse | Dec 17, 2020 | 2020, Home Page

Via Central Region Commodore Rob Holman:

The 2020 Central Region Championship has been called on for Saturday, December 19, 2020 (and possibly December 20) at Houghton Lake in Houghton Lake, Michigan. The lake has 5″ of ice and was sailed today by 3 ranked sailors who rated it an 8+. The plan is to try to complete the regatta with 3 races in each fleet (Gold & Silver) on Saturday. If we are unable to complete 3 races in each fleet on Saturday, we will race on Sunday, December 20, 2020.

Stand by for launch, lodging, and other details that will be posted here tonight.

UPDATE: December 22, 2020: Regatta recap by Randy Rogoski:

The patience of the 2020 Central Lakes regional regatta’s DN racers paid off at the largest inland lake in Michigan, 20-square-mile Houghton Lake.
After two black-flagged gold fleet, and one silver race was likewise abandoned Saturday, there was fabulous racing Sunday.
The snow stopped, the humidity dropped, the wind stiffened, and the sun came out. The gold fleet completed a full seven-race regatta, the silver fleet raced six.
After a wet snow Saturday accumulated one-half inch, there was no styrofoam from a steady 32-degree overnight. Sunday’s slow-ice sailing required exertion in the 8-10 mph wind that gusted to the mid teens. The strong ice beneath the snow remained hard beneath the winter solstice sun.
The regatta was sailed on a short course, which was plenty long considering the lack of glide and puffy and shifty wind that rewarded the best wind watchers and boat handlers: the usual suspects at the top of the gold fleet.
Eighteen gold fleet and 10 silver racers sailed until the regatta was called complete.
We packed up as daylight waned with huge grins on our faces, then trophies–tall beer glasses and a pint of beer.
James ‘T’ Thieler and Karen Binder made the trip from Rhode Island, Hugh Stevens travelled from Buffalo, N.Y., and Pat Fitzgerald and Chris Berger from Chicago.
Berger, the Western Lakes rear commodore, invites all of us to the Western Regional Championship Jan. 2 & 3, 2021.
T encouraged us to travel East for a regatta when they have ice.
IDNIYRA Vice Commodore Jody Kjoller encourages all to respond to the IDNIYRA questions sent to membership via ballot software regarding a national regatta Jan. 23-29, 2021.
Click on the link for racing results.

Randy Rogoski
DN US 4192