Preliminary Results<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\nWorld-champion sailor Andy Horton, who is competing in this weekend\u2019s Helly Hansen NOOD Regatta Chicago, <\/i>said that no one on their Great Lakes 52 team believed the forecasted afternoon thunderstorm would materialize but when it did, he agreed ending racing early for the day was the right call. \u201cI told the Fox <\/i>team that the windiest place I have ever been was during a storm in Chicago and it blew 76 knots,\u201d he says. \u201cAnything can happen here and do not underestimate this lake.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
All competitors completed two races before being sent to safe harbor before the worst of the storm passed without incident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Horton is tactician for Victor Wild\u2019s Fox,<\/i> a Botin 52. Fox<\/i> is the newest of the seven-boat GL 52 fleet and after five races, it leads by one point over Doug DeVos\u2019 Windquest. The class uses the ORC rating system, which levels the playing field across the multi-generations of boats. \u201cBasically, we need to beat the other competitors by varying time differentials,\u201d says Horton. \u201cWhich means you better sail the boat well in order to finish on top.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Local sailor Martin Johnsson\u2019s J\/70 Aquaholiks<\/i>, a Corinthian (all-amateur) team, is currently leading the nine-boat class, finishing in first or second places today. \u201cOur first race today began in light-air conditions similar to yesterday,\u201d Johnsson says. \u201cHowever, by the end of the second race, the J\/70 planes downwind at around 13 knots, and we were definitely doing that, right as the storm started building over the city.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Johnsson, a previous J\/70 class and overall Chicago NOOD winner, believes the key to their strong finishes today was staying on top of adjusting the boat and rig tune as the wind increased throughout today\u2019s two races. \u201cUnlike yesterday where the focus was on just going fast, today we had to really work the boat to stay on your game.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
In the Tartan 10 class, the top-spot battle is shaping up between yesterday\u2019s leader Meat<\/i>, today\u2019s winner Erica,<\/i> and third-placed Winnebago<\/i>. Erica\u2019s<\/i> owner and helmsman, Brian Kaczor, says getting decent starts is what helped them earn the lead today. \u201cI made it very tough on the team yesterday with my horrible starts,\u201d Kaczor says. \u201cToday I finally began starting better, and from there we have the boat speed to do well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n