{"id":78000,"date":"2024-06-07T17:31:39","date_gmt":"2024-06-07T21:31:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/?p=78000"},"modified":"2024-06-10T13:22:15","modified_gmt":"2024-06-10T17:22:15","slug":"thrilling-big-breeze-start-to-regatta-series-in-chicago","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/regatta-series\/thrilling-big-breeze-start-to-regatta-series-in-chicago\/","title":{"rendered":"Thrilling Big-Breeze Start to Regatta Series in Chicago"},"content":{"rendered":"\n        <section class=\"hydra-container\">\n\n\t\t\t                <div class=\"hydra-canvas\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/06072024_SWRS_Chicago-0922-2-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"hydra-image\" alt=\"J\/88 in Chicago\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/06072024_SWRS_Chicago-0922-2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/06072024_SWRS_Chicago-0922-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/06072024_SWRS_Chicago-0922-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/06072024_SWRS_Chicago-0922-2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/06072024_SWRS_Chicago-0922-2.jpg 1620w\" \/>                <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n            <figcaption class=\"caption margin_top_xs full border_1 hydra-figcaption\">\n                <span class=\"hydra-image-caption\">J\/88s battle big gusts as the 2024 Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series, Chicago<\/span>\n                <span class=\"article_image_credit italic margin_right_xs\">Walter Cooper<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t            <\/figcaption>\n        <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/yachtscoring.com\/event_results_cumulative.cfm?eID=16262\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PRELIMINARY RESULTS<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sailingworldphotography.photoshelter.com\/gallery\/2024-Chicago\/G0000gAJ1odH_J6E\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PHOTO GALLERY<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Clich\u00e9 as it may sound, the Windy City indeed lived up to its reputation on the opening day of the <a href=\"\/regatta-series-chicago\/\">Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series<\/a> in Chicago, hosted by Chicago Yacht Club with more than 150 race teams participating. The warm bright morning sunshine and the blocking of the architectural giants of the lake front may have duped many of the competitors into thinking conditions were benign as they slipped their lines this morning. But out on the open water, northwesterly gusts peaked into the high 20s, catching many teams off guard. The day was good fast sailing for some, while for many others today&#8217;s races were all about the preservation of gear, sails and crew.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<style>.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }<\/style><div class='embed-container'><iframe src='https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/\/j39V0p-3Ohc' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Those who were willing and able excelled in the gusty conditions, however, including Richard Stearns\u2019 team on the J\/105 <em>Five<\/em>. They won the day\u2019s only race for the 105s, and while others in their fleet played it safe by sailing runs under main and jib only, Stearns\u2019 crew had no trepidations in setting the spinnaker. \u201cThere were four strong women keeping everything going at the front,\u201d said crewmember Lindsey Hernandez. \u201cWe didn\u2019t wipe out once, and the driving was perfect.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n        <section class=\"hydra-container\">\n\n\t\t\t                <div class=\"hydra-canvas\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"550\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/06072024_SWRS_Chicago-0878-1024x704.jpg\" class=\"hydra-image\" alt=\"2024 Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series, Chicago\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/06072024_SWRS_Chicago-0878-1024x704.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/06072024_SWRS_Chicago-0878-300x206.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/06072024_SWRS_Chicago-0878-768x528.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/06072024_SWRS_Chicago-0878-1536x1057.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/06072024_SWRS_Chicago-0878.jpg 1570w\" \/>                <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n            <figcaption class=\"caption margin_top_xs full border_1 hydra-figcaption\">\n                <span class=\"hydra-image-caption\">Spinnaker sets at the 2024 Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series, Chicago<\/span>\n                <span class=\"article_image_credit italic margin_right_xs\">Walter Cooper<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t            <\/figcaption>\n        <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n<p>Stearns, a veteran helmsman, has plenty of experience in all conditions and was happy with the team\u2019s performance. \u201cIt was all having them pulling the sails around perfectly timed,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m just following what they\u2019re doing.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The J\/105 class shared the White Circle with the Beneteau 36.7s and J\/88 fleets. The J\/88s were the first fleet start of the morning and as they were rounding their first weather mark, the forecasted wind increase came on fast, and quickly built into the high 20s. As soon as their spinnakers were full, boats were simultaneously wiping out. Daniel Burns, bowman on John and Jordan Leahey\u2019s <em>Dutch<\/em>, confessed to three broaches for his time in one race\u2014a personal record for him. \u201cThey were fun though,\u201d he said. \u201cWe did it in style. We were surprised by the first one, but the next two we were like, \u2018let\u2019s just get this over with.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n        <section class=\"hydra-container\">\n\n\t\t\t                <div class=\"hydra-canvas\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/06072024_SWRS_Chicago-2469-1024x682.jpg\" class=\"hydra-image\" alt=\"Beneteau 40.7 class at the beginning of the HHSWRS in Chicago\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/06072024_SWRS_Chicago-2469-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/06072024_SWRS_Chicago-2469-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/06072024_SWRS_Chicago-2469-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/06072024_SWRS_Chicago-2469-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/06072024_SWRS_Chicago-2469.jpg 1621w\" \/>                <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n            <figcaption class=\"caption margin_top_xs full border_1 hydra-figcaption\">\n                <span class=\"hydra-image-caption\">Beneteau 40.7 start at the pin at the 2024 Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series, Chicago<\/span>\n                <span class=\"article_image_credit italic margin_right_xs\">Walter Cooper<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t            <\/figcaption>\n        <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n<p>Using a smaller spinnaker for the day, Grace and Michael Gillian\u2019s <em>Julia<\/em> won the J\/88\u2019s only race, finishing ahead of Andy Graff\u2019s team on <em>Exile<\/em>. Dave Dennison\u2019s <em>Pirahna<\/em> was third.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Robert Nelson\u2019s Beneteau 36.7 <em>Free Radical <\/em>beat Silviu and Cristina Petrea\u2019s <em>Nomad<\/em> in their fleet\u2019s only race. Earle Atwater and Chris Metcalf\u2019s <em>Program<\/em> were third and happy to have survived the day with sails and boat intact.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Atwater\u2019s advice once ashore and safely in their slip at CYC, was to \u201cremember to ease the lazy guy in the jibe,\u201d to avoid the broach. That didn\u2019t happen once, so for the remainder of the race, they sailed the runs under jib and main only. \u201cWe were safely in third so we figured,\u201d Atwater said. \u201cSo, why blow it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n        <section class=\"hydra-container\">\n\n\t\t\t                <div class=\"hydra-canvas\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"598\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/06072024_SWRS_Chicago-0600-1024x765.jpg\" class=\"hydra-image\" alt=\"J\/88 class at the 2024 Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series, Chicago\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/06072024_SWRS_Chicago-0600-1024x765.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/06072024_SWRS_Chicago-0600-300x224.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/06072024_SWRS_Chicago-0600-768x574.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/06072024_SWRS_Chicago-0600.jpg 1446w\" \/>                <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n            <figcaption class=\"caption margin_top_xs full border_1 hydra-figcaption\">\n                <span class=\"hydra-image-caption\">J\/88s power through a gusty northwesterly at the 2024 Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series, Chicago<\/span>\n                <span class=\"article_image_credit italic margin_right_xs\">Walter Cooper<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t            <\/figcaption>\n        <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n<p>The big boats of the Division 3 racecourse, set straight east of host Chicago Yacht Club, were fortunate to get in two races. Scot and Yvonne Ruhlander\u2019s crew&nbsp; on the Beneteau 40.7 <em>Mojo<\/em>, racked up wins in both races and begin the series with a 3-point lead over Thomas Weber\u2019s La Tempete. Mojo was quick upwind and clean on the runs by eventually leaving the spinnaker in its bag. Weber\u2019s team was equally quick upwind, but could not match Mojo\u2019s pace.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing it a long time,\u201d said Tempete, nonplussed with the wild conditions. \u201cWe kept it together, but we got it rocking pretty good in the waves at times. Upwind, once we got it in the groove and everything tuned well, it was pretty easy. On the first upwind leg I had some trouble on port tack, but on the next three upwind legs we got it dialed in really well. The main trimmer gave me more play on the main and we were able to keep our speed up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n        <section class=\"hydra-container\">\n\n\t\t\t                <div class=\"hydra-canvas\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/06072024_SWRS_Chicago-1089-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"hydra-image\" alt=\"\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/06072024_SWRS_Chicago-1089-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/06072024_SWRS_Chicago-1089-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/06072024_SWRS_Chicago-1089-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/06072024_SWRS_Chicago-1089-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/06072024_SWRS_Chicago-1089.jpg 1620w\" \/>                <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n            <figcaption class=\"caption margin_top_xs full border_1 hydra-figcaption\">\n                <span class=\"hydra-image-caption\">Earle Atwater and Chris Metcalf&#8217;s Beneteau 36.7 <i>Program<\/i> carves around the offset mark at the 2024 Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series, Chicago<\/span>\n                <span class=\"article_image_credit italic margin_right_xs\">Walter Cooper<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t            <\/figcaption>\n        <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n<p>Raymond Douglas and Kristine Maybach\u2019s crew on the J\/109 <em>Courageous<\/em> also won both races and have a 3-point lead over Jim Caesar\u2019s crew on <em>Liquid Lounge II<\/em>. Both teams managed their spinnakers well enough to capitalize on good starts.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The collective experience of Shawn and Jerry O\u2019Neill\u2019s crew on the Sydney 38 <em>Eagle<\/em> had them confidently guiding their boat around the course. Careful sail handling and clean starts got them two wins on the day to lead the ORC division. The disappointing news from the ORC division was the dismasting of Phil Dowd\u2019s Farr 40 <em>Inferno<\/em>. They\u2019d finished second in the day\u2019s first race, but halfway down the first downwind leg of the second race, while leading the fleet, the mast broke and had to be cut away and scuttled to prevent damage to the boat.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tod and Heidi Patton\u2019s J\/112e <em>Blondie<\/em> also went two-for-two in the PHRF spinnaker division and have a 3-point lead over Jim Banovitz and Gary Feracota\u2019s <em>Aria<\/em>, a Beneteau Figaro 3 that was quite quick on under jib and main only.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n        <section class=\"hydra-container\">\n\n\t\t\t                <div class=\"hydra-canvas\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/06072024_SWRS_Chicago-2631-1024x682.jpg\" class=\"hydra-image\" alt=\"Sailboat rides up a wave on Lake Michigan\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/06072024_SWRS_Chicago-2631-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/06072024_SWRS_Chicago-2631-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/06072024_SWRS_Chicago-2631-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/06072024_SWRS_Chicago-2631-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/06072024_SWRS_Chicago-2631.jpg 1621w\" \/>                <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n            <figcaption class=\"caption margin_top_xs full border_1 hydra-figcaption\">\n                <span class=\"hydra-image-caption\">Waves and gusts make the upwind work challenging at the 2024 Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series, Chicago<\/span>\n                <span class=\"article_image_credit italic margin_right_xs\">Walter Cooper<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t            <\/figcaption>\n        <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n<p>Only one race was sailed on the One-Design circle with Brian Kaczor\u2019s <em>Erica<\/em> winning the Tartan 10 race, ahead of Adam Prettyman\u2019s <em>Two Trailer Park Girls<\/em> and Amy Cermak\u2019s <em>Diamond Girl<\/em>. Jim Murray\u2019s <em>Hestia<\/em> was the top J\/70, edging out Laura Sigmond\u2019s <em>Norboy<\/em> and James Prendergast\u2019s <em>USA167<\/em>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n        <section class=\"hydra-container\">\n\n\t\t\t                <div class=\"hydra-canvas\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/06072024_SWRS_Chicago-1971-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"hydra-image\" alt=\"Farr 40 sailboat on Lake Michigan\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/06072024_SWRS_Chicago-1971-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/06072024_SWRS_Chicago-1971-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/06072024_SWRS_Chicago-1971-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/06072024_SWRS_Chicago-1971-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/06072024_SWRS_Chicago-1971.jpg 1620w\" \/>                <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n            <figcaption class=\"caption margin_top_xs full border_1 hydra-figcaption\">\n                <span class=\"hydra-image-caption\">Phil Dowd&#8217;s Farr 40 <i>Inferno<\/i> charges upwind at the Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta in Chicago. On the next leg, the team suffered a dismasting.<\/span>\n                <span class=\"article_image_credit italic margin_right_xs\">Walter Cooper<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t            <\/figcaption>\n        <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n<p>The Laser divisions did not complete races due to the high-wind conditions, but will be on the water tomorrow along with the Distance Race divisions, with more than 30 teams getting underway in the early morning for what promises to be another challenging day on Lake Michigan.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The wind came on hard and fast on the opening day of the Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series in Chicago. A thrilling day for some and survival for others.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":78001,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"BS_author_type":"BS_author_is_guest","BS_guest_author_name":"Dave Reed","BS_guest_author_url":"","hydra_display_date":"","hydra_display_updated":false,"_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"","_yoast_wpseo_title":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","arc_story_id":"","arc_website_url":"","custom_permalink":"","arc_subtype":"","arc_exclude_from_feeds":false,"sponsored":false,"sponsored_label":"Sponsored Content","sponsored_display_label":false,"sponsored_image":false,"post_right_rail":true,"post_right_rail_ad_1":true,"post_right_rail_ad_2":true,"post_right_rail_ad_3":false,"post_right_rail_ad_4":false,"post_right_rail_recirc":true,"fixed_anchor_ad":true,"post_top_ad":true,"post_off_ramp":true,"post_taboola":false,"labels":true,"apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":false,"apple_news_is_preview":false,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":"\"\"","apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":"","ad_targeting":"","ad_settings_ads_on_this_page":true,"ad_settings_automatic_ad_injection_into_the_content":true,"sponsored_url":"","social_share":true,"alternate_title_newsletter":"","alternate_content_newsletter":""},"categories":[157],"tags":[181,202],"class_list":["post-78000","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-regatta-series","tag-helly-hansen-sailing-world-regatta-series","tag-helly-hansen-sailing-world-regatta-series-chicago"],"acf":[],"apple_news_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78000","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=78000"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78000\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/78001"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=78000"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=78000"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=78000"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}