{"id":81972,"date":"2025-06-06T21:15:42","date_gmt":"2025-06-07T01:15:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/?p=81972"},"modified":"2025-06-09T10:31:29","modified_gmt":"2025-06-09T14:31:29","slug":"chicago-opener-has-usual-suspects-on-top","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/regatta-series\/chicago-opener-has-usual-suspects-on-top\/","title":{"rendered":"Chicago Opener Has Usual Suspects On Top"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/yachtscoring.com\/event_results_cumulative\/16898\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PRELIMINARY RESULTS<\/a><\/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\/\/ngAiuZSxPok' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The Chicago racing scene is famous for its legendary boats, the names of which are prolific in the club\u2019s trophy case. These are the many legacy sailing teams that return to Lake Michigan racecourses year after year, faster and more polished than the last. Among them are Scott and Yvonne Rhulander\u2019s <em>Mojo<\/em>, long-reigning champions of the Beneteau 40.7 fleet at the Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series, and a team that finds themselves in a similar position after the first day of this 35th edition of the Chicago summertime classic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe id=\"x8aa2rgac1\" src=\"https:\/\/Sailingworld.dragonforms.com\/x8aa2rgac1\" scrolling=\"no\" style=\"width:100%;height:165px;border:none;overflow:hidden;\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p>As the first major regatta of the season, some of <em>Mojo<\/em>\u2019s competitors in the seven-boat class may not have been quite ready for the intensity of close-quarters buoy racing, but team <em>Mojo<\/em> was practiced and ready to win races.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe did the spring opener and another so we\u2019ve been on the water longer than most other teams this year,\u201d says Yvonne Rhulander. This was partly due to the addition of a new crewmember on the bow team, Ryan Schumm, filling in for the boat\u2019s regular bowman. \u201cThat\u2019s part of the reason we practiced early, and today the foredeck team, which included our sun Luca, was amazing.\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 fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"563\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/HHSWRS2025_Chicago-3807-1024x720.jpg\" class=\"hydra-image\" alt=\"Beneteau 40.7 class\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/HHSWRS2025_Chicago-3807-1024x720.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/HHSWRS2025_Chicago-3807-300x211.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/HHSWRS2025_Chicago-3807-768x540.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/HHSWRS2025_Chicago-3807.jpg 1535w\" \/>                <\/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\"><i>Team Mojo<\/i>, out front in the Beneteau 40.7 class at the Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series in 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>Team <em>Mojo<\/em> won all three of its races, a few by significant margins, and while this is nothing new for the squad, today\u2019s motivation was all for Scott\u2019s brother who passed away yesterday, and a crewmember recovering in the hospital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe went out with the sentiment that the whole day was about making them proud; people. We rallied for them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jarrett Altmin\u2019s Beneteau 36.7 <em>Soulshine<\/em> has been a regular at the Chicago regatta as well, and while Altmin\u2019s team was third overall in 2024, they\u2019ve stepped off to commanding lead, winning three of four races to pad an impressive cushion of 11 points over Silviu and Christina Petrea\u2019s team on <em>Nomad<\/em>. James Clouser\u2019s <em>Joie De Vie<\/em> was the day\u2019s other race winner.<\/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=\"591\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/HHSWRS2025_Chicago-1091-1024x757.jpg\" class=\"hydra-image\" alt=\"Beneteau 36.7\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/HHSWRS2025_Chicago-1091-1024x757.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/HHSWRS2025_Chicago-1091-300x222.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/HHSWRS2025_Chicago-1091-768x568.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/HHSWRS2025_Chicago-1091.jpg 1460w\" \/>                <\/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\">Jarrett Altmin&#8217;s Beneteau 36.7 <i>Soulshine<\/i> at the 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>Like <em>Mojo<\/em>, <em>Soulshine<\/em> enjoyed an ace substitution on the bow with Rod Salazar, and as result, the team\u2019s sail handling around the corners was sharp. \u201cWe have a crew that\u2019s been together for more than a decade,\u201d Altmin says, \u201cand today was all about clean corners and low drama. Ours is a quiet boat and while we have good upwind speed our downwind speed was really good and that\u2019s something we struggle with sometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The difference today, the Chicago-based skipper says, was a matter of smoother communications between the spinnaker with the spinnaker trimming team and great calls from tactician Jeremy Kaughman. \u201cIt was a big line for 12 boats o that enabled us to clean starts,\u201d Altmin says, \u201cbut everyone got off the line easily too. We didn\u2019t have the best of starts, but they were low stress and we were able to get around the course without any drama.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the six-boat ORC division, Shawn O\u2019Neill\u2019s Sydney 38 <em>Eagle<\/em>, picked up right were it left off at the regatta last year, with three race wins that gave them 4-points on top of John Gottwald\u2019s Grand Soleil 44 <em>Eagles Wings<\/em>.<\/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=\"534\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/HHSWRS2025_Chicago-1485-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"hydra-image\" alt=\"J\/105s in Chicago\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/HHSWRS2025_Chicago-1485-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/HHSWRS2025_Chicago-1485-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/HHSWRS2025_Chicago-1485-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/HHSWRS2025_Chicago-1485-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/HHSWRS2025_Chicago-1485.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\/105s keeping it tight at the Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series in 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>Jeremy Alexis\u2019 immaculately prepared Melges 32 <em>Fleetwood<\/em>, which has been racing events on the East Coast throughout the winter, won all three of its races in the nine-boat PHRF spinnaker fleet. Mark Croll\u2019s C&amp;C 115 <em>Reflection<\/em> went 3-2-2, but today\u2019s conditions were right in the wheelhouse of Alexis\u2019 lightweight sportboat. With a crack team, a fast boat, and great boathandling, <em>Fleetwood<\/em> has set a benchmark for the fleet right out of the gate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The J\/88 fleet, racing for its Great Lakes Championship title, enjoyed the same battles among the top three teams that have been racing at other stops of the Regatta Series. In May, in Annapolis, it was Andy Graff\u2019s Exile, winning over Lindsay Duda\u2019s <em>Sin Duda<\/em>, but after today\u2019s three races, <em>Sin Duda<\/em> has the upper hand by two points. Duda\u2019s team won two of three races with Graff winning the third.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Seven J\/109s are also sailing for the class\u2019s Great Lakes Championship, and here again Michael Hendrie\u2019s <em>Bull<\/em>, winner in 2024, is atop the standing, but only just. With a seventh in the first race of the day, <em>Bull<\/em> rallied to win the next two and is tied with Evan Jahn and Alex Millet\u2019s <em>Tumbler<\/em>.<\/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\/2025\/06\/HHSWRS2025_Chicago-4098-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"hydra-image\" alt=\"Bull in Chicago\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/HHSWRS2025_Chicago-4098-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/HHSWRS2025_Chicago-4098-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/HHSWRS2025_Chicago-4098-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/HHSWRS2025_Chicago-4098-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/HHSWRS2025_Chicago-4098.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\">Michael Hendrie\u2019s <i>Bull<\/i>, winner in 2024, is atop the J\/109 fleet.<\/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 Tartan 10 fleet, with 17 boats, has Craig Roehl\u2019s team on <em>Meat<\/em> off to a stellar start with 8 points after four races. Darren and Kristina Beck\u2019s <em>Kaze<\/em>, which won the opening race, is 12 points in arrears.<\/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\/2025\/06\/HHSWRS2025_Chicago-1595-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"hydra-image\" alt=\"ORC division in Chicago\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/HHSWRS2025_Chicago-1595-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/HHSWRS2025_Chicago-1595-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/HHSWRS2025_Chicago-1595-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/HHSWRS2025_Chicago-1595-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/HHSWRS2025_Chicago-1595.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\">Shawn O\u2019Neill\u2019s Sydney 38 <i>Eagle<\/i>, leads the ORC division after the opening day of racing.<\/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>Cate Muller-Terhune\u2019s team on <em>Casting Couch<\/em> is stepped off with an incredible first day, winning three of four races and leads Margaret McKillen\u2019s Megatron by 12 points, and in the J\/105s, Clark Pellet\u2019s <em>Sealark<\/em>, with David Brown filling in as helmsman for the day, almost had a clean sweep of four races, with Rich Stearns\u2019 <em>Team Five<\/em> winning the last race of the day to pulling to 7 points shy of the lead.<\/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\/2025\/06\/HHSWRS2025_Chicago-5291-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"hydra-image\" alt=\"Tartan 10 in Chicago\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/HHSWRS2025_Chicago-5291-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/HHSWRS2025_Chicago-5291-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/HHSWRS2025_Chicago-5291-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/HHSWRS2025_Chicago-5291-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/HHSWRS2025_Chicago-5291.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\">Craig Roehl\u2019s team on <i>Meat<\/i> off to a stellar start with 8 points after four races in the Tartan 10 fleet.<\/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 regatta\u2019s distance race fleets join the racing for the weekend, along with the ILCA 6 and ILCA 7 sailors for the District 20 championship, as well as the regatta\u2019s Youth Invitational Keelboat sailors in Sonars and Dragon Force 65 RC racers providing club-side entertainment for the post-racing party at host Chicago Yacht Club.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>At the Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series in Chicago the seasoned regulars are leading the charge on the opening day. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":82115,"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 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