The Opti National Champs were sailed Oct. 9-11th at the Milwaukee Yacht Club. The Simon family went to watch the nations best Opti sailors compete in freezing conditions. Sunday mornings temperature was 34 degrees with ice being scraped out of boats. The sailors were dressed in full winter gear. Dry suits, dry gloves and wild ski hats were the norm.
The sailors left the harbor at 9:00am and did not return untill 3:30pm (lunch and port-a-potties on the water). Most of the kids looked cold, but happy upon returning. It should also be noted most of the kids were not from the midwest. The poor sailors from Miami, Houston, So. Cal and S. America were greated to conditions more suited to iceboating.
170 sailors competed. Most flew in and rented boats. The sailors would bring there own blade, rudder, mast and sail. A couple of powerhouse teams from Ft. Lauderdale, Miami and Annapolis sent trailers with 8-10 optis on them including a coaching rib. Professional coaches were present. Seems like the hottest coaches were from Argentina or Europe. There were also several Danish sailors taking part even though it was a US Team qualifier. This gave the Milw. YC and the event an international flare.
Local sailor Malcolm Lamphere from Lake Geneva placed 7th, Ben Garber from L. Minnetonka finished 28th and Augie Dale from Pewaukee placed 76th.
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