Optimist Red, White and Blue Chip Regatta

Forty-four of the best Optimist sailors from around the midwest received bids to attend the annual Optimist Blue Chip regatta held on Lac LaBelle in Oconomowoc, WI. The sailors are invited based on regatta finishes at specified events or for leading their home lake series. The Mendota Yacht Club is eligible to send two sailors to the event next year.

This year Meta Simon, representing Madison Opti Racing (MOR) and the Pewaukee Lake Sailing School (PLSS), was invited following her finish at the ILYA Championship regatta.

Results and photos.

Pram Power 2011 @ North Lake

North Lake Sailing School held their annual Pram Power regatta on Thursday, August 11. A near record 70 boats competed in junior and senior fleets and enjoyed an array of crafts between races. Thankfully, the weather gods were shining on the families with light but consistent winds and reasonable temperatures for August.

Fritz Simon sailed in the junior fleet with several of his friends from the Pewaukee Lake Sailing School. He was happy with a 7th place overall finish in his second year at this event.

Full results and photos.

ILYA Championship Regatta

More than 75 sailors from Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa sailed in the Inland Lakes Yachting Association Optimist Championship Regatta on White Bear Lake, MN. Thunderstorms with high heat and humidity that rivaled Louisiana ruled the event until the afternoon of the second day when a break in the weather provided just enough time between the storms and the time limit for both the RWB and green fleets to sail three races each.

Two Madison sailors, Meta and Fritz Simon, made the trip north for the event, both sailing in the green fleet. Full results on the ILYA site.



More photos on picasa.

No Tears, No Guns, No Protests Regatta

Six Madison-area Opti sailors competed in the 21st annual No Tears Regatta on one of the most beautiful lakes in Wisconsin, Beaver Lake. In total between junior and senior fleets there were 80 boats.

This was a first regatta for Emma and Olivia Zalog, daughters of MYC E-scow sailor Phil Zalog. Both girls had fun in spite of the challenge of sailing in light air. Quinn and Colin Senke sailed in their third regatta of the summer and are showing great progress. Quinn rounded the first windward mark in third place during the last race of the senior fleet. Meta and Fritz Simon competed the event as well, rounding out the Madison team.

Results can be found on the ILYA site. Regatta photos on our picasa page.

Geneva Lake Sailing School Regatta

Five Madison Opti Racing sailors competed in the Geneva Lake Sailing School (GLSS) regatta on Wednesday, July 13, in a 32 boat green fleet. Will Hanson, Quinn and Colin Senke, and Meta and Fritz Simon represented MOR very well. Results on the GLSS website.

America's Cup Champion Buddy Melges gave the MOR sailors along with sailors from Pewaukee and North lakes a pep talk on shore. More photos on picasa.

5th and final official MOR Friday

The scheduled Fridays for Madison Opti Racing came to a close on July 8 with steamy temps and no breeze but lots of fun anyway. The group created a floatilla of motor boats for an evening of swimming out from shore and finished with the last wiener roast complete with birthday cupcakes for Thor Rosten who turned 9 on Friday.

more photos on picasa

Jibe and turtle??

Hot, humid and breezy describes the fourth night of Opti sailing in Madison this summer. Some sailors practiced jibing in the big air while others ran through some tip-over drills closer to shore. Kyle also worked with some sailors in knot tying. In the end there was a lot of boat bailing and a lot of fun!


Hope tried her hand at using the video function on her camera to film a couple of wild rides that were had by Fritz.



One more longer video.

Photos are up on picasa as well. See you next week!

Regatta on Lake Beulah

The Lake Beulah Sailing School Regatta was held on Monday, June 27. Brief recap and green fleet results.

Madison Opti Racing Week Three

Cool temperatures greeted the sailors once again for the third week of sailing at Burrows Park. Will summer never really arrive? The lake was choppy from the higher winds earlier in the day and with the winds out of the northwest, the downwind landings at the beach left the parents scrambling! Eleven boats came out this week with a few new faces in the group.

The post-sailing cookout included a special treat -- birthday cake for Quinn Senke who turned 10 on June 24 -- Happy Birthday, Quinn. The sailors also were able to watch the catamaran sailors set up their boats for a regatta this weekend headquartered at Burrows.

More photos on the picasa page (blame the wavy conditions for the few blurry ones).

Payton Regatta Report

Unfortunately the Payton Regatta was not officially sailed by the Opti fleet. Many families had schedule conflicts with the date, but Will Sprinkman and Oscar Anderson used the afternoon wisely to get more time at the helm -- kudos to Will and Oscar!

Plan on next Friday, 6/24, for the third week of Madison Opti Racing.

Another fun Friday night

Fifteen boats and over 50 people descended on Burrows Park for the second Friday of Opti sailing. This week the sailors were split into two groups with Liz Metzloff leading the junior fleet. Coach Greg put the racing kids through several boat-handling drills and a few short races. Joining the group this week were the Sprinkman, Segersten, and Ostby families. Thor Rosten's aunt, Deb Whitehorse, joined us on the coach boat. A cookout followed the sailing and we're quite sure a record number of hotdogs were consumed this week!

See the rest of the photos on picasa.

Madison Opti Racing (MOR) 2011 begins!

Friday June 10 was the first night of Madison Opti sailing for the 2011 summer. We had an impressive turnout -- 14 boats and more than 30 participants with sailors and families -- this may even be a record! Luckily the weather cooperated with light/medium winds out of the northeast and no rain in spite of slightly cool temperatures.

Several sailors came out for their very first Opti sail and six-year-old Kylie McCormick sailed solo for the first time after two years of sailing with her dad and older sister, Kelsa. Way to go Kylie! And kudos to new sailor, Gus Wenning, who shortly after leaving the beach at Burrows, kicked his dad out of the Opti and sailed solo in his first night out - great job, Gus!

All would agree that the venue at Burrows worked out very well for this week. Hopefully a strong west breeze and bugs or geese won't change our opinion!

Specials thanks to Brian Anderson for making two dollies for the group to use in launching boats. Also, thanks to the moms for providing a great after-sailing meal -- everyone certainly had a hearty appetite by the end of the evening.

Next week we plan to differentiate the fleet into two groups with Liz Metzloff leading the beginning sailors and Coach Greg helping the more experienced work toward regatta sailing.

MOR photographer Hope was clicking away -- over 100 photos have been uploaded to the picasa page -- enjoy!

Senke family adds two boats

Quinn and Colin Senke are the lucky new owners of two racing Optis for the 2011 season. Sailboats now outnumber children 3-2. A sure sign of a true sailing family! The Senkes are also excited to be attending the Pewaukee Lake Sailing School this summer in addition to sailing with Madison Opti Racing on Fridays.

Casey Anderson's new boat

Casey, youngest member of Don and Beth Anderson's family, joined the Madison Opti fleet with her new boat complete with interior graphics courtesy of her older sister Carly. Welcome Casey!

Thank you Boathouse of Madison

Madison Opti Racing would like to express our gratitude to Don Anderson and the Boathouse of Madison for contributions and support in helping the Opti fleet grow by 10 boats this year. Thanks Don!

5345 West River Road, Waunakee, WI 53597, Phone: 608-849-9200, Fax: 608-849-9231,
Email: boats@madisonboathouse.com

Opti Regatta Schedule 2011

Local Opti Regattas:

LOPN @ Nagawicka, June 16 (Thur)
FUN Regatta @ Beulah, June 27 (Mon)
GLSS @ Lake Geneva, July 13 (Wed)
No Tears @ Beaver Lake, July 25 (Mon)
ILYA @ White Bear, July 31 & August 1 & 2 (Sun-Tues)
Pram Power @ North Lake, August 11 (Thur)

Madison Opti Racing Schedule

Sprinkman Boat Delivery

Will, Bella and Hans Sprinkman received a new Opti on Monday. The family is excited for summer sailing to begin. Congratulations Sprinkman Family!

more pics on picasa

Zalog Boat Delivery

Two Optis were recently delivered to Emma and Olivia Zalog, daughters of MYC e-scow skipper Phil Zalog. Both girls are excited to learn how to sail with the hope of crewing some day for their dad on his new E. Emma and Olivia who live in Menomonee Falls will be sailing with the Pewaukee Lake Sailing School.

more pics on picasa

Simon Boat Works?

Greg has been busy for the last month fixing up several of the Optis from the Oshkosh Yacht Club. The neighbors are tiring of the buzz of the random orbital sander! Two boats remain to be completed for the Don Anderson and Gorwitz families.

more pics on picasa

New Boat for Martha Anderson

Hurray for Martha... she is the latest boat owner in the Madison Opti Racing fleet. She picked out a red boat that her father promises to make even prettier. The Andersons also purchased a second boat in blue to complete their three boat fleet. Please see the attached photos and notice the pastel colored boats, just in time for Easter!

Congratulations Martha!

see more photos at picasa

New Boats for Tyler and Cayley Metzloff!

Cayley and Tyler are the proud owners of two new Optis. Tyler's boat is shown below; Caylie's pink boat will be delivered home soon. Congratulations!

Boat ownership grows by 10!

Hello Opti Parents:

Exciting news for the upcoming season. Madison Opti Racing acquired 10 Opti’s from the Oshkosh Yacht Club.

The Opti’s have been purchased by families from the Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club, Mendota Yacht Club, and Monona Sailing Club. Please welcome the following boat owners to the Opti fleet: Don Anderson family, the Brian Anderson family, the Sprinkman family, the Zalog family, the Gorowitz family, and the Metzloff family.

Nine of the ten boats have been spoken for. If you have a special sailor in mind for the tenth boat, please contact me.

I would also like to thank long time sailing enthusiast Mr. Jerry Simon for his donation of time and support for making this transaction possible. (more photos at the picasa page)

Greg Simon

2011 MOR Schedule

Hello Opti Parents and Sailors: We are looking forward to another great sailing season. Listed below are tentative dates.

2011 Madison Opti Racing Schedule

Friday Night Opti Sailing June 10^th, 17^th, 24^th.

July 1^st, 8^th, (15^th rain date)

Payton Opti Regatta: June 18^th Burrows Park 1:00pm racing with Pig Roast to follow.

Opti Racing Clinic: July 17^th Burrows Park 10:00am.

ILYA No Tears Regatta: July 25^th (Monday) Beaver Lake WI

Lake Monona Regatta: Aug. 7^th 10:00am Location TBA

Greg Simon 608-849-4605 GregSimon213@gmail.com