Madison Opti Racing Week 4

Several families came down to Lake Mendota for the fourth week of Opti sailing but were left wondering where the wind was as the lake was calm and the only action was from a few water skiers. But, just when everyone thought it was a lost cause, some weather moving south of Madison kicked up a sudden wind (from 0 to 10 mph on about a third of the lake in seconds).  Andersons, Foghts, and Wennings set about rigging to head out for some sailing.  Sorry -- no photos tonight. We'll have to see what report might come in via email and will update the blog.

USODA Great Lakes Regional Regatta

The United States Optimist Dinghy Association (USODA) Great Lakes Regional Championship Regatta was held Wednesday and Thursday, June 27-28 in Sheboygan, WI. Forty-three sailors from the Midwest as well as the east and west coasts competed in the Red, White, and Blue fleet in spectacular sailing conditions on Lake Michigan. Eight sailors also participated in the Green fleet.  Fritz Simon sailed with the Green fleet, and Meta Simon sailed in RWB along with 15 other ILYA sailors from area lakes including Pewaukee, Geneva, Nagawicka and North.

It was a great event -- conditions on Wednesday brought crazy swells (8 ft plus) and wind building from about 10 mph at the beginning of the day to 18 mph at the end.  Even the locals were perplexed by the waves for the amount of wind.  The kids thought riding the waves was totally cool.  Thursday there was no wind so the six races from Wednesday provided the final result.  Five ILYA kids qualified for the team trials regatta next spring to be held on Pewaukee (Henry Chapman, JP Friend, Joey Biwer, Mark Davies, and Parker Michael).  All of the ILYA kids did a great job in really different conditions than they are used to.  Meta was excited to finish 5th in white fleet and 2nd overall girl.

Full regatta results available from USODA

More photos on our Picasa page (sadly, they just don't do the waves justice).

Madison Sailors at Lake Beulah Regatta

Five Madison Opti Racers competed in the Lake Beulah Sailing School Regatta on Monday, June 25 along with 66 other young sailors from southern Wisconsin.  It was a beautiful day for sailing with winds of 10-12 mph out of the northeast.  But true to form, the Lake Beulah winds were shifty and the shorelines were a factor in the races.  Meta Simon and Quinn Senke raced in the Red, White, and Blue fleet completing four races in a 46 boat fleet. Colin Senke, Will Sergetsen, and Fritz Simon sailed five races in the Green fleet. It was a regatta full of firsts for the green fleeters: Will successfully completed his first ever regatta in his first summer sailing Optis; Colin led a regatta race for the first time; and Fritz won his first ever race in the first race of the event. It was also Quinn's birthday that day and he kindly brought ice cream treats to share with fellow sailors.

Full results on the Lake Beulah Yacht Club site: RWB fleet results and Green Fleet results.

Colin Senke leads at the windward mark

Will Sergetsen sailing downwind

Fritz Simon in the first race

More photos on our Picasa page.

Madison Opti Racing Week 3

A "tack on the whistle" drill

Friday, June 22 was another beautiful evening on Lake Mendota for the third week of Opti racing. Winds were in the 6-8 mph range from the northwest. Thirteen sailors ventured out to sail around buoys and practice their skills. New faces this week included Will Segertsen with his father Justin and iceboater Don Cain and family.  Madison Opti Racing veteran Bryn Ostby joined the group this week, and Martha Anderson came out as well for her first sail this year.

A surprise visitor appeared from the south shore of the lake in a Badger Sloop... long-time Madison sailor Dierk Polzin sailed over to say hello and then led the kids around the buoys for a lap. It looked a bit like a mother duck with a fleet of ducklings nipping at her heels.

See the rest of the photos on the Picasa page.

Madison sailors at LOPN Regatta

Fritz (213) and Colin (21) on the first upwind of race #1

Madison sailors Meta and Fritz Simon and Quinn and Colin Senke competed in the LOPN (La Belle, Okauchee, Pewaukee, Nagawicka) Opti Regatta on Thursday, June 21 on Lac La Belle in Oconomowoc, WI. Meta and Quinn sailed in the senior fleet and Fritz and Colin sailed in the junior fleet. Conditions were great for sailing but did test the fleets for the first regatta of the year with steady 15 mph winds in the afternoon.

Quinn received the sportsmanship award for the senior fleet. Full results can be found on the La Belle Yacht Club website.

Other photos on the Picasa page.

Madison Optis Week 2

It was another great evening for Opti sailing on Lake Mendota this week. In spite of the popularity of this week for vacations for several of our families, a nice sized group of sailors enjoyed the conditions -- especially first-year sailors with lighter winds this week. Emily Newquist and Olivia and Jaymo Foght all sailed solo this week and did a great job. Greg ran some of the more experienced sailors through a series of practice starts and everyone worked on sailing up and down the course.

The wind eventually faded, and with hunger setting in for the kids, it was time to start the grill. But, there was almost no cookout! The Simons forgot the gas cylinder for the grill. Luckily, Jay Foght had thought to throw his camping box in his van so voila! The grill was fired up and everyone enjoyed a mosquito-free dinner.

See you next week!  More photos on our picasa page.

It was a Picture Perfect First Evening!

Friday, June 8 was a beautiful evening on Lake Mendota (well, except for a few weeds) for the first week of the 2012 Madison Opti Racing season. Past participants welcomed many new families.  We're not sure if it was a record, but with 42 people (sailors, parents, grandparents, and siblings) and 14 boats, it sure was pretty close. The kids practiced making their way around a small race course and working out the kinks in a nice 8-12 mph breeze from the southwest. On shore we fired up the grill for hotdogs.

Returning sailors included:

Oscar and Martha Anderson
Will, Mica, and Cora Hanson
Kelsa and Kylie McCormick
Meta and Fritz Simon
Gus Wenning



Welcome to new sailors:

Stefan and Sorin Caldararu
Emily Newquist
Jamo and Olivia Foght
Lev and Talia Kerlow

More photos on our picasa page.  See you next week!