Hanson Family Purchases Second Boat!

Billy, Mica and Cora Hanson received an Optimist sailboat for X-mas.  The Hanson family now own two Opti's and are looking for a third.  Father Jamie has been working hard to building a fleet of summer Opti's and even has been working on an Ice Opti.

The Hanson boat is a sister ship to Thor Rosten's boat.   The Dan Quiram family owned the Opti and sailed it on Lake Pewaukee.  The boat is a mid 90's model built by Johnson Boat Works of White Bear Mn.   During the 90's Johnson BW was the major supplier of Opti's in the midwest.  Many ILYA clubs bought "fleets" of boat for their youth sailing programs.  The boats are very well built and are great for our beginner sailors.
 

Anderson Family Purchase an Opti!

Martha and Oscar Anderson are new boat owners. They purchased an Opti from Deephaven Mn last week. The boat is race quality and will be a great addition to the fleet. Name suggestions include..... "Little Blue Chip"

Plans for 2010 Madison Opti Racing

Listed below is a tentative plan for next years Madison Opti Racing.

Friday Night Fun Series.  June 11, 18, 25 July 2, 9, 16  at the Maple Bluff boat launch.

Mendota Yacht Club/Payton Regatta.   June 19th during the pig roast party.  Regatta chairman Jamie Hanson

Lake Monona Regatta.  One day event on a Sunday afternoon in July.   Regatta chairman Greg McCormick.

Lake Waubesa Regatta.   One day event on a Sunday in early August.  Sailed out of the Waubesa sailing center.  Regatta chairman Ron Rosten.

USODA Opti National Championship in Wisconsin!

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.

Award Party and Fleet Meeting

Madison Opti Racers attended a party and trophy ceremony at the Simon house on Saturday, September 26, 2009. All sailors received participation awards. Parents conducted a fleet meeting to discuss planning for 2010. Highlights of the afternoon included

• homemade icecream courtesy of Kyle Metzloff
• water balloon fight
• swim noodle battle
• boat rigging tips
• plans for ice optis

Thanks to all who could attend and looking forward to next year!

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Fall Sailing at Burrows Park

While it seemed like there was no wind in all of Dane County on Sunday morning, the determined Madison Opti sailors headed down to Burrows Park around noon and surprisingly found a nice west breeze around 5 mph.

Oscar and Martha Anderson sailed optis for the first time today. Even though they are used to sailing on their father's A-scow (H-13), they both thought the opti was pretty exciting. Other sailors out today included Tyler and Cayley Metzloff, Bryn Ostby, Thor Rosten, and Meta and Fritz Simon.

All of the kids participated in tip-over drills which was a good excuse to go swimming. The fleet also sailed a couple of fun races and Tyler won his first race.

The sailors took a break at mid-day for some hotdogs on the grill and Oscar led the charge to head back out for some more sailing.  Once the boats were put away, the group stayed on the water for one last swim and were treated to a visit from Rhonda Aries and her dog Rico who loves to swim as much as the kids do.



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A few more photos have been added to the picasa site courtesy of Barb and Ron Rosten. Thanks! (updated 9/15/09)

Grandpa Hanson joins the Opti Fleet!

Bill Hanson sailed an Opti for the first time today.   He tested the family Opti and declared it safe and fast for Billy, Mica and Cora.  Winds were light and the Hanson kids joined the Simon family for some late season sailing.  At one point, Jerrry and Greg Simon along with Bill were standing in waist high water in front of Burrows Park coaching the kids.   Hope Simon enjoyed taking her turns sailing the Opti and clicking photos.  

Highlights of the day included watching Billy and Meta both sitting out/hiking and using their tiller extensions.  Fritz Simon (4 yrs old) and Mica (5 yrs old) each took turns rounding the mini-race course and showed great boat handling skills.

Tyler and Cayley Metzloff made a late day visit to say hello after taking a ride on an A boat.

Hopefully the weather and wind cooperate for some fall sailing for the optis.

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Pewaukee Lake Sailing School General Info

The Pewaukee Lake Sailing School holds classes from mid-June through July 2009. The beginner class lasts 2.5 hours with one to two hours of time on the water with on shore instruction. Cost is approximately $350 for the summer. They have trained instructors and about 100 kids participated in '09. It can be a great option for Madison sailing kids to receive formal instruction. It's a short hour drive down I-94.




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Pewaukee Lake Sailing School Pirate Night, August 10, 2009

Meta Simon attended Pewaukee Lake Sailing School in summer 09. On the last night of beginner races, all the kids decorate their boats and dress like pirates to celebrate the end of the summer.

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Opti's Go in a Blow

Friday July 17 was an unusually cold and windy night -- temps in the mid-60's and winds pushing 20mph. But that didn't stop the Madison Opti racers. Billy Hanson braved the conditions on his own but almost capsized. His father Jamie, a bit more of a sailor than an opti needs, almost swamped his yacht. The Metzloff's each sailed with a child (Kyle with Cayley and Liz with Tyler). Lon Schoor and grandson Bryn came out for a ride too. Thor Rosten and his father Ron went for a sail and Greg Simon took turns piloting the 213 with Meta and then Fritz. After an hour or so of crazy sailing we all enjoyed burgers and hotdogs on the grill. Bill Hanson watched the action from his motorboat and took some great photos.

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New Opti for the Hanson Family!

Billy, Mica and Cora will be enjoy a new Opti racer! The Hanson family drove down to Lake Geneva last weekend to purchase the boat. The Opti #10181 was owned by Leslie Poole of Lake Delevan. She "aged" out of the fleet after her 13th placed finish at the Opti Blue Chip regatta held on Lac LaBelle. The boat is clean and fast with many sail to choose from.

The Hanson's are also looking for a second boat before winter. Parts are needed for the Ice Opti project underway at the Bill "seniors" boat works.

Suggestions for the name of the new boats? Orca... Hanson Brothers.... Slap Shot... or maybe Hansonized!

Opti Sailing First Night

"Forty years after 4LIYC legends Bill and Mike McCormick, David Rosten, Bill Hanson, and Jerry Simon set up their boats on Warner Bay for a cold winter's day of iceboating, their grandchildren gathered at the lake for Opti sailing. Friday evening, June 12, kids ranging in age from 4 to 14 came down to Warner Bay for the first night of Opti sailing. The very light winds were perfect for the novice sailors and it wasn't long before a water balloon and squirt gun battle ensued. In total there were about 35 kids and parents enjoying the lake which included Bill Sr., Jamie, Billy, and Micah Hanson; Kyle, Liz, Tyler, and Cayley Metzloff; Greg, Tami, Jenny, Kelsa, and Kylie McCormick; Tim, Aimee, Katie, and Molly McCormick; David, Tera, and Bryn Ostby; Ron and Thor Rosten; Lon and Donna Schoor; Bev, Kristin, Brian and Jacob Semmann; Greg, Hope, Meta and Fritz Simon; Rhonda Arries and Jeff Russell; Robert Krebs."
Greg Simon


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