38 Years Ago At A Lightning North Americans In Sheboygan...

Now that you've registered and are about to get into the car to drive here, it's time to ask..."Where were you in August of '76?"

This is the 4th time Sheboygan will play host to at least one of the Lightning North American Championship regattas. Previously the 1993 WMJs were held in Sheboygan and the NAs in Milwaukee. In 2005 the NAs were held in Sheboygan after the WMJs were held in Milwaukee.

In 1976 regatta was also held in Sheboygan...

That regatta will forever be remembered for the first race of the qualifying series when the fleet encountered a classic Lake Michigan North Easter following the passage of a cold front. To quote the Sheboygan Press from the following Monday:

"The big story of the weekend came Saturday when 30 boats failed to finish the race and an estimated 20 boats were capsized by 10 foot seas and winds around 25 knots with gusts blowing to 30 knots. With 20 boats over, at least 60 persons were in the water causing the rescue operation to concentrate on saving people while boats were abandoned. Of the boats that were abandoned, the last couple weren't found until late Saturday afternoon and one wasn't located until 10am Sunday.

It was a rough day for the scorers, some of them worked, threw-up and went back to work. Some were reportedly ill by 9 a.m. but didn't get back to shore until after 3 in the afternoon."

The second race of the day was abandoned and all sailors accounted for. It is a happy irony that Matt Burridge, who with his Father owned one of the boats that was later found on the beach several miles from the race course, came back to Sheboygan and won the 2005 event without having to sail the last race.

Amazingly, by the next day the wind had blown itself and the waves flattened to the point that the first race of that day was not completed within the time limit and had to be re-sailed.

The first race of the '76 event will never be forgotten by anyone who was here that year.
It's good history to know before we get started this year.  Nobody here is frightened of Lake Michigan. But just the same, we NEVER take its power for granted either. Remember, there was a polar vortex winter here. The lake is about 10 degrees colder than normal. That does not mean it's going to blow 20 every day. In fact, the recently-completed Thistle Nationals also hosted here was a light air event. But do yourself a favor: bring some warm clothes! You can always leave them in the hotel.

It's incredible, but here we are in the last week before the 2014 NAs. The organizing committee is ready. Sail Sheboygan and The Sheboygan Yacht Club are ready. The Race Committee and the Judges are ready. The Measurement Team Is Ready. There was a time when the concluding sentence would have asked, "Is your liver ready?" But that is so inappropriate in these more mature times...

Drive safely. See you soon.

We LOVE It When You Tease US That Way...

We started writing this blog last September when there were something like 300 days left until the start of the 2014 North American Championships being held in Sheboygan, WI. At that time we stated this goal: 100 boats sailing in the NAs.

We have been working hard to convince people to attend. We've promised discounted (free) beer. We survived a polar vortex winter. The ice melted reliably...several hours ago.

About two weeks ago when we were sitting at 80 registrants I offered to personally buy breakfast for the 100th boat to register for the regatta.

Then just two days ago it happened: The 100th boat registered for the regatta. Wow.

I hereby officially invite Lenny Krawcheck and his team to breakfast at Field to Fork in Sheboygan on the date of their choice.

Everyone here at the World Headquarters of the 2014 Lightning North American Championships being held in Sheboygan, WI (Please come!) is beyond excited. We cannot WAIT for you to arrive. We can't wait to start measuring boats!! (This is kind of a sick group we acknowledge...)You know what we all did to celebrate? We went through another draft of the sailing instructions. Then we reviewed the site plan to add some more boat parking slots. Then, we reviewed the number of ATVs we're going to have on hand to be sure we can still get the whole fleet in and out of the water in an hour. Then we got into a spirited discussion about whether or not to order in more bow number stickers.

The fact is: 100 registrations is NOT 100 boats floating out there on August 11. Some teams are going to have car trouble. Someone's mother-in-law is going to recover more slowly than anticipated from another face-lift and they are going to have to pull out. WE NEED MORE REGISTRATIONS.

If you are having trouble with the Online-registration program, please call Laura in the office. She is ready to help. If you even think you might find a way to get to Sheboygan, try hard to come.  If you don't come, you won't be able to say you saw the WORLD'S TALLEST FLAG POLE in person.
Here's a link: http://mortenson.wistia.com/medias/tejnwpitig

9 days until the first sailing in Sheboygan. Please come! Can't wait to see you.

Just How Badly We Want You In Sheboygan (Volume 234)

We've All Been To A Regatta Where...

We've driven up to the club and it's a ghost town. You get the distinct impression that all the members have taken their vacations that weekend so that they didn't have to share the club. You get the idea that the club just doesn't care if you're there or not. And by the way after what time can't they start the last race? Our organizing committee wakes up screaming in the night from the same recurrent nightmare: Someone got the idea we didn't care. 

The 2014 Lightning NAs will NOT be that kind of regatta. That fact, more than anything else is the big reason you should hook the boat behind the car and drive quickly toward cheeseland. WE WANT YOU. WE HOPE YOU'LL COME AND HAVE FUN. IT MATTERS TO US. Let's see...how can I prove it to you. Hmmm...here's an example. Perhaps this will entice you.

Yesterday, I got an email from Peter Mayer who is the current Commodore of the Sheboygan Yacht Club. He is not a Lightning sailor. He IS the Commodore. Here's what he wrote me:

Bill,

We booked entertainment for Tuesday, August 12th starting at 7PM (immediately after the Lightning meeting), in case you want to add it to your blog and direct it to be added to the Sail Sheboygan Lightning website entertainment tab.  Here is the information:

Tuesday, August 12^th starting at 7:00PM – Redfish will be performing for Lightning participants and club members.  Redfish is classic rock, tropical and country mixed in a blender and served with a paper umbrella. http://www.redfishband.net/

...blender...paper umbrella...I hadn't yet been educated to all things Redfish, so I went to that link and I immediately started smiling. Redfish is made up of two guys: Red...and you guessed it...Fish. Do I really need to say more? I doubt it. But take a look at this:

 Who knew Redfish would even consider a stop in the middle of the WORLD TOUR and book a gig at SYC on a Tuesday night?! If the Commodore of the host Club takes the time to book a band for your regatta, and he books Redfish, you know the Club is behind the regatta. And if you know the Sheboygan Yacht Club (The Friendliest Yacht Club on Lake Michigan and indeed in all of Sheboygan County) is behind the regatta and it doesn't make you throw the sleeping bags into the boat and start checking the trailer lights, then you're farther gone than is good for anyone. You had better register quickly before the regatta fills up completely. PS: I will buy breakfast for the 100th boat to register. We're almost there!!

Thanks to Commodore Mayer...and to everyone who has already registered. Did I mention we hope you'll come?!

Good Regattas Are In The Details...Chapter 2

Trophies...Another Opportunity To Show Just How Much Fun Over Thinking What You Once Took For Granted Can Be!!


If you're like some of us, you've been around the marks a few times. You are no rookie. You've brought some silver or some glass or some terrycloth home from some regattas. If you've been fortunate, or sailed for a REALLY long time, you have a lot of beautiful trophies perhaps so many that you've had to negotiate with a significant other over which ones you can keep. You might even still have a few in your car right now. Your dog might eat out of a one.

After awhile in your jaded 'Ok, let's get this prize giving done so I can start driving home' attitude, you might even start taking the trophy terribly for granted. That's a shame and it is precisely that for granted at which Jason Bemis of our 2014 Lightning North American Championship Organizational Committee (he's also President of Sail Sheboygan one of our organizing authorities) has taken dead aim.

Give the North American Championship Trophies a little consideration for a moment...Women's, Masters, Juniors, Blue, Green, Yellow Fleets, 3 trophies per boat...it adds up to more than 125 trophies. The challenge is how to hit a price point that will make the trophy memorable and affordable at the same time?
If you're Jason, you dream it up, you get it designed. You digitize the design and you start getting them cut out of solid aluminum on a multi-million dollar industrial water cutter that just happens to be operating deep within your company. This reporter has been told that each trophy requires 6 minutes of machine time and then some buffing and then some cleaning and then coloring and then some engraving and then some assembly. How can what is being done in these videos be accomplished for the paltry sum Jason has in the trophy budget? Not your problem!!

Check out the first trophy being created in these two videos:

(The path of the cutting head on the digital plotter)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRbEAztBF_U

(The cutting in progress)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCzUMUVJqlQ



Behold the first prototype:

From here, the trophies will be burnished before being shipped to Pioneer Metal Finishing's Portland, Oregon Anodizing and plating facility http://www.pioneermetal.com/portlandor
where they will be given color. I don't know when and where they get engraved, but you can bet they will be beautiful when they are complete.

Perhaps you should solidify your plan to attend this regatta. We're reasonably sure you'll be completely bummed out if you miss it.

Good Regattas Are In The Details--Chapter 1.

The weekend immediately past, we hosted the Midwest District Championships for both the Lightning and the Thistle classes at Sheboygan Yacht Club. It was a great opportunity for our volunteers on the RC and measurement teams to become more familiar with their tasks. More than 30 turned out to 'practice' their volunteer assignment. People who have hosted big regattas will understand what an amazing place Sheboygan is.

Chief Measurer Clausen flew in from PA to supervise Lightning measurement and provide us with instruction on how to properly use the measurement jigs and the right techniques to employ when the boats are up on the saw horses. It should be noted that our facilities/site planning team lead by Mark Wessel had previously built the required massive saw horses to the Clausen-recommended design.

As you will note from the photos, our weather was absolutely perfect...for measuring. No excessive sunlight to make reading the scale challenging, or annoying breaths of wind to impact a fair weight. A relative humidity of 100% at all times. 53-55 degrees...textbook measuring conditions. 20 Lightnings were successfully and accurately measured which removes a chunk of traffic from the measurement line when you arrive. You're welcome.

In addition to the technical measuring techniques, we learned the following:
• Once the process is up and running, it takes less than 10 minutes to complete a boat measurement.
• It's good to have two scales available, both calibrated and pre-approved by the measurer for in the event that one needs new batteries or is impacted by excessive moisture.
• The chief measurer has requested we measure the length of all safety lines.
• We need a platform from which to more safely raise and lower the centerboard while it is on the saw horses. Moving a ladder takes too long.
• Owners and crews learn a lot from watching measurement. They leave with their measurement certificates updated and signed by the Chief Measurer.

Our measurement team observed:
• Most boats have significantly more room than required between the rudder and the skeg.
• Only a few boats have centerboard slots anywhere close to the minimum allowance.
• All the spinnaker poles we measured were within the tolerances.
• Even the oldest boats passed the arc measurements. Nobody was too flat aft or too round forward.
• Many competitors forgot to bring their measurement certificates and/or didn't have class stickers in place. They will have to have these initialed by Mr. Clausen prior to being measurement-complete.

For your reference, the image following is a copy of the measurement control sheet that has been approved and was in use this weekend.

You will note that it remains our plan to spot-check a few sails. This saves an astounding amount of time and makes the whole experience much more tolerable...could we say even enjoyable?! As you can tell from the form above, we will check all sails for royalty stickers. It remains your responsibility to sail with legal sails. Should you fail a spot measurement you will be scored DSQ in every race during which you used that sail.

Bring your measurement certificate. Pay your dues in advance and put your sticker in place. Sort out your safety gear in advance and we will fly through measurement and get into the serious fun.

We have our act together. But that doesn't mean we don't have...needs.

This post is addressed to anyone out there who HATES to attend regattas primarily because they don't plan to sail. We understand. It's is completely dull to stand around the beer keg every afternoon watching otherwise normal people do the karate chop dance with their hands as they relive riveting mark roundings and hair-raising crossing situations experienced at 3 knots.
Consider this an online hug.
We understand.
We care.
We have needs too.
 And we know sailors. There is no way they will meet those needs.

So here's an offer:
If you are a sailor and you are hesitating about coming to the 2014 Lightning North Americans because you have a significant other that would rather drink Drain-O than sit around a regatta all week doing nothing...if you are in fact the person who would rather drink the Drain-O, please send an email to toddwake@aol.com and indicate that you or someone you know would be happier to attend IF THERE WAS A MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTION THEY COULD MAKE TO MANKIND (or at least sailor kind).

Our committee has this regatta organization pretty firmly in hand. But that is not to say that if you are an amazing ATV driver, or regatta score keeper, or world-renowned rudder measurer we couldn't put you to work. Do you think that if you came to Sheboygan and you were an incredible beer tapper or a 7' boat measurement saw horse mover or mark anchor line coiler. we couldn't find work for you? Think again. We have a handsome roster of volunteering cheeseheads (who are also handsome) who are going to be here in cool long-sleeved technical shirts helping out with the regatta. We have the famous Hard Hat Hank and Esther Callahan coming in from Michigan to volunteer. But we can always use more help. Think about it, isn't the primary reason we're hosting this regatta to ward off boredom? 

We can help you too!!

If you would like to spend some time helping out (stranger things HAVE been done) just... raise your hand.

Room At The Inn...and Other Options

Where once there was an enormous pile of road salt there is an enormous resort with a beautiful beach and a water park. Where once there were diesel commercial fishing boats, there are now sport fishermen and people kiteboarding. There has been a transformation in Sheboygan County as people have discovered what a friend we have in Lake Michigan. 

It’s a wonderful thing that Sheboygan has gotten to be a popular summer destination. But it does pose its challenges to those organizing say a 100 boat North American Lightning Championship. Be alert! Hotel room availability is going to look limited.  Unless you realize what is going on, you might get frustrated. And this blog's sworn enemy is sailor frustration. 

So to ward off any of that nasty stuff here's the skinny. Friday and particularly Saturday, August 8 and 9 the closest hotel rooms are going to appear (and perhaps actually be) filled because of an auto race at nearby Road America. A lot of those rooms will be opening up for Sunday night, August 10. So, don’t bum out if you try to punch a week's stay into a search engine and end up looking thwarted. You probably can’t get a whole week starting Saturday. Here's a thought: If you cannot find a local room on Saturday night, consider stopping North of Chicago (Racine, Milwaukee, Fox Point, Mequon, Grafton, Port Washington) and arriving in Sheboygan early on Sunday morning to measure and register. Start your hotel stay in Sheboygan on Sunday night. Please start to make your arrangements now.

As another option for the WMJs and for the time when the room inventory is tightest, we have arranged for housing at Lakeland College http://www.lakeland.edu/About-Us/where-is-lakeland

it’s a beautiful campus and only 20 minutes drive from the club.

• Lightning sailors check in Wednesday August 6, Check out Monday August 11 - 64 single beds available
• Accommodations are at the Brotz Hall and building is air conditioned
• Reservations can be made via email to Jim - Jim Bajczyk <BajczykJA@lakeland.edu>
• Guests check in and pay at front desk at Brotz Center - 10am - 10pm - Cash or Visa, MC and Discover
• $15/guest/night and guest must provide their own sheets or sleeping bag
• Pillow with pillow case and blanket are provided

Info on Brotz Hall: http://www.lakeland.edu/Campus-Life/brotz-hall?highlight=WyJicm90eiIsImhhbGwiLCJicm90eiBoYWxsIl0=  

If you haven't seen it, there was a blog post regarding housing for the NAs

on this blog last Fall. Check it out: http://www.squareboatnas2014.blogspot.com/2013_10_01_archive.html

As always, PALEEZZEE call either Todd or myself if you need any help with these logistics.

A Little Bit About Sheboygan...Volume One

The following is an unpaid, unpolitical but very biased assessment of our regatta host city.
One of the reasons our organizing committee is confident that anyone who attends the 2014 Lightning North American Championships is very likely to have a good time is Sheboygan, Wisconsin itself.

It is really a lovely small city, the perfect size to play host to us. It's small enough that you can get anywhere you need to in 15 minutes. But it's big enough to offer virtually any kind of dining and beverage experience you might find interesting. It is also home to the internationally-known Sail Sheboygan which operates a US Olympic Yachting Center and has hosted many of the most prestigious Match Racing events in the world. Sail Sheboygan and immediately adjacent Sheboygan Yacht Club are our regatta organizing authorities.

Sheboygan has lots of open park spaces including one within 3 minutes of the regatta site which offers the oldest and most-played disk golf course in Wisconsin (30 years old and it features an full service pro-shop!).

There are miles of beaches which offer the best surfing in the Midwest. Yes surfing...what you don't remember that Chicken Joe who actually won the surf competition in Disney's animated classic "Surf's Up" is from Sheboygan? It is certainly true.

You will find a nice little travelogue produced by Wisconsin Public Television at the following link:

http://youtu.be/JKVi1Brk4Rs

I just watched it and I had NO IDEA how great green grass and leaves look in Sheboygan!

We can't wait until you show up.

Obsession. There is really no other word for it.

Greetings from Ice Station Zebra.

When you go through a vintage winter up here in the upper Midwest, particularly if you're planning a major regatta or two, you sometimes find yourself exploring the perspectives only available from your mind's eye. Mark Wessel who's in charge of regatta infrastructure, has no doubt found himself in the snow packed parking lot adjacent to the Sheboygan Yacht Club in below zero conditions referring to his CAD drawing of the way 100 Lightnings will seamlessly glide into and out of the water. As early as last November, Todd Wake and I eyed the floor of Sheboygan Youth Sailing's building envisioning where sail measurement mylars might be placed for spot checks during the event.

Then this morning our regatta PRO Rich Reichelsdorfer sent me this photo of the racing area as it looks right now. It started me wondering. Yesterday we held a conference call relating to the first draft of the Sailing Instructions. We discussed course options and when Richard might prefer to use each... and average race durations and the length of the sail back in to the dock from the race course when the wind is from different directions. I assumed Richard was doing the call from his desk with the draft on his computer.

But just maybe he was doing the call from out on that bluff. At the very least, he's been up there...looking. This time of year that bluff is like a widow's walk for obsessive PROs. The mind's eye can compel such behavior during a Winter that refuses to yield the stage.

Coming Next August...VALUE For Your Hard-Earned Regatta $.

Delivering Value For The

Sailing Dollar:

Here in Sheboygan We’ve Been Obsessing About That.

Question:
 “Hey your organizers of the 2014 NA’s, I’ve heard you’re only charging $299 for the NAs. Is this some bare bones bait and switch? How can it really be that cheap? What’s included with my entry fee? “

Answer:

We are SO glad you asked that. We are proud of the value we can offer even at this relatively low price point.

Included in the ‘Regular’ NA’s $299 entry fee:

-At least 2 kegs of free microbrew after each day of racing with daily SWAG raffles.

-Traditional “Sheboygan Brat Fry” dinner on Sunday evening

-Dinner on Tuesday

-3 tickets to the Awards Banquet at The Blue Harbor Resort on Friday evening

-2 “What Was Happening Out There?” debrief/coaching sessions led by Greg Fisher

Included in the $150 for the Masters and Women entry fee and the $50 Junior entry fee you get:

-1 keg of free microbrew after each day of racing (Sorry, Juniors don’t get this but they do get entered in the SWAG raffles)

-Mexican Fiesta dinner party on Saturday evening

- Traditional “Sheboygan Brat Fry” dinner on Sunday evening

-Greg Fisher will be on the water shooting video and observing on Friday and Saturday. He will lead a video debrief and coaching session each of those days after sailing. This service is being funded by a grant from SEAS (Sailing Education Association of Sheboygan)

Options:

•Extra tickets will be available for all of the events. If you have friends and family along who would like to join the fun they are most welcome.

•Sheboygan Yacht Club will also be open for dining on the nights when event dinners are not held. You are welcome to eat in the dining room and order off the regular menu (reservations appreciated.)

•There will also be a short order  grill operating every evening for those who want to hang out outside or under the tents.

 •The club will be offering a la carte breakfast items each morning.

 • Competitor lunches to take on the water will be available every day for $6. You may order these for every day of the regatta with your online registration, at on-site registration, or the evening before you would like them.

• One of the neatest things about Sheboygan is that it has a whole generation of new restaurants within walking distance of the club. You will want to try some on the off nights. In fact that's why we've PLANNED the off nights! Sheboygan is wired so that the local merchants are actually EXCITED when sailors come to compete. That's kinda nice...and its actually true. There will be information about these options in your registration packet.

• Last, but certainly not least,  the famous Sheboygan Yacht Club bar and the “Tiki” bar in the Club’s  brand new Lowell North Pavilion. You will enjoy getting to know Barb the bartender and our club manager Sean.

• Temporary club memberships will be available so you may charge food, drinks…bail. Unfortunately I just checked and SYC does not have any Underhills on the member roster.

Update:

We continue actively on the look-out for sponsorship funding. The plan is to use additional donations to add features to the offerings at the same price point. SOLID MIDWESTERN VALUE…THAT IS SHEBOYGAN. We may not be LA baby, but have you looked at the rack rate at the Beverly Hills Hotel?! Here the beverages are cold and inexpensive and consistently available. 

Subliminal message: 

100 boats. 

Introducing A Person You Will Be Very Glad You Know In Sheboygan.

This past weekend marked the addition of a new member of our 2014 North American's Organizing team. Tess Larson joined us as COO. Todd Wake who is the Off-Water Regatta Chairman  and Bill Faude On-Water Chairman are delighted Tess has decided to join our squad.

                                                    -Faude photo which Tess does not particularly enjoy.

                                                 - Larson action photo Tess prefers.

As COO, Tess is responsible for helping make sure the W-M-Js and the NAs...operate smoothly. Before the regatta dates, Tess will help make sure the different committee chairmen are making the necessary progress on their deliverables. She will help keep us on schedule and when we discover we need something we  don't have a plan for, she will help make it happen.

During the regatta Tess will be the daily contact functioning as a go-between for the Sail Sheboygan and Sheboygan Yacht Club staff and the regatta organization. She will be a great asset in that roll for two reasons: 1. She has seemingly never met a problem who's A _ _ she couldn't kick. 2. As a local who practically grew up at SYC, she is well known to most everyone we're counting on. She also has more energy than most small Middle Eastern Emirates.

Tess will also be a great contact for you when you arrive. Need to know where to be or when to be there? Just Ask Tess. You can always go to Fred and Gail the regatta concierge team but when in doubt your can also Just Ask Tess. That's kinda catchy.

Tess Larson grew up in Sheboygan. Her family has a J-80 docked in the club slips. She graduated from The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire with a degree in Comprehensive English Education. She then got her Masters Degree from the University Wisconsin-Green Bay in Applied Leadership in Teaching and Learning. She is currently employed as a High school educator teaching English and journalism. Her Journalism students produce the school newspaper...among the first nationally to distribute their journalism 100% on-line. They are a very tree-friendly bunch and all social media'd up.

Prior to becoming regatta COO, Tess was a member of our social media committee. Come to think of it, she still IS a member of our social media committee. Through some clerical error, she was not allowed to divest herself of those duties, so she will be on the water during the regatta tweeting mark rounding positions, assisting with getting finishing scores and photographs quickly posted to the Sail Sheboygan website. To bad Tess didn't have Tess to help solve that problem...

Just over 184 days until the first day of measurement. We are very psyched to welcome more than 100 boats!!!

Happy...Yes. Spring...No So Much.

Good Morning, it is February 1, 2014.
All the best from Sheboygan, Wisconsin.

NOAA Photo

As of this morning, there are six months and six days until (187 Days) until the first day of measuring for the WMJs at the 2014 North American Championships. This morning, we are having our February organizational meeting where we are going to be discussing:

• The Electronic Registration Form and the included credit card payment option.

• The menu and the costs for the daily 'on water' lunches that will be available at the club every

   morning.

• Updates on the boat and car parking plans.

• Additional thinking about RV parking options.

• The registration packages and the regatta program.

• Guest charge privileges. 

• The on-site sportswear and regatta equipment provider arrangements.

• Options to open the harbor with explosives should the ice not have melted by August.

Faude Photo

The above photo was taken during some recent through-ice recovery training by the local fire rescue team. (News flash: They did not locate the rudder I lost just about right there during the Brotz Regatta of 1997.)

Yes, Polar Vortex and Son of Polar Vortex (PV-II) have been through these parts and they remind properly-aged people of 1978 when we used to have...winters like this. We're told that Lake Michigan is now approximately 45% frozen. But we can still see open water from the Sheboygan Yacht Club Bar. It's blue and liquid and we could probably plane across it for about 3 minutes before requiring a hot toddy and a head examination.  If anything, the lake is quieter than usual. There is no sound of breaking waves because the ice shelf extends a ways out toward the race course.

This is all to say that we are NOT letting this winter slow us down!! Our outstanding team of volunteers will be out in force this morning. We've been joined by one more VERY important member who you will meet in my next blog post. We're excited for this weather to reverse itself and welcome you at the 2014 Lightning North Americans in just, lets see... 4,488 short hours from now. Whew, that is right around the corner. I recommend you go out to the garage and check your trailer light connection right this minute.