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Aquaholiks top J/70 Great Lakes Championship

by Michael Welch 23 Sep 2018 14:21 BST 14-16 September 2018

The 2018 J/70 Great Lakes Championship was hosted September 14-16 by Grosse Pointe Yacht Club (GPYC) in Grosse Pointe Shores, MI. Their new Sailing Center, in full view of the race course, proved to be an excellent base for operations.

The event started off Thursday with a light-air practice session hosted by multi-Class world champion Tim Healy, followed by a two-hour debrief and Q&A session. It was very helpful for the sailing conditions, ultimately, to follow through with a nice onshore breeze. PRO Joe Colling and team did their best to get races off in very light conditions for the 23 competitors.

Friday started off with a postponement onshore, followed by a lot of drifting out on the water before racing for the day was abandoned around 2:30 pm.

Saturday was a wash/ rinse/ repeat of the previous day, starting with a postponement on shore. Race-able wind, but no visibility due to fog. The fog finally lifted, but, perversely, the wind speeds diminishing. PRO Joe got a start off around 1pm.....only to abandon it shortly after the start as the wind died. Racing for the day was abandoned about an hour later after hopes of a thermal breeze never materialized.

Sunday was the day to "fish or cut bait", so to speak. Finally, a 3-8 knot oscillating north-easterly with better pressure on the left side of the course built in the morning. As a result, three races were run and completed so the regatta and World qualifier was/is official!

Congratulations to Martin Johnsson and his Aquaholiks out of Libertyville, IL on their victory, starting out strong and getting better every race. They came back from a two-point deficit in the last race, beating out Ryan McKillen's SURGE from St. Francis Yacht Club by one point. Nicely done. Locals Gary Warner and Bob Pethik's MOAB finished third.

In the Corinthian division, Mark Allen and Mike Welch's HELIUM, from GPYC, took first place and finished fourth overall in the regatta. Glenn Gault out of League City, Texas took the prize for farthest travelled. Emily Simon and team from GPYC won the "Women's division" on Bill William's CHROMA.

Thank you all for your effort, help, patience and participation!

Overall Results:

PosBow NoSail NoYacht NameSkipperR1R2R3Pts
161USA 326AquaholiksMartin Johnsson3216
279  USA 179SurgeRyan McKillen2147
33  USA 1027MOABGary Warner / Bob Pethick64212
48  USA 1034HeliumMark Allen / Mike Welch57517
57  USA 169EmpeiriaJohn Heaton110718
65  USA 1023USA 1023Dan Klaasen125320
712  USA 1028ChiChiRaRaDunne Saal4121026
821  USA 1025Hot TicketMike Kirkman961530
99Ullman Sails  USA 482Vital SignsJohn Morreale8131132
104  USA 528Simply IrresistibleGlenn Gault1431633
112  USA 9AfterbernerBrian Williams1314633
1215  USA 684Caribbean SoulColton Gerber7111735
131  USA 1026TrampThomas Ritter1081836
1416  USA 316Pale HorseJake Christy1516839
1511  USA 1030ChromaEmily Simon1891441
1617  CAN 8JAMMark Wolff11DNF944
1719  USA 1029Miss KillerDon Glover17151244
1810  USA 1032Bamm‑BammSteven Briggs16171346
196  USA 324EbisuGlenn Sheets19181956
2020  USA 313FMTod SackettDNCDNCDNC72
2113  USA 389Hooligan: Flat Stanley RacingTrey SheehanDNCDNCDNC72
2214  USA 236Little Side HustleNico CottoneDNCDNCDNC72
2318  CAN 1033Simply IrresistibleGerry HinesDNCDNCDNC72

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