2007 National Championship Recap by Max Munger

I grew up in the South Chicago area (Hegewisch) and it was my first time back in almost 30 years. I got to check out my old schools and childhood neighborhoods and visit with relatives. And of course, to see the Chicago skyline up close again. The buildings and museums along Wacker and Lake Shore Dr. were spectacular, but the newer Sears and Hancock towers dwarfed everything I could recall.

It was a gorgeous week to take in the city. The beaches, boat harbors and parks along the lakefront were gleaming and filled with sun worshipers taking advantage of the beautiful Caribbean like, blue and green waters of the lake. On a Friday afternoon I was surprised by all the outdoor activity. Grant Park had a band festival and the lake was dotted with sailboats as far as one could see.

Catalina 30 Fleet #21, now ACA Chicago, sponsored this years regatta at the Chicago Corinthian YC at Montrose Harbor August 3-4-5. Thanks to Ed Jakubas and Marshall Fernholtz (and crew) for doing a great job! With late entries and 12 very different boats and crews registered from up and down the Illinois coast, a bit of shuffling was needed to define the two classes this year. There were not enough for any spinnaker classes. Crew and skippers also came from California, Michigan, Florida, Maryland and from the great state of Texas (last years hosts). This was the first year our sister ship the C309 could compete as a class. There are numerous C309 in the Chicago area but unfortunately, none attended.

The usual schedule was followed. Friday registration, sail measurements, captains meeting and greetings amongst old and new friends. Of course the bar and kitchen were always open at CCYC. The IC30A annual business meeting was held Friday evening. Saturday breakfast lead to racing which was followed by much libation and questionable recounting of the days exploits and a later dinner prepared by the CCYC club. (The club cook was the former chef for the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley field.) Sunday breakfast again moved to the racing of the day and ended with the awards presentations. Most of the boats made a run for other home ports and the visiting crews made for the airports to go home. Well, some people have to work on Mondays!

As for the racing, Saturday dawned with a heavy overcast and very light winds which persisted all day and made for very slow racing in a unusually heavy chop. “Bounce back” they call it in Chicago as the lake waves rebound off all the bulkheads and piers along the lakefront. Not good for our broad Catalina’s. Three races were run Saturday after morning delays waiting for wind and the tall rigs soon prevailed. Overnight rains and clouds made it impossible to view the scheduled fireworks at Navy Pier. But the clouds diminished early on Sunday morning to reveal a blustery and very sunny day. Winds of 20kts allowed two more races in reefed conditions. For the standard rigs this was perfect weather!

Here are the results. Congratulations to this years Catalina 30 Champions. Winners received an engraved glass monolith to keep and each of the 1st place boats also took home the perpetual trophies with their names emblazed forever! All the skippers received an engraved commemorative plate for their participation along with hats, T-shirts and a embroidered carrying bag. IC30A thanks all the skippers and crews and our hosts Fleet #21 and CCYC for making this another great regatta! Thanks to our gracious host and his many lovely ladies for use of Codfather III in the regatta. We couldn’t beat with the best boats, but we had a marvelous time.

If you are a C30X owner and missed this regatta, then plan on coming next year, to Port Huron YC in Michigan!

Yacht Skipper

Racing Class Gambit Eric Bombery Gremlin Rick Haugen Isis Bob Moretti

Cruising Class Parrot Eyes Terry Ries Dragonslayer Rick Caselli Terrible Two’s Tom Vibbert Fines Tom Grove Codfather III Max Munger Fiesta George Dunlap Bill’s Micheal-een Bill Thompson Valhalla Ed Jakubas