Sailing Blog
UP NEXT – E Scow ILYA Champs »
August 9, 2010
When the humidity in the Midwest is hovering at a solid 70% dewpoint, the VFW’s and Lion’s clubs are having there annual corn-roasts and Lake Minnetonka is about as warm as jacuzzi, it must mean it is the middle of August and that the annual ILYA “Big Inland” Championships are just around the corner. Although this event does not draw the big numbers it used to when my old man was racing C-Scows, it still draws the top talent in each class as sailors in the midwest are still eager to etch their names on class trophies which date back to the early 1900’s. This week is special for many as it culminates a summer of hard work and provides a chance to race against the best scow sailors in the country.
A unique aspect of the Big ILYA is it allows a competitor to compete in several class championships with the E and MC Scows kicking the week off with racing on the 12th-14th, then the A Scows take over on the 15th-17th, followed by the C Scows on the 18-21st. Geneva always draws a big fleet in each class as it is close for many of the Wisconsin teams who shy away from the event when it is close to the Minnesota border…maybe this has something to do with it, or this…regardless, it is always fun to race in Lake Geneva with its scow history, proximity to Melges headquarters and the big draw of the event.
The E-Scow portion of the event should draw 45-50 boats with the best names in the class in attendance. Unlike the NCESA National Championships late this year in September, the ILYA Champs do not allow for a throwout which means you need to make each race a keeper and battle to the end for every point. The team on the M-42 will need to remember not to repeat our mistake of last years regatta where we capsized between the whether mark and offset on the first day, having to eat a DNF and 40+ pts. (not to mention it was only blowing 9kts!).
The M-42 is packed up and ready to go, and the main concern at this stage is the forecast as it is for temps in the 90s, high humidity and variable breeze from just about every direction. The good news is the forecast is just that, a forecast, and you never know what you are going to get on race day. We will be bringing our golf clubs just in case and hoping the Fontana Lions have a corn roast this week.
42Marine will have daily updates from what will be a tightly contested regatta in Lake Geneva.
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