Friday, June 28 - Hamilton Club Trophy, Chicago to Racine

Twelve yachts ranging from 34 to 70 feet raced the 50 miles to Racine in a freshening norther.  One set of RC started the boats at 6:30pm off Belmont, and a skeleton crew (Rick L, Lynn L and Janet B) drove to Racing, set a finish mark using a borrowed boat then took shifts on the sea wall, waiting.

Setting an 8 foot mark can be problematic when away from home and in the dark.  We powered our inflator by plugging in at a friend's boat, but it didn't fit so well in their cockpit.  Got the job done though, and our friends on Endeavor collected the mark after crossing the finish line.

Sometime after 4am the boats began to arrive and continued almost to the 9am time limit.  Two boats withdrew, but finished under power.  The fleet endured light wind, rain and then a heavy beat, perhaps as much as 20 knots.  

This event is part of CYC's Annual Cruise and the racing fleet was greeted by other CYC members from the Cruising Sail and Power Fleets, who had arrived Friday.  A breakfast for all members was held and a day of activities such as kayaking, biking and swimming pool lounging are planned.  Private tours of the local Kringle factory were sold out and a 3 yacht club cocktail tour ends with dinner tonight at Racine Yacht Club.  All boats will head back to Chicago on their own schedule, and an informal delivery/race is expected Sunday.

    Janet B.