First Midwest District Event: Egyptian Cup

The Midwest District regattas got a little squished together this year in an effort to avoid conflicting with the North Americans. So this past weekend Carlyle Lake held the annual Egyptian Cup and this coming weekend will be the annual Indy Regatta at Eagle Creek just outside of Indianapolis.

The Egyptian Cup boasted close to 30 boats this year and it was a real point of pride that, for the second year in a row, Clinton Lake Sailing Association (Fleet 135) brought 10 boats. We would have had 11, except we didn't have enough available crew so Jamie Rimovsky crewed for Bryan Hunt.

Between races. There was more wind than this, really!

In addition, we had the Kitchens from the Ohio district, the Brusses from Chattanooga, the Bolins from Seattle by way of Kansas City (welcome back to the Midwest!) and Geoff Endris and Tom Moore from Indianapolis.  So that brought us to 26 boats. Not too shabby!!

More than a dozen tents. Very picturesque!

It was cool enough to hang out outside...though why we were right by the bathrooms I do not know

The last few years the Egyptian Cup has had higher than usual temperatures (remember the misting tent from a few years ago?) and lighter than usual winds. This year it was a pleasant change that the temperatures were gorgeous; perfect sleeping weather. Here is the little tent city to prove it! It has been marvelous the last few years to be able to camp right on site. Thank you, Army Corp of Engineers!!


The other non-sailing-related excitement, a killdeer laid her eggs on the parking lot right by where we had all parked. Granted she was there first. I think she was pretty annoyed by us, but happily no one squashed her eggs. I could not get over how much they blended with the pavement. I do wish these birds would find a better system for egg laying. Years ago a killdeer laid three eggs right by the bathroom. They are always on the ground and often in high-traffic areas, it seems to me. Still gotta love 'em!

If you look between the white tie down hook and the green weeds you'll see three speckled kildeer eggs. They look just like the gravel pavement!!

Meanwhile, the wind Saturday was not ... terrible! It was certainly flukey and it felt like sometimes one side of the course had pressure the other side did not, but it was definitely sailable and PRO Ted Beier fit three races in. He had announced his goal to get four races; two before lunch and two after because Sunday was predicted to have a max wind speed of about 2 mph.

We did get one race in the morning. The wind was predicted to start in the southwest and then back to the south, though we never saw that, exactly. We saw lots of 20-30 wind shifts, but I would have called it oscillating rather than backing ... or veering for that matter. Ted had to shorten the five-leg WL course to three legs, which was lucky for Ben and me because we had not read the SI's very closely and were thinking it was a three-leg race anyway. Ooops!  Some of the large fleet struggled to finish as the wind petered out quite completely at several points and so Ted had the safety boats offer tows and we came in for an early lunch.  After lunch the wind came back up a little bit. The second race - first after lunch - we even used the vang a little bit.  Once again, for reasons I don't completely understand, the left side seemed to pay off. We had a lot of great pressure and were able to stay in phase. We managed a full 5-leg WL race. Happily Ben and I were now with the program!

The third race the left most emphatically did NOT pay off. Ben and I and Geoff and Tom (from Indy) trailed the entire fleet at the windward mark. Ben and I held it together (and I did not hear any yelling from Geoff's boat either) and we were determined to catch a few boats going downwind. We had four more legs, after all to try to dig out from our unenviable position! Ben saw some pressure out in the middle of the lake and so we headed there, away from the entire fleet. I do not know what wind gods were on duty during this race, but they blessed us with almost constant, private breeze, enabling us to practically march around almost the entire fleet. I have only had this experience maybe once before in my entire sailing life. I think, when I reflect back on all the adventures Ben and I have had sailing, I will always remember this leg!

Meanwhile, the wind was dying and once again the course was shortened. We managed to finish fifth, which was pretty darn amazing, considering our position one leg earlier! As soon as we got off the water I drank a beer and was feeling happy and relaxed for the rest of the evening.

Linda blessing the boat in the course of renaming it Eye of the Storm. It was a lovely ceremony and a great way to remember Greg Vitt.

Speaking of the rest of the evening. Shortly after we all came in, Linda Vitt and her family hosted a renaming ceremony for her cabin boat (a Ranger I believe). With Champagne all around, and some readings about renaming the boat, and pouring of libation into the water, the new name "Eye of the Storm" was revealed to much applause and hugs. Linda's husband, Greg, just died on Easter, as most of you know, and, although I can only imagine how hard it has been for her, she has continued to sail and enjoy the water. I like to think Greg appreciates that! Fleet 135 (really Angie Hunt) also made a lovely blanket printed with photos from Greg and Linda's very first regatta. I think they'd only had the boat a few weeks, in fact. They always were so gung ho as a couple and Linda is continuing that tradition. It was lovely.

Rod Bussell and Angie Hunt

Sunday dawned cool and still. A few stalwarts, including Rod Bussell, ace light wind sailor pictured here with his crew, Angie Hunt, put their boats in. A few others put their trailering covers on. And then we waited. And waited. Nothing came. Ted Beier put up the postpone and waited a little longer. Finally at 9:30 (no races could start after 10:30) he called it and the regatta was over.

We all packed up, ate lunch. Eric reminded everyone of the Carlyle/Clinton "grudge match" aka the Smackdown which takes place the end of August. Geoff reminded everyone of next week's event at Indy. Bill Vogler put in a plug for the women's NAC at Chattanooga in mid September. And Ben and I plugged the Glow. Also, although no one was there to plug it, don't forget the Ephraim regatta which is also our districts!! First weekend of August. Put it on your calendars.

And then, the regatta was over. We drove home and took a nap. I have no idea why we were so tired but we had time to take a nap and grocery shop before dinner. Ain't life grand?!

Here are the results:
http://www.fssa.com/content/2018-egyptian-cup-regatta-carlyle-lake-sailing-carlyle-il