Four and One-Half Teams from the Midwest Heading to the Women's NAC

This weekend marks an historic event; the first official stand-alone Flying Scot Women's North American Championships. Up until last year the event was a one-day regatta tacked on the front of the five-day long North American Championships.I used to complain it was putting women sailors in the position of Ginger Rogers, who did everything Fred Astaire did but backward and in high heels (if you are too young to get this reference, don't tell me).

Adding it to the already taxing NACs meant many women opted out and those who participated in the women's event to support the class began the NACs already having competed intensely for a full day.

Last year the women's event was canceled due to high winds at Sandusky and the folks at Corinthian Sailing Club in Dallas hosted a make up event later that summer. That event attracted 10 boats  — more than a typical number when held the old way. This was just the experiment we were waiting for because it showed the FSSA that a separate event would attract participants. So with input from a committee of women racers, the FSSA decided to officially separate out the women's event.

That's a very long lead up to the news that the Midwest District has fielded four full teams, plus part of another team, to participate in this event. The teams — two from Carlyle and two from Clinton — are Linda Vitt and Rachel Bowling; Shirley Bild and Chris Beutler; Jamie Rimovsky with Erin Bauer and Christina Nordholm; and Deb Aronson with Angie Hunt and Susan McIntyre. Plus, Stacey Rieu, of Mad Sails, will be crewing for Nancy Claypool.

Also, the organizers have 15 boats signed up, which is a very respectable number for any weekend regatta and certainly more boats than we've fielded for the women's event in my years as  Flying Scot sailor. So we head down shortly, my team and I. My goal is to have a good time, try not to embarrass my fleet or my district too badly, and errrrr kick ass? No no, have a good time!!

I would be remiss not to give a shout out to our ground crew, Ben Williams and Bryan Hunt. Somehow I think it'll be even more fun having them there on site! Thanks guys!!