Big 12 Sailing Regatta

Collegiate sailors came together at the Perry Yacht Club which hosted the Big 12 Sailing Championship.  Dwayne got an up close view of the action while he served on the Race Committee as a line judge looking for boats over the line at the start of a race and sounding the horn as he observed boats crossing the finish line.  It was an interesting day on the water with a wide variety of conditions.  Winds in the morning were variable in the 8 - 12 knot range with gusts reaching the low teens.  The wind shifted as much as 10 degrees between races which caused repeated adjustments in the rounding marks to maintain a proper up-wind/down-wind course orientation.  At one point, races were abandoned due to lightening strikes in the area.  When racing resumed, the wind was light and variable.  It shifted 180 degrees during the day.  Eventually, the Principal Race Officer (PRO) decided to end the racing due to lack of wind.  No one objected as everyone was getting hungry and ready for the evening meal and the dance party which followed.

Big 12 Championship Regatta

Iowa State surprised everyone with their strong showing.  Gus Nagro and Thomas Petersen dominated the fleet and lead the way to the Iowa State victory.  These high school buddies from the Chicago area have been sailing together for many years.  Their experience and teamwork resulted in their placing first in all but three races and they never finished any race in less than third place.