By Michael Argyelan
This weekend more than 120 boats will hit the starting line
racing in the Chicago Yacht Club Verve Cup and the Tartan 10 North American
Championships. 91 registered boats will compete for the Verve Cup and 35 T10’s
will do their best to vow for the ultimate title of North American Champion.
Mostly, everyone should have a good time.
As usual, there will be multiple circles for the Verve
offshore almost due east of Monroe Harbor Belmont Harbor
Admittedly, I have to ask myself what’s so special about yet
another regatta in Chicago? First,
I love this stuff and can’t get enough. Second, I support any local regatta. Sailing is fun and the more opportunities to race the better. The Verve Cup offers racing for one design boats, ORR, as well as long distance
racers that don’t want to commit an entire weekend to buoy racing. Last but not
least, I’m very excited about 35 Tartan 10’s on a starting line.
Some of you may not know just what it takes to compete at
the national level in a one design class. Each boat must have a current
measurement certificate. This ensures that each boat is meeting strict one
design criteria. Also, each crew must be weighed in. Yep, strict one design
classes have crew weight limits.
Each class is different. For the Tartan 10 Class, total crew
weight must not exceed 1,275lbs. If a boat brings in a different crew as a fill
in for a day, he or she must be weighed in as well.
Most of the T10’s are from Chicago .
Some boats will be from Ohio , Michigan ,
and Wisconsin . I’m rooting for a Chicago
boat to take it all. My top five picks are Skidmarks, Convergence, Winnebago,
Honey Badger, and Norboy. The most fun boat on the water will be Mutiny! I’m
personally rooting for them, they’re my peeps.
Really, it’s anyone’s race to be had. I’ve seen boats come
back from 9th place after committing a foul, doing their penalty
circle, and take a 2nd. That’s all it takes, a good puff, being on
the right side of a shift, or simply put, a little luck. I’ll take luck any
day.
Unfortunately, overall numbers for the Verve Cup are
dropping each year. Last year, not including T10’s, there were 106 boats
registered and the year before 111. You can see the numbers are dwindling.
Can the regatta survive? Chime in. Don’t
like my picks for the top 5? Who do you think will win the T10 NAC’s? Post here.
2 comments:
Part of the reason numbers are down is that some of us don't like racing under the ORR. The PHRFection regatta is this weekend, as an alternative
Can the Verve Cup survive? Certainly! Who says it has to have 300 boats? It all comes down to what Chicago Yacht Club and the Cup's deed of gift (if any) deign. I don't remember the Verve Cup being a giant, overblown event in my youth. Personally, I'm finding the Chicago NOOD and the current format Verve have contributed to the shrinking of the fleets; partly due to the incessant W-L races, partly due to the change to ORR which caused the PHRF fleet to fall away, partly due to the City of Chicago and the frighteningly high cost of participating ($35 a day parking? Highest hotel tax in the country at 16.4%? High sales tax at 9.5%? Individual beverages at the bar $$?). The Verve used to attract a LOT more boats from all over the lake and even off the lake, but the price of fuel is knocking that back, too. Also, no incentive to have a whole family participate, it's all about the pros, winning, and perfection. BRING BACK THE FUN and the people will come in droves. Or, recognize that it's a niche event, design it for the niche you desire, and budget accordingly.
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