And this year especially, with an early departure of Lake Michigan ice and seasonable weather for on-time yacht launches, the regatta will welcome more than teams set to race in 14 divisions. The new sharp-looking team uniforms are in, and all the pieces are in place for another successful regatta, adds Ruhlander, especially the crew. The Beneteau Sailing with the same seven people makes a big difference.
For the top and professional-laden teams of the class, the next several months are about getting maximum races ahead of this rare domestic championship opportunity, so the Helly Hansen Regatta in Chicago marks the beginning of the big summer push toward perfection. Three year-olds will skipper these entries, alongside their respective yacht club and high school teammates, and will be mentored by other fleet members.
In , Soulshine won the Helly Hansen Sailing World regatta in the final race, with a winning delta of only 3 points after seven races. This year, we have a similar lineup, but we also have two new boats that have joined the fleet.
The boat called Tried and True won the Beneteau That has certainly been the secret to our successβconsistency with the crew work is so important in these boats. In Chicago, these 31 teams will navigate day-long courses on Saturday and Sunday only, with only one race per day starting and finishing in the vicinity of the Chicago YC, allowing competitors to stow sails and gear and head straight to the nightly parties at the club, which are considered the best sailor parties of the summer.
The Ocean Race is back on course at full strength. For the European team, there was already a champagne shower before the start. On arrival in Aarhus on Thursday afternoon, the other teams stood on the pier with welcome banners and celebrated the team, which had been battered by damage.
