Nite News 2/24/02

Nite Sailing - Pewaukee
By Fred Miller #371

PIYC called club races on for the weekend of 2/23-2/24 and as usual got races in only on Saturday.  It has truly been a very bizarre winter.  We had spring sailing conditions with temperatures hovering around 40°, winds southerly at 10-18mph and ice conditions that went from hard to slushy by the end of racing.

Fortunately, we got in five races sailed consecutively in order to beat the softening ice.  Tom Sweitzer (#272) came out of the blocks hard and won the first two races.  Jim Gluek (#487) and David Navin (#549) also looked fast finishing with two thirds and two fourths, respectively.  Mark Wilfert (#350) took second in race 1 with Rick Wilfert (#305) coasting to second in race 2.

Jim Gluek then decided that Tom Sweitzer had won just about enough races for the day, so he turned up the dial and won the final three races - each a tight battle.  As the ice got softer, it was clear that different boats went well at times in the varying wind and ice conditions.  Norb Baldus (#65 the "Brown Streak") moved up the fleet as others dropped back.  Sweitzer, Gluek, and Rick Wilfert were the most consistent finishers on the day.

PIYC standings are updated through 2/24/02.

2002 Nite Nationals

The 2002 Nite Nationals are postponed until March 2-3.  The long range weather forecast is for dryer conditions and colder temperatures.  Just what the doctor ordered to get the regatta in under the wire.  It looks like the Nationals regatta will be combined with the ISA unless conditions continue to hold.  More on that next week.

Nite Talk

Even the best attempts at communication can still go unheard.  PIYC had not one, not two, but three boats take a dip this past weekend even though emails and pre-race briefings pointed out exactly where the open water was located.

Jim Gluek (#487) took the first big swim just after Ed Eckert (#277) dropped a runner into a deep depression on the edge of the heave.  Gluek misjudged some skimmed over water for safe ice and took the plunge.  Jim showed his agility and aversion for cold water by climbing along the nose and hopping onto safe ice just as the boat rolled over.  He was able to get the boat out and drained before racing began.  Must have been the bath that made him so fast later in the day.

Frank Romaine (#317) took the second major plunge on the way back to the launch area after racing ended.  Frank apparently figured either the heave moved or his Nite could now float since he tried to cross at virtually the same place Gluek went in.  Needless to say, Frank's boat doesn't float.

Congrats to the swim twins!  Read your emails closer next time.

Known Ice Conditions

Pewaukee Lake:   Slushy.

Nagawicka Lake:  Partially open.  Not safe.

Lake Geneva:  Open.

Green Lake:  Open.

Lake Mendota:  Open.

Lake Monona:  Unsafe at this time.

Lake Kegonsa:  Slushy.  Holes.

Lake Minnetonka, MN:  Snow covered.