2017 NAC Co-chairpersons Bruce Kitchen and Marty Sweterlitsch (a.k.a. Wonder Woman)

From NAC Chaiperson Marty Sweterlitsch:

Just a shout out to all the volunteers who worked so hard to organize and make NAC 2017 run. In particular my Co-Chair Bruce Kitchen,the Committee Chairs, Kathy Gaines Trask, registration, Tom Dawson, measurement, Sally Weithman, awards, Mike Conrad, food, George Gecik, entertainment, Deb Aronson, publicity, Charles and Sarah Buffington, Women and Juniors, Dan Goldberg, racing, and Gayle Kaufholz, photography.  From FSSA Bill Vogler, Carol Claypool and Diane Kampf , our championship experts.  From SSC Steve France, Jim Keane, Jay Austin and Tim Kyle were an amazing team. Thanks to all for your hard work and dedication. Next time any competitor sees any of these folks at a regatta, say thank you. It was my privilege to work with them all.

Editorial comment - It was our privilege to work with Marty - thank you so much for a wonderful event!

The NCC has decided after speaking with the PRO that there will be no racing today at the NAC, so it is a wrap.  Awards will be presenteed at 10:00AM at the Sandusky Sailing Club.  We'll post special award winners later today.  

It was really cool sailing with Cedar Point right in the background.  It is hard to believe that some people who race sailboats and hang over the side hiking out as hard as they can are afraid to ride the roller coasters!  I think the ride we all had today might just measure up to the rides at the amusement park.  With the sun shining and a few wispy clouds and temperature in the high 70's, it sure was a great day out on the water.

Race 2 start - wind was really honkomg!

Today brought some pretty hefty West winds 16-20 in the first race and 18-20 in the second race with some even heftier gusts and lots of chop on Sandusky Bay,  Of the 68 boats officially racing, 17 stayed on land and did not venture out for the qualifiers.  A few more came back in once they got out of the protected harbor and even more came in as they approached the race course.  44 hearty skippers and crew finished Race 1 and 30 finished race 2.  There were a few boats over, but no one was hurt, and a few boats with broken parts that forced fols to withdraw.  The remarks from the sailors as they came back to shore went from "Wow, that was a rush" to "I cant believe we raced both races" to "those who chose not to go out today made the right decision".  The top 3 qualifiers are:  John Kreidler and Joe Brake, Zeke and Jay Horowitz,  Brian Hayes and Brian Hayes, Jr.  The top 34 finishers qualify for the Championship Division and the other 34 make Challenger DIvision.

More pictures, taken by Gail, are here...

Full results are here. 

Executive Committee hard at work                                      Registration is going very smoothly!

The boats are coming, the boats are comig - over 70 of them for our 60th Anniversary NAC!  The Executive Committee and Board of Governor's meeting are over, registration and measurement continue.  At the moment, a decision is looming about whether there is too much wind for the Women and Juniors, but hopefully they will be able to go out.  If you are not here, you are missing out on a great event!  Stay tuned here and on Facebook and Scuttlebutt for updates!

Lots of Flyign Scots everywhere!!!                                  Women & Juniors Skippers meeting  - PRO Jim Tichenor