Hot Racing Action @ Verve Cup Offshore

ByStuart Johnstone
Sailboats racing with city skyline backdrop.


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(Chicago, IL)- The Chicago Yacht Club recently hosted the first of its perennial late summer regattas, the Verve Cup Offshore. Blessed with great weather most of the weekend, the two one-design classes of J/88s and J/105s enjoyed three great days of racing on Lake Michigan off the spectacular Chicago lakefront.

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J/88 Class
It was spirited racing as usual amongst the eight-boat fleet. Winning for the first time in this fiercely competitive class was David Dennison’s PIRANHA. His team of Kevin Meier, Alex Smith, Meagan Bryant, Pat Sheehan, and Thorn Truner managed to pull off a consistent scoreline of 3-3-1-2-4-1 for 14 pts to be crowned the winners.

Second place went to another rapidly improving team, Lindsey Duda’s SIN DUDA! and crew of Tyler Woodworth, Kyle Vowels, Nathan Hollberbach, Abie McLaughlin, Zac Hernandez, and Adelaide Ferguson. Their record of 1-5-3-3-2-2 was good for 16 pts. Then, rounding out the podium with the bronze medal was past winner Andy Graff and his team on EXILE- Luke LeCoche, Scott Eisenhardt, Miranda Madden, Graham Eger, and Martin Johnsson. The EXILE crew managed a 2-1-8-5-1-3 scoreline for 20 pts total.

The balance of the top five included Ben Marden’s BANTER in fourth with 21 pts and John Leahey’s DUTCH in fifth position with 25 pts.

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J/105 Class
The thirteen-boat J/105 fleet saw a roller-coaster battle breakout between two veterans of the offshore wars on Lake Michigan- Jon Weglarz and Richie Stearns. After six races, both Weglarz’s THE ASYLUM team and Stearns’s FIVE team were tied at 14 pts each. THE ASYLUM posted a 1-2-2-7-1-1 tally, while FIVE had a 2-6-1-1-2-2 record. Winning the countback was Weglarz’s team (Sean Wilson, Tim Kohler, Joe Saccone, Danielle Fruin, and Andy Vincent). Losing that countback to settle for the silver medal was Stearns’s crew (Lori Stearns, Joe Kestler, Marci Grunert, Freya Olsen, and Augie Hernandez). Taking the bronze medal on the podium was yet another Chicago offshore veteran, Clark Pellet’s SEALARK with crew of Ned Sher, Sonny Jenema, John Songin, and Russ Radke.

The balance of the top five included John Kalanik’s PURA VIDA in fourth place and Mark Fruin’s NYCTOSAUR in fifth place.

For more Chicago YC Verve Cup Offshore sailing information
https://www.vervecup.com/offshore