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A Dawg in Chi Town The North American Challenge Cup / Independence Cup
My first trip to the North American Challenge Cup / Independence Cup (NACC/IC) was in "99". The thing I remembered the most was the hospitably and camaraderie. The racing was tight too. In fact I enjoyed it so much that after a short (2year) break from the Paralympic Sonar program I thought that I would give it a shot again. This time in the other Paralympic boat the 2.4m. It is a one-person boat and as I found out a racers boat. Because I sailed the 2.4m my commentary will be about that class. Before I get into the boat and the regatta here's a bit of history on CYC's NACC and the "marriage" with US Sailing’s Independence Cup. The NACC (North American Challenge Cup) was the brainchild of the Chicago Yacht Club and American Airlines. American was sponsoring a number of Club events, but they wanted an event with a greater social impact and the corresponding interest that might develop. The Club officers told the American Airlines representatives about a small but growing disabled sailing program in Chicago, the Judd Goldman Adaptive Sailing Program. The program had a relationship with the Club due to its President, Peter Goldman, also a Club member. It was from this introduction in 1992 that the Chicago Yacht Club, American Airlines, the Chicago Park District, the Judd Goldman Adaptive Sailing Program, and Chicago School Transit all agreed to fund an event for disabled sailors that had, as it's primary goal attracting the best in the sport to a single venue. The hook if you will to get the best to visit Chicago was to remove all financial burdens. Airfare, lodging, transportation, and meals were all completely comped for competitors. As budget permitted, even AB's were occasionally flown in for free. The first years saw competitors grow from 12 to 24 in a matter of 2-3 years. Competitors also began coming from around the world courtesy of American Airlines generous support. At this time, it was brought to the Chicago Yacht Club's attention that the National Championship for disabled sailing was not seeing the same level of growth that we were having in Chicago. Many years saw competitors limited to local east coast sailors. Chicago Yacht Club asked US SAILING if they would like to partner up and with our resources broaden the scope of the Nationals. After a successful test run, US SAILING asked if we would continue to contribute our resources and race management team in support of this joint effort. The goal being, to grow the National Championship along with the NACC. The Club has been supervising this joint effort since 1997, and we believe the initial goals are being met. Freedom entries grew to 18 teams and 36 sailors in the late 90's. We restructured the event in 2001 to feature doublehanded and singlehanded sailing classes. In 2002 the first single-handed disabled national championship was awarded. Our current format now features 14 Freedom Independence teams (selected from resume and through 6 regional qualifiers) and 12 2.4m sailors. Chicago Yacht Club is in the final year of a 5yr term to host the US Independence Cup, and is having preliminary discussions on extending the relationship. Many Paralympics sailors have been "through" Chicago as their sailing careers and experiences grow. New faces are taking their places as the disabled sailing associations throughout the U.S. and Canada train new sailors eager to compete. The NACC and it's corporate partners remain committed to bringing the best in the sport to Chicago each year, and we hope the growth path for the sport continues for many years to come. Friday saw the ROLEX race seminar with coaches Betsy Alison and Serge Jorgenson officiating. Lots of good questions on sail trim, boat handling and rules. No matter how much you think you know or how long you have been sailing someone always brings up something that makes you think. You never stop learning. OK, on to the regatta. Saturday and Sunday were really a tough days. Light wind and lots of spectator chop. The freedom 20 is a really tough boat to sail in light air. Add chop on top and you have a real fun time, thank goodness I choose the 2.4 this year (my fun came on the last day). After sailing the International 2.4m for the first time on Saturday (no prior experience) I realized that this really is a racers boat. You have controls for everything you could want ant they really do make a big difference in the speed and handling of the boat. The Judd Goldman Adaptive Sailing Program owns 7 Freedom 20s and 2 2.4ms. John Kruger of Gavia Yachts brought 4 2.4ms to make a class (Thanks John), John also acted as the shipwright for the class to help make repairs on and off the water when needed. In order to get enough racers to make a really good event they have to send them out in flights. After 2 days of racing the fleet is divided into the Gold (top 6) and Silver (the rest) fleets. The unfortunate part is one flight may have a few more good racers that never sail against the other flight until the finals. But I think it worked out in the end (The cream always rises to the top).
Saturday I was scheduled to sail in the afternoon flight. Having never sailed the 2.4 I wanted to see the boats on the water. Bruce Millar, the Canadian 2.4 paralympic representative was sailing in this flight, so I figured this would be good to go out and be a spectator. These poor guys had shifts of 40 to 90 degrees. There was still a favored side, the shift would come down the course with a slight velocity increase and be short lived. You could gain a little but you had to come back with the velocity or it would be hateful. By the time the afternoon flight was sailing the winds had settled a little (still shifting) but the spectator chop was UP. As I said earlier the 2.4 is a racers boat. I got off the dock first so I could get some extra sail time. Full sails and no pinching were the order of the day. A great start and speed to boot Nick Scandone, Tom Franklin and I were off to the favored side. The races were all W,L and finish so a good start is paramount. Being able to keep up and even a little faster at times than both Nick and Tom gave loads of confidence. Tom has sailed in the class for several years owns two boats and travels to Europe for training. Nick has sailed the boats before but not as much as Tom. 3 second places on the first day were good. Sunday the flights swap sail time. We sailed in the morning. The one good thing was the spectator chop was down but the wind was shiftier. In the Freedom 20 class there was a collision (port starboard). Dr. Ann Allen, the Paralympic team doctor, was in one of chase boats and was rushed to the scene. One the competitors fractured his elbow and was taken to the hospital for treatment. Having sailed one day against each other we knew who the top sailors were. The starts were close, as close as 6 boats can be. Personally I like to not be too close to other competitors because I like clear air and options. The first race I punched left and hit the shift and was way ahead. Later I found out Nick had a gear failure and the Race committee had started us anyway. I think it might have been a different race had nick not been 45 seconds late to the start. Nick asked for redress and got it. Finishes for the day were 1,3 and a 4th. HHHMMM 4th what the hell happened there. I made some dumb choices. After asking Betsy Alison about that race she says that when you get tired your brain process information differently. I still made some stupid mistakes.
With the gold and silver fleets, the stage is set. Silver fleet sailed in the morning and the Gold in the afternoon. The weather gods blessed use with a front coming through with increasing winds. I was about to find out just what these little boats were really like (wet). Once again I got off the dock first. I needed to do some heavy air sailing. The winds were about 12 to 15 then. Just sailing out to the start area I had to pump to keep the boat dry. I had to wait a little too long for my liking for the rest of the fleet but it gave me the extra sail time I needed. Betsy came by and gave me some heavy air info "It' all about the backstay". I proceded to crank on the backstay and trim the sails. WOW the boat performed great, ease the backstay for power crank it to depower. I didn't ouch anything else up wind. I had speed and was pointing. The boat really needed to be steered through the waves or submarining was the order of the day. At one point I could not keep up with the water coming in. I was floating in the boat. Some of the boats are equipped with electric bilge pumps using a motorcycle battery. But not all of them, so they were disconnected for equitity. Next year the organizing committee said all the boats should have the electric pump. In the first race it was Bruce, me then Nick at the finish. The second race it was Bruce and I overlapped about half a boat length at the finish, so he got me by about 6 feet. The fleet had dwindled by a few boats, shit half the fleet had gone in. Winds were gusting over 22 according to the RC. Chase boats cam by and asked if we were go to go. A quick thumbs up and they started the last sequence. I had pumped my boat dry for the start but it quickly filled on the beat. Trying to steer and pump proved too much so I concentrated on sailing. BOY WERE MY ARMS TIRED. The weather mark rounding was surprisingly close from my tired point of view. With just the three of us out there is was not hard to find the fleet. I tried to pump the boat going down wind and was gaining..... on the water not Nick and Bruce. But a few surfs later and the bow dipped and all the water I just pumped for half the downwind leg just came over the bow and filler her up again. I gave up on pumping and sailed to a respective 3rd place for the race and the regatta.... or so I thought. Nick filled a protest against Bruce for getting another bilge pump from one of the chase boats for the second race. I guess he carried it on the race and used it during the race and Nick saw it. Bruce got tossed and that gave me a first place instead of second in the second race. After chatting with some other officials who were also US Sailing judges but not judges in this event, they said he had clearly violated the Sailing Instructions. So bummer dude. I was the benefactor and moved up to second place in the overall standings. Even in third place I felt good, as this was the first time in the boat. I'm not really sure how the sailing in the Freedom class went but the girls (Karen Mitchell and Kerry Gruson) kicked some major butt with a 1,1,3. Betsy came by during the awards dinner and whispered in my ear "I am so proud of you". Maybe the next games (China) could be on my radar. The 2.4 sure was fun and I think I fit or should I say the boat fits me well. In retrospect one of the major benefits of the regattas is seeing all the competitors you haven't seen in a year (or two in my case). Everyone has some sort of disability and it is amazing how on the water they are equalized (until it really starts blowing). One cannot thank the volunteers, sponsors and Chicago Yacht Club enough.... there are no words to really say what they accomplished, it must be experienced. A last note to you anarchists. Chicago Yacht Club is full of you guys. It was great to see some of the faces that go with all the funny monikers in the forum. I had fun giving away a few caps and stickers the ED gave me. I also gave away a few of my shirts. Betsy Alison, Dr. Anne Allen and Bruce Millar assured me they would be wearing their new SA swag in Athens. SPONSORS of the NACC/IC: American
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