As we reported earlier last week, the NOAA Harrison-Dever Crib weather station has been down. Now there is official word regarding repair status.
NOTICE: Jan 30, 2008. The Chicago met data and webcam are down until further notice. Due the station’s remote location, and our reliance on the City Water Department, we probably won’t get out there until spring. Please refer to www.ndbc.noaa.gov for marine weather data in the Chicago vicinity.
NOTICE: Current Meteorological Conditions Not Available
Racing is underway in Key West!
The breeze is strong at 18 to 20 knots, and expected to peak 1000 – 1300 Eastern time. It is the Race Committee’s intention to complete three races today.
DIVISION 4 is the course for Chicago sailors to keep an eye on today, as Jack-A-Roe is one of the only boats representing Chicago among the leaders- defending third place and competing within striking distance of placing higher.
For live on-the-water updates on all four race courses, click here
Update: Three races have been completed, and the results are in…
Congratulations, Jack-A-Roe!
Click here for more DAY 5 KWRW racing news »
This morning:
Racing is currently postponed until afternoon, with high anticipation of better prospects for wind and getting in some racing today…
Update:
Back in Business at Acura Key West 2008
— Two-Race Day Brings Much Rejoicing
In contrast to Monday, but just as disappointing, or even moreso, light wind conditions forced abandonment of all racing for Key West sailors today.
From yesterday, here are Acura Key West Race 2008 photos by Tim Wilkes:
Some additional KWRW coverage:
Jobson Sailing – www.jobsonsailing.com
Sailing World – www.sailingworld.com
ESPN – www.espn.com
Day 1 began under AP flag and postponement until 11AM, with hopes that a passing front and high winds would diminish.
Reduced winds were observed, and boats on all four courses (except Corsair 28R class) set sail, but as wind continued to increase, ultimately, all racing was abandoned for the day.
“The early forecasts were not good but was looking promising from 0800-1100 with our two boats on station reporting wind velocity and sea state less than that predicted. By late morning our forecasters thought the bottom end of their predicted wind range would be what we’d see, making the decision to head out a logical one. With the C28R class having a 22kts upper end, the decision was made to keep them on the beach. It wasn’t until noon, after the Division 1 Signal Boat was on station for a bit, that they started recording puffs above 28kts – the Melges 32 class dictated upper end – hence the call to send them home before the rest of the fleet. At 12:30 all PRO’s reported conditions “on the edge” of what one would want to start a race in. This coupled with the fact that it’s Monday with 4 days of racing left made it a bit easier decision for us to abandon before we got in a sequence.” ~ Peter Craig, Event Director
For more online coverage, please visit these recommended links:
Premiere Racing – www.premiere-racing.com
Sailing World – www.sailingworld.com
Paul Cayard – www.cayardsailing.com
Check out the photo sequence of Melges 32 Savannah, sail number USA 140, wiping out during spinnaker practice after race abandonment on 2008 KWRW Day 1: http://picasaweb.google.com/georgeatwood/KWRW
The Midwest Open Racing Fleet (MORF) website has been updated with the 2008 Racing Schedule.
(Note: The MORF home page indicates the schedule is preliminary as of January 3, 2008.)
The Lake Michigan Sail Racing Federation (LMSRF) Area 3 2008 Preliminary Schedule is now online, download PDF here.
(Note: as of now, the 2008 Race Schedule/Results link on the LMSRF Area 3 website has not been updated.)
Chicago endured sub-zero temperatures as the coldest days of the winter season arrive here.
The automated NOAA weather station located on the Harrison-Dever Crib stopped transmitting data this morning around 8 AM CST. It is unknown whether the fault was due to the extreme cold weather, but it is a likely explanation. We all rely on this important source of weather data during the sailing season, which holds our interest during the cold winter months when the local weather doesn’t allow sailing. We hope it is fixed and online again soon.
Meanwhile, the Acura Key West Race 2008 presented by Nautica begins tomorrow. Boats and sailors have been arriving during the week. Winds were gusting to 35+ knots on the last full practice day, as many crews opted to finish preparing their boats onshore rather than go out sailing.
The Chicago Boat, RV and Outdoors Show ended today.
Typically, there is little or no sailing presence at the show, despite the boating and recreation focus. One would expect attendees of a large, well-publicized and heavily-sponsored boat show would have interest in learning more about sailing. Conversely, one would expect the local sailing community to better use this event as an opportunity to promote local sailing activities. Unfortunately, that seems not to be the case.
Strictly Sail Chicago follows only one week later, as an entirely separate event. Although it is a welcome gathering for midwest sailors in the middle of winter, marketing sailboats and sailing to the more highly-focused audience lacks the exposure provided by the larger, better-advertised and better-supported Chicago Boat Show. It seems less than ideal that the Chicago Boat Show is under-used for promoting sailing.
Apparently, the show organizers, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), have finally arrived at the same conclusion. Shows in Virginia and Baltimore this year introduced Sailfest to test the waters of introducing more sailing at the boat shows.
