Okoboji Blow Out

15-17 September will go down as the first RC Laser regatta ever to sail the entire 20 races in C sails!! Blow Out?? You bet. But the sailing was great and all the boats performed beautifully despite the frequent diving and knock-downs.

Jockeying for start, two boats climbing good sized waves!

Eleven skippers entered from Iowa, Colorado, Indiana, Minnesota, and Florida. This was the first Region II regatta to be held since the RC Laser class region reorganization, and the first on Lake Okoboji.

A white cap and foam on the water - what does that tell you???

I can tell you from personal experience that this was a great venue. The Okoboji Yacht Club is a terrific sailor's club with a lawn that runs right down to the water. The hospitality shown to all of us by Jim Danbom, the host for this regatta, was spectacular. We will definitely be back soon.

We were all amused that crewed Lasers were also sailing that weekend and they suffered much more than we did. With winds never below 20 knots and gusts over 30, keeping a crewed Laser up going down wind can be a real challenge. We didn't have to worry because we have those nice little keels to bail us out.

How about this shot?? Crewed Lasers in background.

I think we even got some converts over the weekend. When those fellas came in to the dock, completely exhausted, they could not believe that we were slugging it out still, and with no equipment failures. Many were stunned at how these little models could sail in such conditions and survive.

Fred Farris, from Minneapolis, showed us the way with some brilliant and very consistent sailing. When asked why he did so well in these tough conditions, he said he had been practicing every day all summer. So let that be a confirmation that practice makes a difference.

And they are off. Dale and Bob going for it.

Second was our host Jim Danbom who also sailed extremely well the entire series even while setting marks and supervising paries, food etc. That is no small task. Third was a newcomer to model sailing (but not crewed sailing) Axel Issel from Miami, FL. Axel picked a hard time to wet his teeth but sailed extremely well. Like the two that followed him in the standings, Steve Lang 4th from Colorado, and George Domenech 5th from Florida, it was the lack of consistency that pulled down their scores. That is the polite way to say 3d, 4th, and 5th places in this regatta were all in contention for the top spot but they just screwed-up too much. A double dose of practice for these three - right guys!!

From left to right, Steve Moyer, Steve Lang, Tom Thorton (RO), Jim Danbom, Bill Coppage, Fred Ferris, George Domenech, Bob Walker, Dale Burgerson , and Axel Issel. Jeff Danbom, not shown.

But everyone sailed well and brilliantly in spurts. You couldn't finish if you didn't sail well, simple as that. The elements were that tough. But the weather was warm and clear - and no RC Laser sailor I know will complain about a little wind when the other weather conditions are as good as we had.

Steve Lang reads Geezer award poem. This was first Geezer awards regatta and a Geezer won it all! Geezer Power!!!!

I guess I should have known what to expect when I drove through miles and miles of wind turbines that pepper the corn fields of Iowa. The wind blows in Iowa ad that is why Okoboji is such a sailing mecca.

Next year, make sure you are ready for heavy duty sailing because we will be back havin' fun at the Okoboji Blow Out.

And the tired winners are from L to R. Tom Thornton (RO), Fred Ferris 1st, Jim Danbom 2d, Steve Lang 4th, George Domenech 5th, Axel Issel 3d.

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