2014 Chili Bowl Regatta

This year, the Jet 14s combined their regatta with the Thistles who included the regatta into their district racing and as a feeder race for US Sailing's Champion of Champions regatta at Edgewater Oct. 9-12. It made the camaraderie that much more fun and it was interesting comparing notes on racing through the Lake Erie lump. Questioned whether the courses were long enough the Thistlers answered a resounding "Yes!"

The regatta featured a new rivalry. In one corner there was top junior sailor Ian Moran, sailing with his dad Don who usually drives big boats and coaches junior sailing. In the other corner were the Dave and Sue Michos, perpetual EYC Jet winners. Dave and Don's rivalry actually goes back a few years when they played racquetball. Don's height and long wingspan was always a challenge on the court but on this court his height was even more noticeable as it appeared he was nearly decapitated a few times by the boom.

After winning the first two races and making things look easy, Ian and crew Don let their guard down and finished behind the Michoses in Races 3 and 4. As we usually ended up on the upwind port tack layline, a tack then a quick gybe required two near guillotines actions on Don's head which didn't help the boat's speed much. The Morans won the last race, no quick gybe required, and won the regatta. The Blonskis and Ernie/Anna had some nice races, popping into second place a couple of races. The last race had three boats finishing within a couple of boat lengths: Ernie/Anna, Michoses then the Barks. Persevering were Sophia Van Heekeren (crew John Gemperline) and Kathy Rakovan. As the wind came up and the lake became pretty choppy, these two teams were not quite at home.

Afterward, at the pavilion the important stuff came: Daniel Van Heekeren won the coveted "Best Chili" award. As the crowd at the pavilion quickly devoured anything (hot dogs, Lake Erie perch, chips, etc.) I never got a chance to taste it but his parents warned that he made a pretty mean chili. Daniel won a bottle of champagne which he'll have to keep on the shelf a few years.

Chili Bowl Regatta				Race
Place	Sail	Skipper	Crew	1	2	3	4	5	Total
1	665	I. Moran	D. Moran	1	1	2	2	1	7
2	1157	D. Michos	S. Michos	2	3	1	1	3	10
3	1126	P. Blonski	P.J. Blonski	3	2	3	3	5	16
4	1136	E. Michaud	A. Petronzio	4	4	5	4	2	19
5	1137	C. Bark	M. Bark	5	5	4	5	4	23
6	1045	S. Van Heekeren	J. Gemperline	7	6	6	6	6	31
7	826	K. Rakovan		6	DNF	7	DNS	DNS	37

2014 Chili Bowl Regatta

Edgewater Yacht Club, Cleveland, OH