John Ruf - Welcome Home Celebration
The 2008 Blue Chip regatta got started on a familir note with the Thursday evening Pork Chop dinner party. But this was not an ordinary party. John Ruf was honored at the party for his Bronze Medal performance at the Paralympics in China. John's arrival home from China just happened to coinside with the Blue Chip party and it was expanded into a wonderful celebration of his accomplishment. John's Web site with pictures of John sailing his 2.4Meter, White Buffallo.
John was totally surprised, and didn't anticipate the celebration that was planned. The street to the Yacht Club was lined with American flags and there was a huge banner over the road across two untility poles that read 'CONGRATULATIONS' agains a backdrop of Olympic rings. There was a crowd of over 200 people lined up along the street and drive into the club with everyone waving a flag and cheering. John was swamed by people the moment he was out of the car - all wanting to give him a big congratulations and welcome home hug. While he slowly made his way to from the van to the club door - fireworks were going off over the top of the yacht club. It was a perfect homecoming for John. |
| Blue Chip Regatta Day-1
Vincent Porter and team (I-49) have a nice lead after three good races on Lake Pewaukee. It was a warm beautiful day starting out with light winds for the morning race and a better breeze filling in for the afternoon races. The first race was a 5 1/2 as the wind was more SW but as it built for the afternoon it moved right and we had longer legs. The second race was a 3 1/2 and the third race a 4 1/2. There were a few mark changes needed to keep the courses square, and PRO Jeff Butzer and team did a great job. Most of the boats put a fourth crew on for the afternoon, but I noticed Vincent stayed with with his three person team.
These are my very unofficial results of the top boats after three races:
I-49 Vincent Porter 2, 1, 2 - 5 pts
TO-101 Art Brereton 4, 5, 6 - 15 pts
V-123 Kevin Jewett 1, 2, 13 - 16 pts
V-37 Augie Barkow 13, 3, 1 - 17 pts
?? Dave Ullman 3, 4, 10 - 17 pts
V-777 Bob Biewer 8, 6, 3 - 17 pts
M-9 Tom Burton 6, 15, 4 - 25 pts
GL-7 Tody Sutherland 7, 14, 8 - 26 pts
Our honored "mystery" guest this year is, Dave Ullman of Santa Ana, California. Dave travels to Pewaukee with impressive credentials.
Ullman Sails was founded in 1968 by David Ullman, one of the world's greatest competitive sailors. Dave was named Rolex Yachtsman of the Year in 1996, was nominated again for 2007, and is a three-time 470 World Champion, the 2007 Melges 24 World Champion, a five-time Lipton Cup Champion (1992-1996), a ten-time Lido 14 National Champion, and a National Champion in the Snipe, Thistle, Sabot and Coronado 15 racing classes. Dave is also an S.O.R.C. class-winning skipper, a U.S. Team Racing Champion, a U.S. Men's National Champion (Mallory Cup) and a former coach of the U.S. Olympic Sailing Team.
Dave arrived in Pewaukee a few days earlier and rumor has it he has been out practicing for some very long hours, but that story is probably a little exaggerated because of the success he is having on the race course.
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| Board of Directors Meeting
The NCESA Board of Directors will meet for their annual meeting at the Chicago Yacht Club on Saturday November 8th.
Please contact your Director or an Officer with any concerns you may have or topics you'd like discussed.
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