Lake Superior Sailing
Posted at: 09/02/2009 10:49 PM
The season for sailing on Lake Superior is short, but sweet. T
here's no typical night on when it comes to the Duluth Yacht Club Wednesday night races. "They're all different, tonight we had light winds, other night, I'll be blowing so hard you're trying to keep everyone on board and just having fun," said Steve Henry, who's on Team Kicks.Light winds or heavy winds, with close to thirty boats on the water, it's always a sight to see. "It always starts with a group of people having a good time and ending the same way," said Henry.
When the horn blows it's competition at it's best. The race is based on a handicap system, making it possible for the smallest and largest of sailboats to compete. Race times accumulate over the entire season. "Who ever does best throughout the year, we award trophies no monetary value at all. It's just more for pride," said Henry.
A true team sport, every position on the crew is valuable. Once you learn the sailing terminology. The learning curve is rather quick. "I was grinding so basically what I'm doing is the head sail trimming it in, pulling it across when we're actually tacking going up wind or jibing going down wind," said Robert Giuliani of Team Kicks.
Duluth's yacht club encourages newcomers inviting everyone to race the big lake. For Team Kicks, the race is never really over. "Beat the other boat, beat them to the social afterwards to have brats and beers what it takes, beat them under the bridge after you lose, beat them when ever," said Paul Danielson of Team Kicks.
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