The Detroit and Chicago area Level 35 fleets rendezvoused in Cheboygan , MI. on July 27,28 for their annual "Top of the Lakes Regatta". This event has been held annually for the last 3 years following the Chicago Mac and BYC Mac races when the fleets are both in the Straits of Mackinaw. This year's event attracted 16 boats and included 7 races over two days.

Bob Pethick
Detroit Area Fleet Captain
Level 35 Class

Sixteen Level 35 (J-35 & T-35) crews gathered in Cheboygan, Michigan July 27th-28th for the third annual Top of the Lakes Regatta. Friday night's informal gathering at the Boathouse restaurant hosted by the Cheboygan Yacht Club gave all a chance to meet in a less healed location than tomorrow would find them. Thankfully when Saturdays predicted Southwest wind failed to materialize the Bois Blanc doctor delivered a local 10kt east wind under fair skies.

As the first race started eventual regatta winner Bob Arzbaecher on Sociable found himself over early returning to follow the fleet up their first beat. Aggressive starts in the first three races saw several OCS boats looking for an advantage in this talented fleet. Ed Bayer and Mike Welch looked good taking Falcon to the front of the fleet for an opening race win.

Race 2 was headed by Bob Pethick's Bretwalda while on the Race Committee boat Gra-Mo-Chroi PRO Ron Rabine surprised his helper's as he proposed to one, Taryn Sarver said yes as the fleet gybed to the finish. After a short lunch pause the fleet rounded the leeward mark in race 3 with storm clouds gathering to the west. They sucked the steady easterly into a shifty northerly prompting a shortened three-leg race won by Bad Dog helmed by Larry Taunt.

In the aftermath of that missed storm Race 4 finished the day with shifts shuffling positions each leg with Sociable finally taking a race win. Meanwhile event organizer and eventual second overall winner Bill Wildner on board Mr Bills Wild Ride saw his worst race flow by his keel finishing eleventh.

Whitefish dinner one of Northern Michigan's delicacies was served on the beach to 200 hungry crew and friends. Mother Nature finally got a laugh in as the clouds opened up a torrential downpour sending people to gazebo's, boats, cars and motel rooms to eat the fish without free soup. Later as the rain came and went daily race awards and libations got passed under the Cheboygan County Marina gazebo ending day one.

Sunday morning's weather saw the first time in event history that the national weather patterns managed to overpower the local easterly doctor. West winds of 15 knots and building waves tested gear and crew in race 5. Special K skipper Mimi Carter had equipment failure and retired after a scuffle near the windward mark with William Vogan on Major Detail. Surfing to her second bullet Sociable finally got to the top of the results sheet.

Waves reached four feet and the sun broke out during race 6 punctuated by a man overboard off Bad Dog. "He grabbed a line he thought was the topping lift pulled hard and found out it was an unloaded line and just fell backward off the boat". Ken Quincy's PDQ Express and Dale & Kate Peppel on Mombo King both slowed their course to respond as Bretwalda managed to pick up a much relieved 11th crew man. She was later awarded redress to a tie for 6th. At the front of the fleet Bozo Circus owner Bruce Metcalf became the fifth winner in the seven race series as Sociable stumbled to tenth opening the door for three close rivals. With one throw out and the top 4 boats within 4 points the regatta was still open for change.

Tired crews still begging for fun got race 7 for one last blast up the Michigan shoreline. Larry Schell took Touch of Grey to fourth over Lance Smotherman's fifth on Dark Star to nip third overall by one point. In front of them Sociable again led the fleet home over Bill Wildner to win the event by two points.

After an informal picnic style dinner beautiful crystal trophies were awarded and talk of next years event begun.

As Principal Race Officer I would like to thank all those who helped put this event on as follows,

Sponsor R.W. Baird who's financial help kept cost down and social events flowing.

Sabrina Herriges for taking care of the hard brown water end of the regatta, Bob & Lori Pethick for getting T-shirts made and sold, Bill Wildner for overall organization, CYC volunteers Com. Gary Swindlehurst, V.C. Al Storm, Protest Committee members and Bruce Metcalf for organizing shore and water helpers and activities.

Mark set boat CYC RC Chairman Jon Stevens for rocking and rolling all day. Bob Gordenker contact Joanne Tracey and Jack McCarthy with my RC boat "Gra-Mo-Chroi" AKA "Love of my Life" a beautiful solid platform and new lifelong friends (I told them they need to keep her forever so I can have my 50th anniversary on her).

My committee of "Angles" Tary, Dennise, Kathy, Gail, Andrea, Lisa and most importantly Tricia Smotherman who skillfully directed my mark set boat.

Thank you all
PRO Ron Rabine