For those interested, here are the race videos for the Butterfly Nationals:

Race 1
Race 2
Race 3
Race 4
Race 5
Race 6

Read More...

Here is a fun video from Doug's hat cam (the last part is the best).  The videos of the racing action were promised to Windward Boatworks.  They should have the videos or links up soon.

Read More...

by Doug

The 2011 Butterfly Nationals was held on Lake DuBay in central Wisconsin. It was a small fleet with excellent racing – I lost race 2 by one foot and won race 5 by one foot. It doesn’t get any closer than that!

The three races on Saturday and first race on Sunday were held in very light conditions, and there were several people with better speed than me. I was grateful to have a gentle 6-10 knot breeze fill in from the west for the last two races.

For me, the highlight of the weekend was the outstanding crop of junior sailors who are joining the class. The first race was won by 10-year old Hank Sims who was so light that he could sit at the back of the cockpit and still have his transom well out of the water! And Calen Terry had all kinds of speed and led the event until the final race.

At the other end of the age scale, Jim Young is always fast and finished the event with a 1, 2, 2, 2. So the Fly continues to appeal to a wide range of good sailors.

I sailed with a hat cam and recorded the races. When posted, you’ll see all of my bonehead moves and things that worked in this national championship.

Joe Terry and his team did a great job running the event. If you enjoy lake sailing with great food and hospitality at the edge of a forest, Lake DuBay is definitely worth the trip.TV coverage

Results

Read More...

by Pam

It's official! Doug won and is headed home. Here are a couple of video clips from day 1. He did get the come from behind win on video. That should be interesting to see. Here are a couple of videos from day 1.

Interviews
Sailing backwards upwind

Read More...

by Pam

Doug called after the 4th race where he got 3rd and the junior, K. Terry, was firmly planted in first place and the breeze had died and they were waiting on shore for it to build. He was still in 2nd with a bigger point spread and Jim Young was in third and 5 races would give him a drop and move him up alot in the standings.

A post racing call from Doug indicated they got in two more races so they have a throw out. Doug was over early and had to go back and Jim launched out front. Doug caught him and won the race and also won the last race. Not sure, but that might make Doug the winner of the regatta. We'll know after the awards whether youth or experience comes out on top.

I'm just hoping the hat cam battery hadn't run out when Doug went back and came through the fleet. I've been wanting to be a bird on his shoulder when he did that.

Read More...

by Pam

A change in results first thing in the morning moved Doug to 2nd in the 2nd race. Doug is now 2 points out of first. The winds are currently very light but the forecast calls for them to build. racing will begin at 9:30.

Read More...

by Pam

The second hand report of the day is that they had very light wind today with three races. The first was won by a 10 year old, the second by Doug and the third by Jim Young. Doug is currently in second and a junior, Joe Terry's son is in first. Doug is having a blast and is wearing his hat cam for the races and he did interviews with all the race winners of the day. Not sure how he interviewed himself though.

Doug says the venue is a little bigger than White Rock but more scenic and the people are fantastic.

Read More...