From the 2021 GLIOR OA:
9/27/2021 - Chicago, IL – The 2021 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta (GLIOR) was hosted this past week, September 24th through 26th 2021 at the Columbia Yacht Club (ColYC) in Chicago, IL. The event was co-hosted by the Storm Trysail Club and Columbia Yacht Club with support from the Chicago Tartan 10 Fleet and the Chicago J105 Fleet. This year 18 teams participated in the competition alongside owners, coaches, and organizing staff. The event saw over 160 individuals involved in total.
On Friday, 9/24 teams were invited to register and practice. Conditions were breezy, SSW/SW winds of 15-18 knots were recorded and increased throughout the evening, surprisingly the swell and wave action was relatively low at about 2 feet. The Principal Race Officer (PRO) was able to set a practice course but due to conditions, very few teams were able to practice, as such the Organizing Authority (OA) adjusted the schedule to push all racing back the following day to provide time for practicing and/or delivering yachts from neighboring harbors.
On Saturday, 9/25 competitors were greeted in the morning with winds out of the West (W) at around 8 knots, swell and wave action had further decreased to under 1 foot. The skipper's meeting occurred with a minor delay at 0915 and the harbor start occurred at 1000 as scheduled. The PRO (Fields Gunsett) was able to run 5 races on Saturday, by race three (3) average wind speed was over the spinnaker limit of 15 knots and the “E” flag was displayed, racing without spinnakers ensued. By Race 5 winds were back down and the “E” flag was struck and teams could once again fly spinnakers in the final race of the day. At the end of the day, the University of Michigan was in the lead for the J105 fleet and the University of Miami Ohio was in the lead for the Tartan 10’s. Post racing teams were invited to a banquet on the dock and enjoyed an incredible evening on the Chicago lakefront.
On Sunday, 9/26 competitors awoke to winds from the southwest, initial WSW and later stabilizing a more southerly SW/SSW. Wind speeds were hovering around 13-15 knots and the harbor start occurred at 0900 as scheduled. The PRO was able to kick off 3 races before the 1400 no racing time set by the notice of race (NOR). Teams lamented “fluky winds” this day as the PRO battled to maintain a relatively square course. Spinnakers were allowed at all times during Sunday. At the end of the day the University of Michigan continued their streak and was able to secure 1st place in the J105 fleet, Miami of Ohio was jostled to third and the University of Toledo was able to get into 1st after three successive bullets!
The OA would like to thank the participants this year for weathering uncertainty due to numerous factors such as COVID19 or the expected conditions earlier in the week leading up to the event. Second, the many volunteers that were able to make this event possible inclusive of the PRO and race committee help. Third, our sponsors, Skyway Yacht Works, Beemsterboer Slag Corp., Buddig Meats, United Engraving, Columbia Yacht Club, and the Storm Trysail Club. We look forward to announcing 2022 dates next spring, in the meantime, sail on and sail fast!
The finalists for the 2021 GLIOR J105 Fleet were:
1. The University of Michigan with 20 points
2. The University of California San Diego with 27 points
3. The University of Rhode Island with 28 points
The finalists for the 2021 GLIOR Tartan 10 fleet were:
1. The University of Toledo
2. Grand Valley State University
3. Miami University of Ohio
Final scores can be found on Yacht Scoring, link: https://yachtscoring.com/event_results_cumulative.cfm?eID=14482.
About GLIOR: The GLIOR is an annual fall regatta that provides an opportunity for collegiate sailors to experience the excitement of offshore keel-boat racing. Participating teams come from college sailing programs in the Midwest and beyond. Chicago T10 & Chicago J105 fleet members provide the sailboats and are on-board during racing as a safety precaution; the collegiate sailors drive, crew the boat, and manage strategy and tactics; Chicago-area yacht clubs provide facilities and the fleets provide financial support, participant gifts, and awards. The regatta consists of windward/leeward buoy races on Lake Michigan offshore of Chicago.
About ColYC: Since 1892, Columbia Yacht Club has been known as more than a ship on the Lake, as more than a sailing organization, as more than a dining room. It has been known and continues to be celebrated as the club that fosters a deep sense of pride and camaraderie among its members, officers, and staff. Members are drawn together by their love of the Lake, whether racing, cruising, power boating, or simply enjoying the view from the Club. From elegant dancing-under-the-stars celebrations on the Club Ship aft deck to casual parties on the dock; from quiet sunrise breakfasts to sunset dining; from the bustle of crews readying for races to quiet nights aboard your boat moored at the Club's docks, Columbia Yacht Club is always a place where you are "Welcome Aboard."
About STC: The Storm Trysail Club is a private club dedicated to blue water sailing. Membership currently numbers over 1000 individuals and is by invitation only to expert offshore sailors who have experienced storm conditions and are capable of commanding a sailing vessel in such conditions. Established in 1938 and headquartered in Larchmont, NY, the club has a long history of sponsoring inshore, distance, and offshore sailboat races, and supporting the interests and needs of sailors. The purpose of the Club is to promote good fellowship among blue water and ocean racing sailors and to encourage the sport of ocean racing and offshore cruising.
For more information or media inquiries please contact Nick Zomer, Co-OA at nwzomer@gmail.com.
Event photos and recaps are posted / will be posted on Facebook at facebook.com/chiglior.