ILYA Championship

Hosted by Lake Okoboji, IA from 8/13/2008 to 8/16/2008

2008 ILYA Championship

Posted by: John Hayasho

Normally people write about the blow by blow of what went right for the winner and what went wrong for the rest when they write about a regatta. What I would like to do is to explain what helped Anita and I out at Okoboji. Having sailed Okoboji now three times in the past ten years in the same location helped as well. The last time we had been there we had gone into the last race tied for first with John Spargo and Jim Brust only to lead the race till the last leg and in the final 800 yards let the regatta slip by. This time in Okoboji 2008 we had more local knowledge and a better grasp of what we wanted to do.

In my opinion what really helped us the most was keeping the boat in the wind and constantly working towards where we felt the wind would be. The upper end of the lake where we sailed had distinct patterns to where the wind was and how it would shift in the course of a race. On the days when the wind went light it still held pretty true to its trends. Now in the course of the regatta there was much more light air conditions then heavy, but still with the exception of the middle day when the wind came from 180 degree different direction it more or less came from a westerly direction. What was important in all of it was getting to the shore and using the shore patterns to help get around the course. Where the other fleets sailed in big areas of water, we were restricted and the shores played an important part in ones tactics. We were never afraid to go close to shore or to split for the wind towards the shore. Wind was it.

Sailing for the wind and less for the lifts allowed us to make large gains in most all of the races. In all of the races we sailed, which was six in Okoboji, only in one race did we ever get to the first mark in first place I believe. What helped us was the constant searching for a wind pattern or for veins of wind that would get us up and down the course and allow us to catch up and then pass boats. On our boat we generally have two modes, sailing lifts and knocks while trying to constantly sail high courses, and second sailing for the wind and putting ourselves in more of it then anyone else. At times we struggle in deciding which effort to embrace, however, as always you must pick one and only one. This is where people have trouble. When you shift approaches you slowly pull yourself backwards, in the end you are generally not successful. Okoboji for us was pretty defined in sticking to plan. Stay in the wind and find the wind. In the end it always was the right choice for each tack and each side of the course. The bad decision was the one time not covering Willie Crear along a shore when we made up 3/4 of a leg and passed him and Eric Oppen. It did not happen again at least in the regatta.

What also helped us in Okoboji and how we normally sail is to constantly work on keeping the boat heeled correctly for the conditions. Though this is easier said then done, we always worked on making sure everything was smooth on the course and also smooth on the tacks or jibes. As we refer to it on our boat the "high guy" is very important. When the wind was light I was generally sailing from the low side, as the wind increased I moved up as Anita moved towards center. The two races that had medium wind I spent time on the high side as Anita balanced the boat. In all conditions we tried not to squash the boat flat. This takes a lot of concentration and communication. It however made alot of difference. On the downwind legs heel and balance were also important. For us to dig deep and keep the boat moving meant heeling the boat, the skipper would be on the lowside and the crew close to the middle. It helped to have 1/2 boards or less down as well. We continued to keep the boat in the wind as much as possible and jibed for the puffs whenever possible.

We place a huge emphasis on downwind legs, partially because we get luckier then everyone else but more so the rewards are so much greater downwind. Many people worry about their upwind speed, worry about getting down the course. At best you can make up 4 or 5 boats upwind. On the downwind legs you can make up races if it goes right. In Okoboji we had those chances and used them. In one race we immediately got covered by Willie Crear right after the start. The leg was 1.1 long and he covered us up the entire course. At the weathermark we tapped his transom breaking cover, did the 720 in no wind and watched the fleet disappear. Besides going crazy and asking myself why was I being covered on the first leg, we jumped in and started looking for wind. The fleet went right and we sat and stared as the fleet took off in what was left of the wind. The quick decision to go for shore made all the difference as we caught Willie and finished right on the very transom we had ta pped. Going to the left and sticking with it made up everything. Looking back at it I should have been flattered that he sat on us so early. Be aware of what a good downwind can do for you.

Coming ready to sail is important. Though this sounds funny it made a big difference. At Okoboji we left the distractions at home so to speak, the email, cell calls and other factors we put aside. For three days we sailed and we had fun, it was work but without the distractions. This makes a huge difference with sailing well. When you go to a regatta prepare to do well, this involves making sure your boat is ready as is you and your crew. When I walked out the door and drove seven hours we were excited to go racing and it showed. When you go to a regatta remember you are going to have fun, learn something new and do the best that you can. Having the right mindset for sure helps improve your position on the course. I never believed it before, but it played a large part in helping us to win the regatta. We had fun period, the race victories were great, trophies were nice, but we had a great time.

I wish there was some magic trick that I could fall back on which would illustrate why the regatta went well for us. We had the right sail, the fastest boat, the inside knowledge that no one else had. But, really it came down to time on the water, a decision to make it fun, and to have the faith to work together and make the boat go fast. I have sailed with Anita for a long time and we have had some good regattas and some not so good regattas. What clicked this time around was that making it fun made it better. We had great competition that pushed us all the time, as everyone knows in the class no lead is ever safe in an I-20 race. But the next time you go out take some time to have fun and you might be surprised at how things on the boat go and how you end up in the regatta. Thanks Anita and Mimi for a great regatta and for all those who showed up to race in Okoboji.

Regatta Results

Sail #	Skipper	Race 1	Race 2	Race 3	Race 4	Race 5	Race 6	Total
L-34	John Hayashi	2	1	1	1	0	1	6
M-1	Willie Crear	1	0	2	3	1	3	10
J-11	Aaron Lynn	3	3	3	2	0	4	15
4	Jeff Marquardt	4	2	5	6	0	2	19
FD-314	George Winter	7	0	4	5	3	5	24
H-111	Dave Whealon	5	5	6	4	4	0	24