Fleet Building in SE Michigan

[SSchneiderman]

Hello Fellow SE Michigan 7.9ers
I'm writing to vent (a bit) and to explore collective solutions to fleet building in SE Michigan. I am frustrated with the options in this area for 7.9 racing. They include: 1.)keep the boat far away where there is a fleet (Macatawa or Sarnia); 2.)succumb to weekly PHRF reaching parades; 3.) just use the 7.9 for cruising and do small boat sailing at clubs that have fleets of JY's, Lasers, Lightings, Interlakes, etc. 4.) Try to work together with the 7.9's in SE Michigan that are spread out all over the Lakes (Erie, St. Claire, Detroit River,) to create the racing conditions I think we are all looking for: other 7.9's, W/L format.
Any ideas? suggestions? Thanks!
Stephanie Schneiderman, Ni Modo #68

Stephanie, let us know if there's anything the class association can do to help. Do you want to put an article in the next Class Act? BTW 'succumb to weekly PHRF reaching parades' is priceless.

[John Spierling]

Sarnia/ Port Huron would be glad to step up to the plate. Bring your boats up to Lake Huron. Right now, we have Frequent Flyer, Rebel, Hunting Party, Aeolus, Bad Company, and PF Flyer. A few more boats and we would have a very solid one-design fleet. Currently, the Sarnia/Port Huron Race Program features 4 Sundays (best 3 of 4) in the spring (starting Mid May) and 4 Sundays (best 3 of 4) in the fall (starting in late August). Plus a Wednesday night beer can series (15 weeks in total), and a distance race package between the Spring and Fall Series. We also have the Lake Huron Championship regatta the first weekend in July. The water is the cleanest in the Great Lakes, and powerboat chop and traffic is very minimal. There are many marinas in the area, both in Port Huron and Sarnia (not sure of yearly pricing at each marina), but I'm fairly confident that there is dockage available (Lake Huron Yachts in Sarnia, Bridgeview Marina in Sarnia, Black River Marina in Port Huron, and Port Huron Municipal City Docks, just to name a few). Getting across the border is generally not much of a delay. And where else can you race against Spike on a consistent basis? If anyone is interested, please me know, with a reply posting. Creating a strong one-design class in the South-East Michigan area would be great if we could pull it off.
John Spierling Rebel 108

[BarryE]

I'll second what John said, Port Huron, Sarnia is great. My only regret is that my work and school schedule have kept me off the water more than I would have liked this year.
As a PHYC member I'll assist in any way any 7.9 sailor who wishes to join the blue water fun. A few more boats, and we'd get our own one-design start.
Oh yeah, forgot to mention, I live near Flint, so I drive about 60 miles to get to my boat.

And one more important thing, beer on tap at PHYC, only $0.75 a glass!!

BarryE
Aeolus #11