Some press from the Holland Sentinal (pre-race)

[fleck]

S2 regatta sails into town
By LEO MARTONOSI

Several local sailors are looking forward to competing in this week's S-2 7.9 meter International Regatta at Macatawa Bay Yacht Club.
Sailors are scheduled to report today. This is believed to be the fourth time in the past 25 years that the regatta has been held in Holland, according to Mike Bremer, public relations director for the event.

"This is an exciting time of the year for sailors," said Doug Slade, regatta coordinator. A field of 28 boats will participate in the championship races Thursday through Saturday, Slade added.

Between three and four races are set for each day. The lowest total will win.

"It's a very competitive field," Slade said. "The neat thing about this race is all of the boats were built right here in Holland."

Slade hopes his boat Hard Tack and his crew will be up to the challenge.

"Our goal is to be in the top 10," Slade said.

The goals of Don and Jean Bergman are much different.

"We hope to win it, but we probably won't," said Don Bergman. "There are a lot of good people coming in. It will be exciting, a lot of place changes."

The Bergmans finished second at last year's finals held in Racine, Wis., in their boat Second Wind.

"We had a good race," said 75-year-old Don, who takes turns skippering with his wife.

Veteran racer Dan O'Keefe will be participating in his second boat, Kaboom, during the regatta.

"Hopefully, we'll finish in the top half of the fleet," said O'Keefe, who has placed eighth on two occasions.

Peter Schwarz is looking forward to the three races on Lake Michigan.

"This is a very competitive field," he said. "We are mostly an amateur crew. We'll have a good week if we finish in the top 10."

Doug Padnos, another longtime sailor, and his brother, Jeff, have placed as high as second and third in international competition.

"We've never won it," Padnos said. "We would love to win. We just want to be competitive and have a good finish."

Padnos said sailing is much different than a lot of sports.

"We don't race for money," Padnos said. "We race for a little trophy, a little glory and a little prestige."

Contact Leo Martonosi at leo.martonosi@hollandsentinel.com or (616) 546-4270