Fall 2009 Wrap Up by Allison Prange

Another season has come and gone, and I know we are all anxiously awaiting the day when Cappy gives us the go-ahead for our first practice (though the ice has hardly frozen yet). Until then, let’s revel in the past a bit and review the highlights of the great season we had.

The second weekend of the season the team was able to put two teams together to sail at Davis Cup in Iowa while at the same time sending a team to Sloops in Michigan. It has been a goal of ours to increase the depth of our team and show our strength on big weekends like that. It has been really exciting to see the team grow to that level, and it is a trend we hope to continue into the future.

Next, we hosted Streufert Team Race Regatta. Thanks to the help of our many volunteers (that’s you guys!) we ran a seamless regatta and were able to win back the title, making the weekend even sweeter. Shortly after, the team headed to Milwaukee to sail in Single-handed Qualifiers, sending four guys and two girls. Minnesota had a great weekend, as I am sure you read, qualifying our Matt Thompson and St. Thomas’s Charlie Igo for Nationals in Texas. They each performed strongly and represented the MCSA well.

The next accomplishment I can speak to more personally, and am particularly excited about. It was another weekend in which we were able to send teams to two different events, one being Sail Sheboygan (a new match race regatta, run in Sonars), the other being Women’s in Madison. While women’s qualifiers are not until Spring, this was a decent test of our competition. After a recent history of “curses” at women’s regattas, we were able to walk away with a win; finally living up to the potential I know we have.

Soon after, we were able to reemphasize Minnesota’s strength. At the Tommie Cup Minnesota placed all four of their teams at the top, with St. Thomas winning, UMN Maroon in second, UMN Gold in third and UMN Women in fourth. Again, this showed the extreme depth of our team, and our very promising future.

To wrap up the season, we competed in Area West, with one of our top skippers (Thompson) away at Nationals. Despite this cut, we were able to hold our own, in one of the closest competitions I can remember, and ended up placing second over Northwestern in a tie breaker, with St. Thomas trailing by only a point. The team also sailed in the classic Timme Angsten Regatta at the Chicago Yacht Club. We placed third, behind Wisconsin and St. Thomas, providing a good end to the season. After such a successful season, we can only look forward to what the team can accomplish in spring, with three major qualifiers to prepare for.

With a new year, many changes come to the team, including a new board. This week we elected our new leaders, retiring a few of our past board members. A big thanks to Nick Hovland, Amberose Kramer and Carolyn Vanous for everything they have done for the team. I look forward to serving on the board again in the coming year. The new leaders are as follows:

Commodore: Tom Cramer
Vice Commodore: Allison Prange
Secretary: KK Wilson
Treasurer: Brady Solum
Safety and Facilities Coordinator: Natalie Sinn
Captains: Matt Thompson, KK Wilson, Katie Berning

This coming spring we will be running two regattas: Women’s Qualifiers and the Gopher Invite. Look for more updates in the New Year. Until then, happy sailing!

Next Alumni Meeting/Social Event!

January 30th

Save the date for the next alumni gathering. Check back, more details to follow soon!

Timme Angsten Results - Happy Turkey Day!

While we were watching football this past weekend and eating turkey, the U of MN sailors were sailing their final regatta of the season in Chicago. Hats off to Nick, Natalie, Matt, Eric, Brady, and KK (Kirsten) for dedicating their vacation weekend to sailing in the always cold Timme Angsten Regatta! Results and highlights follow.

Friday light winds and only 4 races were completed, under sunny skies, starting in the early afternoon with temperatures in the 40’s. Wisconsin quickly was recognized as the team to beat. Saturday started sunny with 50 degree temperatures, and SW and SE-S winds 4-8. Sunday started with a thunderstorm, and the Race Committee waited for it to pass, then six races were completed in a northerly wind under cloudy skies with temperatures in the 50’s.
Wisconsin was also awarded the MCSA Fall Dinghy Championship trophy as the highest placing Midwest school.

Winning Team: University of Wisconsin (Madison WI): 50 points
Joe Kutschenreuter ‘12
Molly Forbes, ‘11
Leif Evensen ‘11
Carrie Bargren ‘10
Patrick Richards ‘09
Allie Valentor ‘09

Second Place: University of Saint Thomas (St Paul, MN): 73 points
Brandon Wilson, ‘10
Matthew Weishan ‘11
Charlie Igo ‘09
Medora Sietten ‘10
Annie Owens ‘12

Third Place: University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, MN): 80 points
Nick Hovland ‘10
Natalie Sinn ‘12
Matthew Thompson ‘11
Eric Tobias ‘12
Brady Solum ‘12
Kirsten Wilson ‘12

Fourth Place: University of Toledo (Toledo, Ohio): 81 points
Brian Goldberg ‘11
Mike Stark ‘11
Ryan Lashaway ‘01
Ariel Peatee ‘13

http://www.chicagoyachtclub.org/viewCustomPage.aspx?id=138

Wayzata Banquet

On Saturday, November 14th, the Wayzata Yacht Club held their annual silent auction. As many of you know, this is one of, if not the largest fundraiser of the year. U of MN sailors are required to attend to help set up auction items, collect money and distribute prizes. Part of this money fundraised every year goes towards subsidizing the U of MN's facilities, coaching, and equipment fees with Wayzata. These donations are critical in keeping the team up and running!

Overall the banquet was a success with eight University of Minnesota sailors attending. Things ran very smoothly and finished up around 10:00pm for the volunteers. The sailing center was able to fundraise over $10,000 during the event. This exceeded expectation for an economic recession, however was considered a small year for donations.

Thank you very much volunteers and members for your help and commitment to the U of MN team and Wayzata Community Sailing Center!

Please consider making your donation if you have not done so already. Every little bit helps!

Contact Cappy Capper or Dave Elsmo @ 952.476.5875
or send your donation by mail to :
Wayzata Community Sailing Center PO Box 768, Wayzata, MN 55391

Recap on Singlehand Nationals in Corpus Christi, Texas by Matt Thompson

The weekend was a big one, both for myself and for Charlie (St. Thomas). For both of us it was our first crack at a national championship of this caliber. Though the fleet was intimidating we tried to approach the event with an open mind, especially because getting there (both financially and qualifying) had been the bigger issues of the month.

The first day was a learning experience to say the least. Light and lumpy were the words of the day. After a frantic rigging experience with boats set-up completely differently than ours at home, we left the dock to start racing at noon. Five hard fought races later, Charlie and I came off the water looking for some help and a break. We spent the night relaxing and prepping for the big day Saturday.

Saturday was the true test of the event. Medium to light breeze, and awful chop and eleven straight races proved difficult. Surfing was sometimes a possibility but the wind speeds made it tough. The on the water judges were really loose on kinetics rules which put me at a major disadvantage. Sailing against our older local fleet without more travel takes you out of the college laser mindset. Even Andrew Campbell (acting as a coach) could be heard complaining about the overworking of the lead boats. I had definite starting trouble with the big dogs and speed issues downwind. Despite my woes, a glimmer of hope arrived in one race, where a good start on my part allowed me to round the windward mark in 2nd. Sliding back to 7th, it meant something bigger.

While skimming over the rest of the regatta - good memories like sailing with dolphins, bad memories like forgetting the I flag after a general - I am entirely optimistic about the event. The best part about this regatta was forming a solid list of things to work on for next year. While this year's goal was to make the regatta, next year's has been raised. I hope to be able to work on all my weak points for next year, and put up a mid-fleet finish. This year proved to me that something higher is possible with the right preparation. I was not a leg behind, but only slightly out of step. Here's to next year, and hopefully a better result for you all to hear about!

I wound up 16th overall, beating out charlie and a Texas A+M sailor. Not what i had hoped, but a majority of my goals have been achieved and I'm ready for another shot.

pictures can be found at GTSphotos.com
results can be found at http://www.collegesailing.org/nas/fall09/singles/results.asp

Check Your Mailboxes!

Booster club letters will be sent out in the upcoming week! Please check your mailboxes and make your donation to the Wayzata Community Sailing Center. Any size amount will directly benefit the team and will be greatly appreciated!

Haven't received a letter in years past? Send your information to Cappy Capper by email at HCCapper@aol.com or call 952.476.5875

Minnesota takes 1st, 2nd and 4th at Tommies Cup!

Another successful regatta run by St. Thomas this past weekend at the Wayzata Community Sailing Center. Temperatures rested in the low 50s while wind conditions remained light and shifty all weekend. Overall 9 sets were completed.


WINNING TEAM : Minnesota Maroon
Brady Solum '12 1-9
Danica Gardiner '10 1-9
Eric Tobias '12 1-9
Tom Cramer '12 1-9

1. Minnesota Maroon 21 15 36
2. Minnesota Gold 25 19 44
3. St. Thomas Black 21 33 54
4. Minnesota Women 40 36 76
5. Wisconsin Red 45 69 114
6. Marquette 55 59 114
7. Iowa 63 56 119
8. Wisconsin White 54 68 122
9. St. Thomas Purple 81 51 132

A division = 9 Races
TOT
1. St. Thomas Black 21 Brandon Wilson '10 1-9
Matt Weishan '11 1-9
2. Minnesota Maroon 21 Brady Solum '12 1-9
Danica Gardiner '10 1-9
3. Minnesota Gold 25 Nick Hovland '10 1-9
Kate Hockin '10 1-6, David Chapin '12 7-9
4. Minnesota Women 40 Allison Prange '11 1-9
Emma Gantzer '11 1-9
5. Wisconsin Red 45 Brendan Boylan '13 1-9
Kristina Schaldach '11 1-9
6. Wisconsin White 54 Meg Six '12 1-9
Jess Senjen '11 1-9
7. Marquette 55 Steve Catlin '11 1-9
Alexandra Bracken '11 1-9
8. Iowa 63 Eric Sander '13 1-9; Austin Wekat '13 1,2,5-9
Rosalind Sixbey '12 3,4
9. St. Thomas Purple 81 Eric '13 1-9
John Kirkman '12 1-9


B division = 9 Races
TOT
1. Minnesota Maroon 15 Eric Tobias '12 1-9
Tom Cramer '12 1-9
2. Minnesota Gold 19 Matt Thompson '11 1-9
Amberose Kramer '10 1-9
3. St. Thomas Black 33 Charlie Igo '10 1-9
Medora Sletten '10 1-9
4. Minnesota Women 36 Natalie Sinn '12 1-9
Kristin Wilson '12 1-9
5. St. Thomas Purple 51 Ann Owen '12 1-9
Sarah Goossens '10 1-9
6. Iowa 56 Alex Place '11 1-5, John Cody Ziegler '13 6-9
Jacob Sawyer '12 3,4,7-9, Paul Vertterott '12
7. Marquette 59 Philip Niles '12 1-9; Mary Pat Marcinse 3-4
Alexander Malinchol '11 1,2,5-9
8. Wisconsin White 68 Charlotte Herzenberg '11 1-9
Susan Stuehrk '11 1-9
9. Wisconsin Red 69 Chris Johnson '12 1-9
Kathryn Haberman '11 1-9

Ladies take Wiso Womens!

The UofMN women's team took 1st place overall at the University of Wisconsin Madison this weekend! Congratulations ladies on a great regatta! Winning team was skipper Alison Prange (2011) and crew Emma Gantzer (2011) in A Division with skipper Natalie Sinn (2012) and crew Kirstin Wilson (2012) in B Division.

(Photo from Left to Right, Katie Berning, Natalie Sinn, Carolyn Vanous, Kirstin Wilson, Emma Gantzer, Alison Prange, Kate Hockin, Courtney Hofflander, and Amberose Kramer)

UofMN Sailor Matt Thompson Wins Singlehand Qualifiers @ UWM!

Congratulations UofMN skipper Matt Thompson and St. Thomas skipper Charlie Igo for coming in 1st and 2nd at the MCSA Singlehand Qualifiers in Milwaukee! Just behind qualifying were the ladies in the women's division. Natalie Sinn placed 3rd and Alison Prange took 4th. Way to sail fast Gophers! Best of luck to both Matt and Charlie at Nationals in Corpus Christi, Texas the weekend of November 7th.

Here are the results for both the Men's and Women's divisions.


Men's A division = 9 Races

TOT
1. Minnesota 1 20 Matthew Thompson
2. St Thomas 1 24 Charlie igo
3. Wisconsin 4 29 Andrew Fox
4. Northwestern 1 42 Tod Reynolds
5. Iowa 1 75 Eric Sauter
6. Toledo 1 76 Ryan Lashaway
7. Minnesota 4 76 Braden Solumn
8. Minnesota 3 83 Nick Hovland
9. Bowling Green 1 85 Thomas McRitchie
10. Wisconsin 3 92 Jeremy McMahon
11. Northwestern 3 110 John Hodges
12. Wisconsin 2 118 Mat Stillin
13. Wisconsin 1 125 Phio Morley
14. Minnesota 2 128 Eric Tobias
15. Marquette 1 148 Phil Niles
16. Wisconsin 5 148 Patrick Caflisch
17. Purdue 1 163 Josh Borcherdt
18. Northwestern 2 170 Max Dantowitz


Women's A division = 7 Races

TOT
1. Wisconsin 1 16 Christine Porter
2. Michigan State 1 19 Lauren Knoles
3. Minnesota 2 28 Natalie Simms
4. Minnesota 1 29 Allison Prange
5. Michigan State 2 31 Caiti Dust
6. Michigan 1 42 Amanda Baker
7. Wisconsin 2 60 Meg Six
8. Marquette 1 63 Andrea Kiela

1st Alumni Association Meeting

Join in on the discussion of new Sail Race Alumni Association!

Host: Tim and Bre Krech

9330 Cedar Forest Rd
Eden Prairie, MN 55347

Date/Time: Monday, October 26th 7:30pm

Welcome Minnesota Sail Race Alumni

Congratulations on becoming a University of MN Sail Race Alumni!