Vytis - Chicago NOOD Overall Champions

HOW SWEET IT IS!

The crew of Vytis competed in the annual 3 day event just like any other year. But the journey and results this year were not ordinary. It was a long journey to a first place in the J105 section.

A huge black cloud hung over the city skyline Friday morning, casting some doubt as to whether we would even race that day. We were sent back to shore to await further signals. After lunch the race committee decided the danger had passed and we went back out on the lake to have one race. We picked the wrong side of the course and ended up with a middling finish.

Saturday brought more challenging conditions. Light and shifty winds made for difficult racing and a few problems for the race committee as it became very difficult to set a course. We again continued to improve and took a 6th and a 2nd to close the day out.

The results at the party showed a very tight nit group at the top with the mighty Vytis in 5th 8 points out of first. 3 points separated the 2nd from 5th place boats so it was still anyone's game.

Sunday greeted us with steady but light winds and Steve's supercomputer was cranking in high gear. We took two bullets and with the help of a few competitors picking the wrong side of the course we were able to capture the regatta.....1st overall J105.

Now, this is where one might think the story ends. We won the NOOD after many years of trying. But, there is one award yet to be decided. Sailing World and their sponsors look at the results and the tight racing of each fleet and pick three skippers whom they feel embody what NOOD racing is. They call the three up and award them very nice Suunto watches. Vytis was selected as the OVERALL winner of these three and the winner of a weeks paid trip to race in the British Virgin Islands NOOD Champions Regatta!

So your Vytis crew are trying to organize a trip this November to race against the other eight overall NOOD winners. More details to come as they emerge!!!!!! We are also to be featured in Sailing World in the coming weeks. You can already read some of our quotes [HERE]. Additional photos have been uploaded to our Web Photo Album.

Final Results:

1	104	Vytis	Tomas Petkus	7	6	2	1	1		17
2	288	Messy Jessy	Dorin Candea	1	5	1	10	2		19
3	476	Gargoyle	Brian Danaher	5	2	6	2	7		22
4	673	The Asylum	Jon Weglarz	3	1	11	3	6		24
5	424	Gigi	David Wagner	6	4	4	11	4		29