2009 Inter-Lake Regatta at White Bear Lake

            The Inter-Lake Regatta began as a challenge regatta between the White Bear Yacht Club and the Minnetonka Yacht Club. This year it was held on White Bear Lake where the Inter-Lake was first sailed about 1895. E scows are one of several fleets that currently race in the regatta.

            On Friday, the wind built throughout the day and after a morning of postponement, two races were finished. Dan Guidinger (W-1) was leading the E fleet with a 1^st and 6^th.

            The breeze was up on Saturday with morning puffs recorded well into the 20's and steady wind around 18 - 22 mph. The E's and C's went at it in the morning and sailed one race before a lunch break.  There were several who went swimming during the race and others needed boat repairs. For safety reasons, the race officers gave the fleet a break before attempting another.  Winds built throughout the lunch hour, but then subsided for a bit and decision was made to send all fleets back out for a 2 p.m. start. White Bear skipper, Lee Alnes said, “There were some of the best E scow rides we’ve ever had!” At the end of the day Louie Hill (W-47) had a 1^st and 2^nd to put him in the lead. More boats had damage, including Woody Jewett (M-77) and Jule Hannaford (M-7) with bent rudders and Guidinger with broken outhaul and ripped mainsail.

            Sunday was much lighter, Van Johnson (W-20) sailed off the windward end on port and was gone after he got to the best wind near the starboard layline. Jay Rendall (W-4) tacked to port at the gun at the leeward end of the starting line, crossing the fleet except Johnson, and sailed to 2^nd place in the race. Louie Hill continued his consistent sailing during the regatta finishing the race in 3^rd and winning the event. David Strothman (M-10) won race 2 and finished 2^nd overall. Van Johnson moved up to 3^rd overall after his second race win of the regatta. Jeff Solum (M-12) and Harrison Burton (M-19) rounded out the top five.

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