The "Whitecap" Regatta, sponsored by the Pontiac Yacht Club and held in early September on Cass Lake is an event we look forward to each year. The number of boats (43 in 2003) provides the best nearby example of big fleet racing aside from District and National regattas - something we seldom get a chance to participate in.

In 2003, five boats and crews from the Lansing Sailing Club travelled to the regatta. The "Wind Dancer" and "Out Numbered" crews decided to stay overnight at a hotel near the regatta site.

Sailing "Wind Dancer" with Pat Dolan were Shelly Kindig and John LeFevre. Terry Kleiman was "Out Numbered" by Lori Katz and Lisa Winters.

The "Babes" (as they call themselves) took charge of finding a convenient hotel and left little on the convenience store shelf in preparing for a weeks stay in one overnight. Fortunately, the sails would fit in the boat so there was just enough room in Terry's car for luggage, power bars, fresh fruit, juices, cheese puffs and the babes.

We left from the Lansing Sailing Club Saturday morning (September 6) about 8:30, inched forward slowly through some construction zones where 110,001 fans headed to the "big house" were also flowing, and arrived at the Pontiac Yacht Club about 10:30.

Travel covers quickly came off the boats. Then masts were stepped, shrouds fastened and control lines coming out of the mast reconnected in short order. After registration, we caught a quick PYC lunch, sat through the skipper's meeting, launched the boat and headed out for the race course shortly after noon.

A 43 boat start is exciting. Boats seem to be going in every direction - each looking for the most advantageous spot. Then we were off. A boat was called over early and the last two digits of the sail number called were "63". Could it be "Wind Dancer", whose sail number is 14963? "No", said all the boats around when Dolan inquired. But, it was. The Race Committee had called "14063" in error and sent the safety boat to inform "Wind Dancer" it needed to return and restart.

Having sailed several hundred yards, the spinnaker was deployed to speed returning to the starting area. Needless to say, "Wind Dancer" was DFL (dead ...... last). Hope springs eternal however, and the crew set its mind to catching up. By the windward mark, about eight boats had been passed.

On the way to the leeward mark, finding clear air by gybing away and then coming in on starboard caught another ten boats. At the end, "Wind Dancer" finished 18th. Finishes of 17th, 14th and 17th in the remaining races led to a 15th overall for the regatta - the best showing of all the Lansing boats. In addition, this finish continues the pattern of improving each year. This was Shelly's first regatta - and only her third week of sailing. This was John's first time sailing a regatta on "Wind Dancer".

For "Out Numbered, this was the first out-of-town regatta for Lisa and Lori. Terry, Lori and Lisa did a great job - and finding themselves stuck on the outside of pinwheels during mark roundings was the only thing that kept them from a top twenty position.

Our "home" for Saturday night was the Courtyard Inn. In walking distance was a nice Italian restaurant where we enjoyed dinner and lots of laughs.

We had a great time, learned a lot and look forward to coming back again in 2004.

For final regatta results, click here.

For the Pontiac Yacht Club web site, click here.