News
ISM Takes The MISSA Icebreaker
March 30, 2008
NOR | RESULTS | PHOTOS
Thirty high school sailors traveled to Chicago to compete in the annual Ice Breaker Regatta hosted by Chicago Yacht Club's Belmont Station. Aptly named for the frigid 35 degree Lake Michigan water temperatures typical of this time of year, the teams arrived for the first regatta of the spring sailing season representing six Illinois and Minnesota high schools.

Sunny skies and 38 degree air temperatures greeted the sailors on Saturday morning. With 8-12 knot southeasterly winds, Saturday's Principal Race Officer (PRO) Tom Keegan established a windward leeward course on the protected waters of Belmont Harbor. Despite no 2008 on-the-water practice time (Lake Minnetonka is covered with ice, 24 inches thick), The International School of Minnesota (ISM)'s Erik Bowers/ Genevieve Kerr started strongly in A division by winning the first two races. In both races, ISM was followed by New Trier's Stephanie Hudson/Gardner Yost and Loyola's Tommy Holmberg/Kevin Kennedy in second and third, respectively.

During the first B Division rotation, the wind started to back to port. Minnetonka HS's Harrison Burton and Maddy Kennedy noted this change and banged the left side corner more than the other sailors in the fleet. By doing so, Minnetonka found stronger pressure which carried them to a safe lead. In fact, they won both of their first rotation races going away. Loyola's John Kinzel/Marcus Jackson finished with a second and a third while ISM's Chris Loew-Blosser and Sydney Morical captured a third and a second.

As the day progressed, the winds continued to shift to the east while decreasing in strength. Minnetonka's Brady Solum / Ben Weidmann won both races in the second A division rotation followed close behind by NT's Hudson/Yost. New Trier took both races in the third rotation before ISM's Bowers finished out the day by winning the last two races.

Following their fast first rotation, Minnetonka's B division appeared to take the third race over Kinzel/Jackson of Loyola. Unfortunately for Minnetonka, they had been OCS, thus Loyola won the race. Kinzel later won two more races while ISM's Loew-Blosser took two and Minnetonka's Burton took the final race of the day.

Entering the second day of competition, ISM held a slight lead over Loyola, New Trier, and Minnetonka. Sunday's PRO Dick Schweers set a windward leeward course with winds at 8 knots from the southeast. The first A division race started at about 10 am under cloudy skies. Minnetonka's Solum/Weidmann took advantage of premature starts by ISM and NT and cruised to a race nine victory. NT recovered with a second place finish, but the ISM crew was unable to catch Walter Payton's Rachel Barch/Aaron Hoogstraten, thus finishing fourth. A second race win by Minnetonka crew made the condensed the point spread even further as ISM nipped NT at the finish for second.

As the fog rolled in off Lake Shore Drive, the breeze grew to 12 knots. Minnetonka's B division crew of Burton / Kennedy continued their winning ways, taking both races nine and ten. Loyola's Alex Post, substituting for Kinzel, placed second in both races with crew, Marcus Jackson. These finishes brought the Loyola squad to within just four points of the ISM leaders with four races to go.

In the following A division race eleven, Loyola's Holmberg shot out to second place just behind Payton's Rachel Barch. Prospects looked dark for ISM as Bowers was a distant fourth, behind Minnetonka. As the fleet rounded the final windward mark for the downwind finish, the ISM pair found an open lane, passing the three leaders for a dramatic race win. Payton held on for second with Loyola in third place, just ahead of Minnetonka and New Trier.

Entering the final A division race, ISM held a slim one point advantage over New Trier in the division standings. On the starting line, ISM successfully pushed both New Trier and Minnetonka over the line with about ten seconds to go. Unfortunately, ISM and North Shore Country Day both misjudged their positions on the line and also crossed early. Payton and Loyola shot into a comfortable two boat race as the other four teams returned to the starting line. New Trier was the first to restart and recovered to win the race. At the same time, ISM succeeded in catching up to the fleet, but was unable to pull another dramatic recovery, thus finishing fourth.

With just two remaining B rotation races, ISM held a five point advantage over second place Loyola in the overall standings. Following a short pep talk by their team mate, Ingrid Fure, ISM's Chris Loew-Blosser and Syndey Morical won the start of the eleventh race and proceeded to win the race. This clinched an historic first MISSA regatta title for The International School of Minnesota. Loyola's Post/Jackson and Minnetonka's Burton/Kennedy also had strong finishes as the sailors closed out the regatta at about noon.

Thanks to the volunteers of Chicago Yacht Club including both the PROs Tom Keegan and Dick Schweers and their race committee consisting of Scott Diamond, Robin Finlay, Mike Leslie, Chris Mitchell, Mark Mitchell, Nicole Rothstein, and Brenda Solitt. The event was very well run.