MEDIA CONTACTS:
Diane Chase (401-845-5117 / 401-965-4726)
Cynthia Goss (203-453-2731)

For Immediate Release

May 20, 2002 - On Friday, May 31, top sailors of the region will gather on Lake St. Clair to compete for national honors at the Sailing World Detroit NOOD (National Offshore One-Design) Regatta. The three-day event--hosted May 31 to June 2 by Bayview Yacht Club, an internationally known sailing club based in the city of Detroit--opens the racing season with tough battles amongst some 200 skippers from the United States and Canada.

"There is no way to predict who’s going to win at the NOOD. . . It’s going to be very tight," said William Cox of Grosse Pointe, who won the 18-boat J/105 class in 2001. Cox and his crew are preparing for the challenge of defending their win. The J/105 class, a new class to the area expecting some 20 boats, will be among the 19 classes competing at the NOOD.

Cold, rain, and wind visited the fleet at the 2001 Detroit NOOD. But the inclement weather was a sailor’s delight, bringing a run of three consecutive days of teen-strength breeze to the Lake. Most competitors are hoping for more of the same.

Lake Erie sailor Heidi Backus Riddle (Vermilion, Ohio) is comfortable racing in heavier air, and being well-practiced in strong breeze was one of her keys to winning one of the largest classes at last year’s Detroit NOOD. Backus Riddle, who typically races with her family as crew, will be back to defend her win in the 25-boat Tartan Ten (T-10) class.

Tartan Ten battles may become a test of family crews. Current T-10 National Champion Dave Disbrow (Vermilion), who was close on Riddle’s heels in 2001, returns to Detroit to make a play for yet another class title. Disbrow and his wife Carole with sail their adult children as crew. The Tartan Tens expect a strong showing at the NOOD. Many boats will migrate to Lake Michigan for the class’ National Championships in August, and the Detroit regatta is a key contest for those training for the national crown.

Although Cal 25s went out of production in the early 1970s, the class has thrived on Lake St. Clair. According to Class Coordinator John Burke (Grosse Pointe Farms), the driving philosophy of keeping boats both affordable and competitive has fueled the class’ current health. Cal 25 owners can purchase used boats, use some elbow grease to get them race-ready, and get out on the race course for an affordable price tag. The local class reviews the technological developments that continually emerge in the sailing marketplace, but cost has been the driving force in ruling whether these developments will be allowed into the class.

The Cal 25s expect some 25 boats, with a multi-generational span amongst their skippers. According to Burke, skippers from their early 20s to their 70s are expected on the starting line.

The Express 27s will host their Great Lakes Championships at the NOOD. Current champion Lorax, campaigned by the Deeds family, returns to the startling line. The Deeds siblings have taken turns at the helm. In 2001, Sarah Deeds (now of Berkeley, Calif.) helmed the family boat to a win. Eric Deeds travels from San Francisco this year to take the helm for the first time in this regatta. Nine Express 27s are expected to compete.

A class of 15 Ultimate 20s are expected, including the Bayview Yacht Club’s fleet. Bayview launched a unique program where members who join the Ultimate 20 club can have access to the club boats for racing and cruising, while the yacht club manages the boats’ maintenance and berthing.

In addition to the above-mentioned groups, the following classes are expected on the starting line: C&C 35, Crescent, Etchells, Grand Prix, Hobie 33, J/120, J/24, Level 114, Level 141, Level 35 (J/35, Thomas 35), Melges 24 (the NOOD is a National Ranking Points regatta for the Melges class), NA 40, S2 7.9, and Warhorse.

Detroit NOOD prizes will be awarded Sunday evening, June 2, at Bayview YC. Trophies will be awarded in individual classes, and the top performer on opening day will receive a special fleet trophy, the Hall Spars & Rigging Boat of the Day Award.

Entry lists, results, and daily race reports will be posted at www.sailingworld.com.

The NOOD (National Offshore One-Design) regattas are a nine-event racing circuit organized by Sailing World magazine of Newport (R.I.). Support sponsors of the event include: Frederiksen, Hall Spars & Rigging, Marlow Ropes, North Sails, Raymarine, Ronstan, Samuel Adams and The Boston Beer Company, Sea Wynde Rum, and Sunsail.