Monday, April 18, 2016

Detroit’s First J/70 Fleet Rocking!

J/70s sailing upwind (Detroit, MI)-  As J/70 fleets continue to form around the country, Detroit is jumping on the bandwagon in a big way! Fleet 26 is being formalized in Detroit, Michigan on Lake St Clair, with around 18 boats, 13 of which are new and sold as a fleet package by Port Sanilac Marina.  A big “Thanks” goes to Wally Cross from Ullman Sails and Grosse Pointe YC for spearheading this effort over the last 6-9 months!

With a passion for expanding sailing in the Detroit area, Jason Geisz and Wally Cross have pushed hard to get as many J/70’s on the starting line in the fleet’s inaugural regatta, the Bayview One Design (BOD) Regatta on the first weekend in June.  The whole Detroit sailing community has been working hard to make the BOD experience awesome!

The J/70’s will be racing their own course right off Grosse Pointe YC.  After racing each day, the GPYC will be hosting the J/70 class, with a “debrief session” sponsored by “Dragonmead” microbrew (yes, a “kegger” each day!).

The other festivities will be held in the evenings at their sister club- Bayview Yacht Club.  Socially it will be a ball.  The GPYC/ BYC sailors have also lined up some housing with various fleet owners and other local sailors so the out-of-town participants may have a place to stay if they don’t prefer a hotel in Detroit or Roseville.

Although the local J/70 Detroit website is not up and running yet, the Detroit J/70 Fleet President, Jason Geisz, welcomes all to bring their boats and get registered for the Bayview One Design Regatta on June 3rd to 5th here- http://goo.gl/K1xVjP.  Any questions can be directed to Jason Geisz, at (248) 840-3231.  As Jason proclaimed, “Let’s turn Lake St. Clair into Lake St. 70!  See you all soon, we hope!”