Dateline December 2005, Muskegon:

Western Michigan has seen a terrific sailing season come to an end. The weather cooperated well and the sailors responded. Muskegon Yacht Club (MYC) has seen a one-design metamorphosis. While one-design fleets have always been part of the fabric of Muskegon Lake sailing, its intensity and variety is always changing. While the Laser and the JY15 have had decent interest on Tuesday nights, the keel boat fleet is where most of the action has taken place. In the past three years the Melges 24 has been the boat of choice. With its Reichel/Pugh design it has changed the competitive emphasis from busy sail handling techniques of the past to more concentration to fleet positioning and racecourse planning. More of a head game if you will.

MYC’s Melges fleet has grown from three boats in 2003 to five in 2004 to nine in 2005. With this growth the fleet has truly changed to strict one-design. The race committee has given the fleet it’s own start sequence and scoring. MYC hosted its annual Spring regatta with 17 Melges 24’s in attendance. This regatta tied with the Detroit NOOD Regatta and took second to the Gold Cup regatta hosted by The Lake Geneva Yacht Club for attendance.

Local sailing was tight all season with four points separating first and second place for the last third of the season. As it turns out perennial scoring leader Scott Miller and crew took third for the season. Dr. Ken Gray and partner Patrick Sagan put up a good fight but it was Brian Torresen and his crew taking first by those same four points.

The Midwest Melges scene consisted of seven regattas. Muskegon, Detroit NOOD, Chicago NOOD, Harbor Springs, Traverse City, Charlevoix, and Lake Geneva. In all, fifty-five boats competed in forty-two races and averaged 17 boats per regatta. This summer saw incredible sailing with big name pros attending many events. Names such as; Zenda’s Brian Porter, Melges 24 World Champ Harry Melges III, Melges Boat Works Andy Burdick, John Bertrand and Scott Nixon sailing for Quantum Sails, and two-time Melges 24 World Champ Vince Brun to name a few.

Regardless of their best efforts these top guns couldn’t hold off the Corinthian (amateur) sailors for the overall scoring. Chuck Holzman and Bora Gulari took the season title followed by District Melges Governor Mike Dow, 2004 winner Paul Hulsey from Detroit, Chicago’s Evan Jahn, and MYC members Dr. Gray & Pat Sagan round out the top five. The top professional boat was John Bertrand in eighth place.

Thanks to the growth of the one-design fleet at MYC, next year should prove to be very competitive. The group recently held a fleet meeting to discuss the coming season. As a result the Wednesday night season will be split into a three series format. Series scoring and awards will be decided for spring, summer, fall, and an overall for the year. As usual, emphasis will be on racing hard, fair competition, and special efforts will be taken to build fleet numbers and good sportsmanship. It’s happening in Western Michigan so come join the fun and bring your game.

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