Chicago, IL – The 2022 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta (GLIOR) was hosted this past week, September 23rd through 25th 2022 at the Columbia Yacht Club (ColYC) in Chicago, IL. The event was co-hosted by the Storm Trysail Club and Columbia Yacht Club with support from the Chicago Tartan 10 Fleet and the Chicago J105 Fleet. This year 21 teams participated in the competition alongside owners, coaches, and organizing staff. The event saw over 170 sailors involved!
On Friday, 9/23 teams were invited to register and practice. Conditions were light, S winds of 4-6 knots were recorded and provided for excellent practicing conditions. Temperatures had dropped from earlier in the week to a cool 64 degrees. The sun was out, and the Principal Race Officer (PRO) was able to set a practice course and we saw good participation in a few practice races on the water. Most teams slept on board and enjoyed lows in the low 50s, great sleeping weather!
On Saturday, 9/24 competitors were greeted in the morning with winds out of the SW and variable clouds, the winds were variable, we saw winds velocity as low as 3 knots and as high as 10 knots. Swell and wave action were varied, “lumpy” as some might describe it as. The skipper's meeting occurred at 0820 on schedule and the harbor start occurred at 0900 right on time. The PRO (Fields Gunsett) was able to run 5 races on Saturday, the race committee was presented with challenging winds all day and a number of course adjustments were made including some in-race. At the end of the day, the University of Wisconsin was in the lead for the Tartan 10 fleet, and in the J105 fleet the University of California San Diego. Post racing teams were invited to a banquet on the dock and enjoyed an incredible evening on the Chicago lakefront.
On Sunday, 9/25 competitors awoke to heavy winds from the NW, initial winds speed in the early morning was sustained at 16 knots, gusts higher in the 20s. Temperatures remained stable in the mid-60s with cloud cover present. Wind speeds were hovering around 13-15 knots when the harbor start occurred at 0900, the PRO noted gusts at 20 knots throughout the morning. The PRO was able to kick off 3 races before the 1400 no racing time set by the notice of race (NOR). In the first race of the day average wind speed was over the spinnaker limit of 15 knots and the “E” flag was displayed, racing without spinnakers ensued. By race two winds were back down under the limit and the “E” flag was brought down; teams could once again fly spinnakers in the final two races of the day. At the end of the day the University of Wisconsin continued their streak and was able to secure first place in the Tartan 10 fleet, the University of Rhode Island was able to overcome the University of California San Diego after a series of bullets which lead to their victory in the J105 fleet.
Collegiate teams in attendance this weekend where: University of South Carolina, University of Rhode Island, United States Naval Academy, Dalhousie University, University of California San Diego, Michigan Technological University, Ohio State University, Indiana University, Purdue University, Cleveland State University, University of Illinois, University of Michigan, University of Toledo, The All Women’s Team: GVSU, Hope and St Mary’s, University of Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin Women’s, Miami University, University of Notre Dame, Marquette University, Queens University (of Canada), and Michigan State.
Thank you to our sponsors for making this event possible: Columbia Yacht Club, Storm Trysail Club, Skyway Yacht Words, Buddig, Helly Hansen, Dimension Polyant and United Engravers.
Key Links:
GLIOR Website: https://stormtrysail.org/races/glior/
GLIOR Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/CHIGLIOR
GLIOR YouTube (check out this year’s highlights): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW08Reqn8YmnzjOjav2Szag
GLIOR 2022 Yacht Scoring: https://yachtscoring.com/emenu.cfm?eID=15221
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About the GLIOR Regatta: The GLIOR is an annual fall regatta that provides an opportunity for collegiate sailors to experience the excitement of offshore keel-boat racing. Participating teams come from college sailing programs in the Midwest and beyond. In the past, Chicago T10 & Chicago J105 fleet members provide the sailboats and are on-board during racing as a safety precaution; the collegiate sailors drive, crew the boat and manage strategy and tactics; Chicago-area yacht clubs provide facilities and the fleets provide financial support, participant gifts and awards.
The regatta consists of windward/leeward buoy races on Lake Michigan offshore of Chicago. Teams arrive on Friday and have the opportunity to practice on their assigned boats that afternoon. Race committee attempts as many races as possible all-day Saturday and on Sunday morning. Award ceremonies are Sunday during lunch and teams have the afternoon for travel back to campus.
Past participating college teams - Michigan, Michigan State, Miami of Ohio, Hope College, Western Michigan, Wisconsin, Grand Valley State, Toledo, Northwestern, St. Mary's College of Md., Michigan Tech, Minnesota, Ohio State, South Florida, Miami, Baldwin Wallace, Indiana University, Marquette, Cleveland State University, United States Naval Academy, United States Coast Guard Academy, Queens University, University of South Carolina, Notre Dame, Illinois-Chicago and more.
Past participating T10 boats - Glider, Lightning, Cheap Thrill, Terminal Velocity, Mutiny, Skidmarks, Amateur II, Ka-Mikaze, Waterworks, Jing Bang, Ratty, M*A*S*H*, Retention, Hot Sauce and more.
Past participating J105 boats - The Asylum, Sealark, Vytis, Flying Pig, Gangbusters, Kinship and more.