11/25/2025
On a cold, rainy Detroit day in late November, we can't help a flashback to 'Champagne Sailing' in Harbor Springs in late July. The deep blue waters of Little Traverse Bay let you see down 40 feet.
Natural beauty combined with great competition makes this a bucket list regatta. For decades, Little Traverse Yacht Club has hosted their Ugotta Regatta out of the Irish Boat Shop facilities and their quaint little white colonial house and broad porch across the road.
The regatta features both one-design racing for J/70s and J/111s, as well as ORC and PHRF handicap racing fleets. The J/111 class also uses their OD class as the J/111 Great Lakes Championship.
Along with two Mackinac races & TP52 events, this year's regatta was a highlight of the Great Lakes sailing season, showcasing the top teams and their impressive performances.
The championship featured a fleet of fourteen J/111s, with Jeff Davis's team from Cleveland, OH, leading with a 1-2-2-4 tally for 9 points. The Silver medal was awarded to Scott Sellers' team from Little Traverse YC with a 2-4-1-6 scoreline for 13 points, while the Bronze medal went to Ed Kriese's team from Bayview YC with a 6-3-8-2 record for 19 points. The top five included Chris Lamb's team from Charlevoix YC on PADAWAN 4 in fourth place and Brad Faber's crew from Utah in fifth place.
Photos by the great Gretchen Dorian. You can check out her website & buy fantastic hi-res images of your favorite boats too. https://www.gretchendorian.com/
