At 0630 hours before the start the sun was out and warming the awakening sailors.  The wind was SW and the harbor pretty calm.  At this point it seemed the forecasted rain was not to happen.  Sometimes you can forecast the weather by peering at the sky.  Today, the sky lied!

By the time of the start the skies and weather had performed a 180.  Skies were extremely black, wind up in the 20's.  Several of the Great Lakes 70's sat out the 1st race.  One due t not having a #4 in their inventory and another due to the fact they felt conditions were unsafe.  A horizontal rip 10 feet from the head put paid to that kite.  The other horizontal aspect of race 1 was horizontal rain.  It made for a trying and unpleasant upwind leg.

After a lunch on the water break it was time for race 2.  Although largish and lumpy seas remained, the wind was down almost to single digits at times.  Another race was off in quick order.  The wind was back up and then down.  At this point many boats went to heavy # 1'S.

By 1700 the fleet was at the dock.  A significant portion of the fleet slips at Chicago's new Millenium harbor.  Located along Lake Shore Drive this marina has numerous docks of floating slips.  No apparent water problems here.

Back on land the impressions are of the difference between the NOODS and other Chicago regattas.  The CYC Monroe Street facility is filled with Mumm 30's, S2 7.9's and T-10's.  Out front of the club the majority of rafters were j-24's.  This emphases the nature of the NOOD regatta, with the OD standing for one design.

As of 1843 central results were still pending.  As many as 8 protests need to be heard before standings can be finalized.

From the weather forecasts it looks like the remaining racing will be sailed in lighter air.  Forecasts call for NW winds of 10-15 knots, dropping further to 5-10 from the North.  Sunday's call is East @ 5-10 knots.

This forecast would provide a good gamut of conditions to crown versatile champions.

By the 2nd windward leg with driving rain and boats with reefs and jibs as small as #4's it was unpleasant if not safe.  Further proof of the tough conditions was  J 130 rounding the windward mark, setting an asymmetrical spinnaker and within t10 seconds the spinnaker was no more. 

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